An early-season look at the Press-Telegram’s rankings of the top high school girls basketball teams in the Long Beach area.
GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP 10
(Records through Monday, Nov. 27)
1. Paramount (5-1): The Pirates went 2-1 last week but suffered an 89-61 loss to Mater Dei on Nov. 25. Paramount will play No. 7 Los Alamitos on Dec. 6.
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2. St. Anthony (6-1): The Saints went 3-0 at the Moanalau tournament in Hawaii last week. Senior guard Ryann Bennett signed with UC Davis. St. Anthony will play No. D7 owney on Dec. 5.
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3. Lynwood (1-4): The Knights are on a three-game losing streak but they tested themselves with nonleague games against Division 1 opponents last week in Sage Hill, Bishop Montgomery and Ontario Christian. That competitive nonleague schedule should prepare the defending Gateway League champions for league matchups against No. 1 Paramount, No. 7 Downey and No. 8 Gahr in January.
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4. Long Beach Poly (0-0): The Jackrabbits will begin their season next week against Brea Olinda on Dec. 4 and Mater Dei on Dec. 6. Senior forward Brookyln Taylor signed with Cal State Bakersfield. Senior forward Sydney Corder Boyd signed with UC Merced.
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5. Lakewood (5-1): The Lancers beat No. 7 Downey 60-48 on Nov. 25. Lakewood junior guard Nyemah King is a threat to score 25 points every game. Lakewood senior forward Cristina Jones is a walking double-double.
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6. Los Alamitos (4-1): The Griffins went 2-1 last week. Senior forward Kassidy Beach is a double-double threat.
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7. Downey (3-2): Senior guard Olivia Vaughn had a team-high 16 points in a 60-48 loss to No. 5 Lakewood on Nov. 25.
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8. Gahr (4-0): The Gladiators followed up last year’s 26-8 season with a 4-0 start. Gahr, who won a share of the Mid-Cities League title last season, has moved up to the Gateway League this season with the likes of No. 1 Paramount, No. 3 Lynwood, and No. 7 Downey.
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9. St. Joseph (4-0): Sophomore forward Olivia Martinez is a double-double threat.
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10. Jordan (3-1): The Panthers are led by a talented backcourt trio of senior Asia Edwards, senior Bryanna Moran, and sophomore Jah’asharee Moore.
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Honorable mention: Whitney (3-0), Cerritos (3-1), Millikan (1-2), Avalon (0-0), Dominguez (0-0), Norwalk (1-5), Cabrillo (1-1), Warren (1-1), St. Pius X-St. Matthias (3-3), Valley Christian (2-3), Wilson (1-3), Bellflower (1-2), Glenn (2-3), La Mirada (0-1), Mayfair (0-3), Artesia (1-2), Centennial (1-3), Rancho Dominguez (0-3), Firebaugh (0-2), Compton (0-3).
Press-Telegram’s high school girls basketball Top 10 rankings, Nov. 21