THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* Rank Team Comments 1 MATER DEI (SS-Div. II-A) Live, from Pauley Pavilion! It’s the Monarchs vs. LeBron James on Saturday night (Jan. 4)! 2 FAIRFAX (City-Div. I) Lions finally poised to chomp on wounded league rival--and we’re not talking about Venice 3 WESTCHESTER (City-Div. I) Will City Section’s slap on wrist leave Comets’ heads spinning? 4 LOYOLA (SS-Div. I-A) Cubs will dominate all comers except those with college-sized front lines 5 BISHOP MONTGOMERY (SS-Div. III-A) Stanford-bound forward Fred Washington should lead Knights to fourth consecutive section title 6 EISENHOWER (SS-Div. I-AA) Forward Sean Marshall is a scholar, a gentleman -- and a menace to his opponents 7 HARV.-WESTLAKE (SS-Div. III-A) Proposed practice time restrictions could net A’s in classroom and Ls on hardwood 8 CARSON (City-Div. I) Ekene Ibekwe is going to be a star in the post -- just ask Maryland Coach Gary Williams 9 CANYON SPRINGS (SS-Div. I-A) Nothing less than a section title will do for this talented and experienced bunch 10 L.B. POLY (SS-Div. I-AA) Coach Ron Palmer will mold Jackrabbits into a winner despite new front line 11 CAJON (SS-Div. I-A) Cowboys hoping to lasso third consecutive San Andreas League title 12 SAN GORGONIO (SS-Div. II-AA) Spartans’ returnees averaged a combined 56 points per game last season 13 FONTANA (SS-Div. I-AA) Maddening to think how good transfer-laden Steelers would be if Wesley Washington and Trevante Nelson hadn’t left 14 VERBUM DEI (SS-Div. IV-A) Coach Ronnie Gipson in midseason form when it comes to cajoling sportswriters for inclusion in top 10 15 DORSEY (City-Div. I) City Section semifinalist of last season looking to take a step up in class 16 BREA OLINDA (SS-Div. II-A) Wildcats feature college-sized front line with 6-7 Evan Moore and 6-9 Brent Smith but neglected to schedule Loyola 17 MAYFAIR (SS-Div. II-A) Forward Justin Hawkins is latest in long line of Southern California stars to sign with Utah 18 ST. JOHN BOSCO (SS-Div. II-AA) Time will tell if four returning starters are enough to overcome loss of standout Giovanni St. Amant 19 ESPERANZA (SS-Div. I-AA) Finally, a Sunset League team worth talking about 20 CRENSHAW (City-Div. I) Coach Willie West may have slowed down, but his teams are like the Energizer Bunny 21 REDONDO (SS-Div. II-A) Sea Hawks go 12 deep but will turn to main man Wendell White in the clutch 22 OCEAN VIEW (SS-Div. III-A) Sharp-shooting guards Casey Ortiz and Matt Sargeant will spearhead a return to glory 23 EL TORO (SS-Div. I-A) Five starters are back from a team that went 16-11 last season 24 VILLA PARK (SS-Div. II-AA) Spartans no longer able to load up on cream puffs in revamped Century League 25 TAFT (City-Div. I) Toreadors may take lumps until Steve Smith & Co. trade in football pads

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