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Check out the Final Top 10 SJ County boys basketball power rankings

shannon mia belt, the stockton record
·7 min read

The final week of the San Joaquin County high school basketball regular season is upon us.

Teams from the 209 will play their last couple of games before the Sac-Joaquin Section playoff seeding meeting on Feb. 10. From weekend showcases to big-time league wins, these teams have been spending the beginning of the month preparing for postseason-level play.

These elite matchups have shaken up the SJ County boys' basketball power rankings as the Trans Valley League championship race slims down and strength of schedule comes into play.

Here is a breakdown of the Record’s Week 11 boys basketball power rankings — the final installment of power rankings of the 2023-24 season.

Venture Academy’s DaeLeon Neal(4) gives his all as he heads down the lane during a game against Sheldon High of Sacramento at Venture Academy gymnasium in Stockton, CA
Venture Academy’s DaeLeon Neal(4) gives his all as he heads down the lane during a game against Sheldon High of Sacramento at Venture Academy gymnasium in Stockton, CA

1. Lincoln (21-5) 40 points

Next game: at St. Mary’s on Feb. 9

The Trojans have held onto the top spot since the start of the Record’s power rankings and remained the top-ranked SJ County team. Sitting at No. 4 in the SJS and second place in the Tri-City Athletic League, Lincoln is gearing up for a deep postseason run. A key to doing so will be production from its triple threat, Anthony Moore, Donez Lindsey and Quentin Thompson.

Juniors Moore and Lindsey are the Trojans' go-to guards who can get a bucket in just about any type of circumstance. Thompson is a big body in the paint who has improved on rebounding this season. With its triple threat, Lincoln has pulled in recent wins over Northgate, Tokay and Edison of Fresno.

2. Weston Ranch (23-3) 36 points

Next game: at Modesto Christian on Feb. 9

Only one game stands between the Cougars and a perfect 14-0 San Joaquin Athletic Association record. Another game after that and they’ll be gearing up for the SJS Division 1 playoff and with a 23-3 overall record they should be highly seeded.

Weston Ranch’s final game of the regular season will be its biggest test yet after bulldozing through its SJAA competition. The Cougars will be on the road to face No. 1 ranked Modesto Christian, who is fresh off a nine-game winning streak. Star players like senior Mateen Rafiq and junior Darrion Lilly will have to show out to pull off the season finale upset.

3. Venture Academy (23-3) 31 points

Next game: vs. Stone Ridge Christian on Feb. 8

One of the biggest upsets last weekend was Venture Academy’s 70-66 victory over Folsom during the Super Saturday Showcase at San Joaquin Delta College. Senior Mario Williams Jr. dropped a team-high 21 points leading the Mustangs to its big-time win over a Division 1 program. The win helped bump the Mustangs to just two spots shy of the SJS top 25.

They will look to carry that momentum over into league play. The Mustangs hold an 8-0 Central California Athletic Alliance record and with two more wins they can win their fourth consecutive league championship.

Rams Daniel Huerta(11) gets creative to get two during their 80-57 loss against Inderkum High of Sacramento at the Super Saturday Showcase event, held at Blanchard Gymnasium on the Delta College campus in Stockton, CA
Rams Daniel Huerta(11) gets creative to get two during their 80-57 loss against Inderkum High of Sacramento at the Super Saturday Showcase event, held at Blanchard Gymnasium on the Delta College campus in Stockton, CA

4. St. Mary’s (19-7) 29 points

Next game: vs. Lincoln on Feb. 9

St. Mary’s will be looking for revenge in its final two games of the season. The Rams hold a 7-3 TCAL record and third-place standings holding onto one of the final qualifying spots from the league. The last time they played Lodi, they escaped with a 59-57 win and will need to win again to keep the fourth-place Flames from catching up.

Following that game, St. Mary’s has a rematch against crosstown rival Lincoln on Feb. 9. Seniors Cayden Ward and Daniel Huerta will get one last chance to pull off a win over Lincoln who has beaten the Rams in the last two meetings.

Mountain House High’s Cedrick Major(4) fights down low during its 62-41 win against Atwater High at the Super Saturday Showcase event, held at Blanchard Gymnasium on the Delta College campus in Stockton, CA
Mountain House High’s Cedrick Major(4) fights down low during its 62-41 win against Atwater High at the Super Saturday Showcase event, held at Blanchard Gymnasium on the Delta College campus in Stockton, CA

5. Mountain House (20-6) 24 points

Next game: vs. Ceres on Feb. 7

The Mustangs rising star Shamar Jones continues to shine. The 6-foot-5 junior guard came off the bench in their game against Atwater on Feb. 3 and he ended the night leading his team offensively. He scored 18 points to lead Mountain House to a 62-41 victory over the Falcons.

With Jones and some other standout players, Mountain House has also secured the Western Athletic Conference championship. They have one more game against Ceres on Feb. 7 before the playoffs.

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6. Manteca (19-8) 19 points

Next game: at Central Catholic on Feb. 7

The biggest game of the year for Manteca is this Wednesday’s matchup against Central Catholic. The Buffaloes will need to pull off a win over the Raiders to tie for the Valley Oak League championship.

Earlier this season, Central Catholic beat Manteca 47-45 with a buzzer-beater at the last second. This go-round, senior captain Peyton Nieman will look to lead the Buffaloes past the Raiders with his consistent offensive contribution. Nieman is currently averaging close to 13 points per game for Manteca.

7. Lodi (16-10) 18 points

Next game: vs. Tokay on Feb. 9

If Lodi can win out TCAL play this week, its playoff seeding can see a boost. The Flames will take on St. Mary’s on Feb. 7 a rematch they’ve had circled on the calendar since Jan. 17. Letting the upset win slip from their grasp has been the story for them this past season and this matchup could be a change to turn things around.

Lodi’s last game of the season will be against crosstown rival Tokay and should be the last tune-up before the SJS Division 1 playoffs. Sophomore twins Drew and Sean Tetz will be the players to watch as it wraps up the regular season.

Edison's Arthur Grady Jr., center, fights for a rebound with Weston Ranch's Darrion Lilly, left, and Caleb Butler during a boys varsity basketball game at Edison in Stockton on Jan, 3, 2024.
Edison's Arthur Grady Jr., center, fights for a rebound with Weston Ranch's Darrion Lilly, left, and Caleb Butler during a boys varsity basketball game at Edison in Stockton on Jan, 3, 2024.

8. Edison (17-9) 6 points

Next game: at Franklin on Feb. 7

Taking on the No. 2 ranked SJS team, Monterey Trail is no easy feat but Edison did just that during the Super Saturday Showcase on Feb. 3. The Vikings held a lead over the Mustangs for two and half quarters before senior Brandon Gibson Jr. took the game over. Despite dropping the game 72-58, the Vikings held their own.

Leading them was senior Terrell Tek, who is the star of Edison’s offense this season. Tek finished the game with a team-high 19 points while shooting close to 70% from the field. He will be leading Edison to a playoff run in the SJS Division 1 bracket.

More: Check out the Top 10 SJ County boys basketball teams at Week 10

9. Ripon Christian (19-6) 8 points

Next game: at Ripon on Feb. 9

With a victory over Escalon on Jan. 30, only one more team stands in the Knight's way of a TVL championship. If they can beat crosstown rival Ripon on Feb. 9, they could snatch the title from the Indians. Sophomore Jake Vander Veen will look to be the guy to lead Ripon Christian to that victory.

The 6-foot-3 guard is currently leading his team offensively averaging close to 17 points per game. He has scored a team-high 382 points in his first year of playing varsity basketball. Vander Veen along with the Knight's other standout players will look to win out the rest of the regular season.

Ripon's Landon Gillespie does his walk up as the Indians announce their starting lineup for a boys basketball game during the 2023-24 season.
Ripon's Landon Gillespie does his walk up as the Indians announce their starting lineup for a boys basketball game during the 2023-24 season.

10. Ripon (21-6) 1 point

Next game: vs. Ripon Christian on Feb. 9

Ripon is holding onto first place in the TVL holding a 10-1 league record. Its only league loss this season was against the same team they’ll have to beat to win league — Ripon Christian. The Indians lost 72-60 to the Knights earlier this season a big reason why were struggling to stop their fiery offense.

They will need to lock in defensively this go-round if they want to bring home its first league banner since 2020. Seniors Landon Gillespie and Dawson Downs will be Ripon’s go-to offensively. Both are averaging around 12 points per game so far this season. Downs is also leading his team in rebounding, averaging close to eight boards per game.

On-the-bubble teams: Escalon, Bear Creek, West

Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Check out the Final Top 10 SJ County boys basketball power rankings