The top 5 are easy, it’s the next 20 that are tricky

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We’re still a week away from reorganizing the top 25 girls’ basketball rankings from their preseason form, but here’s a taste of what I’m thinking after the holiday tournament season.

Long Beach Poly (8-1) is still No. 1. As of today, that’s a no-brainer. The Jackrabbits, who opened the season at No. 1 in the Southland, the state and the nation, lost to San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral, then beat Poly’s national successor to No. 1.

Fontana Miller (10-1) is No. 2. Even though the Rebels played five close games at the Ayala Best of the West tournament -- none decided by more than five points -- they did so while trying to keep the score close, the equivalent of a fighter carrying his opponent into the later rounds. A loss to Redondo before settling on a starting lineup is their record’s only blemish.

Muir (10-1) is No. 3. The Mustangs were runners-up to Miller, in overtime, at Best of the West, and also have victories over Ayala and Magnolia. They were No. 7.

Narbonne (13-3) moves way up to No. 4, mostly by virtue of victories over Brea Olinda, by one point, and Redondo, in double-overtime. The Gauchos were No. 9.

Redondo (11-1) has a victory over Miller, but lost to Narbonne in double overtime after 11 consecutive victories to start the season. Had the championship of the Gahr tournament turned out differently, the Sea Hawks would be an easy No. 2. They were No. 11.

After that, everything gets fuzzy. Feel free to post your own feelings about who deserves to be top 10, top 20, and top 25.

-- Martin Henderson