There’s no doubt at this point that the 2020 winter season is the season of girls’ basketball. Long Beach Poly, Millikan, Wilson, St. Anthony and Compton are all ranked in the CIF-SS polls that came out this week, with the Jackrabbits, Rams, and Bruins all in the top three in their respective divisions.
The Jackrabbits are currently ranked No. 6 in the nation by MaxPreps after improving to 12-2. Poly won the SoCal Holiday Classic in San Diego with wins over Serra, Etiwanda, Cathedral Catholic, and the nation’s top-ranked team, La Jolla Country Day. Poly held those opponents to 37, 28, 49, and 39 points, winning with strong team defense; the Jackrabbits then defeated another highly-ranked state team in Corona Centennial, 64-49.
Poly is giving up just 41 points per game so far this season, and it looks like coach Carl Buggs’ deepest team in years; six different players have received All-Tournament honors so far this year. Poly is ranked No. 1 in the CIF-SS Division 1 rankings.
Millikan, meanwhile, has yet to lose a game and is 14-0 to start the season after opening Moore League play with a win over Compton. The Rams are the champions of the Ocean View Tournament, the Whittier Tournament and the Providence Pioneer Shootout. Millikan is led by sophomore Alison Crawford (13 points per game), senior Lesley Garcia (11.5 points per game) and freshman Amaya Lacy (10 points per game). The Rams will face the Jackrabbits on January 17. Millikan is No. 3 in the Division 2AA rankings.
Wilson has started 12-4 this year and is No. 1 in the Division 3A rankings, thanks in large part to the heroics of junior Ashley Hawkins, averaging a Moore League-best 21.7 points per game. Arielle Hines is putting up 9.7 points per game for the Bruins, who will get their chance to prove themselves in league play quickly, hosting Millikan and Poly on Monday and Wednesday next week.
St. Anthony is 11-5 to start the year and is ranked No. 10 in Division 2AA with the Rams. The Saints open Del Rey League play this week.
