Here, back by popular demand, are my exclusive team rankings for the 2005-06 season.
As you may know (or remember from past seasons), I do things a little differently than other polls.
First, I only rate teams I've seen in person. And I'm expanding that this year to include teams I've seen play in the showcases last summer or fall.
Also, I don't rank the teams statewide. The state rankings are interesting and all that, but they're really meaningless. Regional rankings will ultimately determine playoff seedings (as done by the seeding committee) so that's what counts.
I've also ranked 20 teams in the South, and 18 in the South. Not coincidentally, those are the numbers of teams that will make the playoffs.
And finally, these are my subjective opinions. I will finish the season having seen 60+ games involving 60+ different teams. I'm sure the games I actually watch have a significant impact on my opinions, though I also look at other results, standings, etc.
This certainly isn't the final word, but I like to think it's fairly well-informed and I know it's not biased. And sometimes, it might even be right.
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as of 2/19/06 (final ranking - end of regular season)
Rankings: - Comment
South:
1. Fullerton - King of the Hill
2. LA City - Won 13th straight division crown
3. Ventura - Avenged Moorpark loss
4. Compton - Has beaten Chaffey twice
5. Chaffey - Foothill Conference champs
6. Mt. San Jacinto - Three conference losses by one point each - still plenty tough
7. San Bernardino Valley - Best 10-loss team since NC State in '83
8. Irvine Valley - Very tough despite slow finish (lost 3 of last 4)
9. Moorpark - Split series with Ventura to be WSC-N co-champs
10. Orange Coast - scrappy overachieving team will be tough playoff foe
11. Saddleback - Talented squad in tough conference
12. Long Beach - SCC-South champs
13. Cerritos - Team really came around in conference play, just missing SCC-South title
14. Riverside- 4-8 in OEC...but that's no disgrace this year
15. Mt. San Antonio - Knocked off LA City in regular season finale
16. West LA - WSC-South champs really came together in conference play
17. Canyons - 3-game losing streak in February was costly but destroyed Bakersfield in must-win game
18. Cuesta - Solid third in WSC-South and has three excellent players in Allan, Davis & Ongenaet
19. LA Southwest - Small but talented - Charles broke a Keith Van Horn scoring record in a HS all-star game
20. Bakersfield - Split season series with West LA & Canyons and swept Citrus in WSC-S play
Also considered: Allan Hancock, Antelope Valley, Barstow, Citrus, Cuyamaca, Cypress, Desert, East LA, El Camino, Glendale, Grossmont, Imperial Valley, LA Harbor, LA Pierce, LA Trade Tech, LA Valley, Mira Costa, Oxnard, Palomar, Pasadena, Rio Hondo, San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Southwestern, Victor Valley
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North:
1. West Valley - Been #1 every step of the way in my rankings
2. Siskiyous - Hammering of DVC shows how good they are
3. Fresno - Ready for another run to...Fresno?
4. San Francisco - Avenged only Coast-N loss
5. *San Jose - Would have made noise in playoffs
6. San Joaquin Delta - Beaten DVC twice
7. Diablo Valley - Tied for Big 7 title
8. Shasta - Beat Siskiyous twice be become GVC champs
9. Sequoias - 2nd behind Fresno in CVC
10. Foothill - Win over Chabot should get them into postseason
11. Ohlone - Solid team with no stars - just 12 good players
12. West Hills - Solid team secured playoff berth with win over Modesto
13. Chabot - Should make the postseason in tough Coast-North
14. Yuba - Hammered CC by 26 recently but...
15. Contra Costa - ...Hook Mitchell's alma mater won the BVC
16. Butte - Scrappy team has talented trio in Allison, Baker & Smith
17. Cabrillo - Tough preseason schedule but will be second-highest seed from Coast-South
18. Feather River - 4th in a very tough GVC
*Ineligible for postseason (conference probation)
Also Considered: American River, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey Peninsula, Porterville, Redwoods, Skyline
