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High School Basketball: Here's what's on the line locally in the final week of the season

jose quintero, victorville daily press
·6 min read

We are officially in the home stretch of the high school basketball and soccer seasons with a handful of games remaining on the slate this week.

Most of the boys and girls league title races have been determined, but the races for guaranteed spots in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs will come down to the wire.

The most interesting race locally is between the Hesperia and Oak Hills boys basketball teams. Hesperia heads to Oak Hills in the season finale, in what will determine the Mojave River League title. The Scorpions knocked off Oak Hills 79-67 earlier this month.

Hesperia’s Mark Jones dribbles the the ball while guarded by Oak Hills Jaylen Contreras on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Hesperia won 79-67 and improved to 5-0 in Mojave River League action.
Hesperia’s Mark Jones dribbles the the ball while guarded by Oak Hills Jaylen Contreras on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Hesperia won 79-67 and improved to 5-0 in Mojave River League action.

The race for the Agape League title between Silver Valley and Excelsior will also come down to the wire. Silver Valley beat Excelsior 78-57 earlier this month. The Trojans host Excelsior in the season finale.

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Adelanto notched a second straight Desert Sky League title, and figures to end the season unbeaten in league play for the second straight season.

Granite Hills and Victor Valley are battling for second place, which is the only other guaranteed playoff berth from the five-team DSL. Victor Valley still has a game against Adelanto, and needs Granite Hills to lose to Barstow to force a tie for second place.

Victor Valley’s Isaiah Butler guards a Granite Hills player during the fourth quarter on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Victor Valley defeated Granite Hills 64-61.
Victor Valley’s Isaiah Butler guards a Granite Hills player during the fourth quarter on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Victor Valley defeated Granite Hills 64-61.

The Cross Valley League title has been wrapped up by Big Bear, but Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Hesperia Christian and Riverside Prep are all tied for second with 5-3 records. There will be three guaranteed playoff berths from the CVL, meaning one of those three teams will have to hope to receive an at-large bid. CIMS ends the season with games against Riverside Prep and Hesperia Christian.

Here’s a full look at the boys basketball league standings, along with the games left on the schedule.

Mojave River League Standings

1. Hesperia 8-0; 2. Oak Hills 7-1; 3. Burroughs 4-4; 4. Serrano 4-4; 5. Apple Valley 1-7; 6. Sultana 0-8

Wednesday's Games — Oak Hills at Serrano, 6 p.m.; Sultana at Hesperia, 6 p.m.; Apple Valley at Burroughs, 6 p.m.

Friday's Games — Hesperia at Oak Hills, 6 p.m.; Burroughs at Serrano, 6 p.m.; Apple Valley at Sultana, 7 p.m.

Adelanto’s Komari Lewis shoots the ball during the third quarter against Victor Valley on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Adelanto beat Victor Valley 63-52 and improved to 4-0 in Desert Sky League play.
Adelanto’s Komari Lewis shoots the ball during the third quarter against Victor Valley on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Adelanto beat Victor Valley 63-52 and improved to 4-0 in Desert Sky League play.

Desert Sky League Standings

1. Adelanto 7-0; 2. Granite Hills 4-3; 3. Victor Valley 3-3; 4. Barstow 2-4; 5. Silverado 0-6

Tuesday's Games — Barstow at Silverado, 7 p.m.; Victor Valley at Adelanto, 7 p.m.

Thursday's Games — Victor Valley at Silverado, 7 p.m.; Granite Hills at Barstow, 7 p.m.

Cross Valley League Standings

1. Big Bear 8-0; 2. Hesperia Christian 5-3; 3. CIMS 5-3; 4. Riverside Prep 5-3; 5. AAE 1-7; 6. University Prep 0-8

Tuesday's Games — University Prep at Big Bear, 6 p.m.; CIMS at Riverside Prep, 7 p.m.; Hesperia Christian at AAE, 7 p.m.

Thursday's Game — Riverside Prep at Big Bear, 7 p.m.

Friday's Games AAE at University Prep, 7 p.m.; CIMS at Hesperia Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Silver Valley’s Jayden Young shoots the ball during the second half against Riverside Prep on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Silver Valley defeated Riverside Prep 83-43 for its 18th-straight victory.
Silver Valley’s Jayden Young shoots the ball during the second half against Riverside Prep on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Silver Valley defeated Riverside Prep 83-43 for its 18th-straight victory.

Agape League Standings

1. Silver Valley 12-0; 2. Excelsior 11-1; 3. ACE 9-3; 4. Lucerne Valley 4-7; 5. Victor Valley Christian 3-6; 6. Summit Leadership Academy 1-8; 7. PAL Academy 0-7; 8. Apple Valley Christian 0-8

Tuesday's Games — Summit Leadership Academy at Apple Valley Christian, 3:30 p.m.; Silver Valley at Victor Valley Christian 5:30 p.m.; ACE at Excelsior, 7 p.m.; PAL Academy at Lucerne Valley, 7 p.m.

Friday's Games — Summit Leadership Academy at ACE, 5:30 p.m.; Excelsior at Silver Valley, 7 p.m.; Victor Valley Christian at Lucerne Valley, 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball

In the Mojave River League race, Burroughs made things interesting after pulling off a 52-44 victory over Oak Hills last week.

Oak Hills' Delani Crawford shoots the ball during the second half against Silverado on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Silverado pulled off a 45-39 victory over Oak Hills.
Oak Hills' Delani Crawford shoots the ball during the second half against Silverado on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Silverado pulled off a 45-39 victory over Oak Hills.

Both teams are 7-1 in league play with two games left to play, against squads they’ve beaten earlier in the season.

Hesperia currently holds a one game lead in third place at 4-4, while Serrano and Apple Valley are both tied for fourth at 3-5.

Hesperia can clinch that final playoff spot with a victory over Sultana, which has not won a game in MRL play this season.

Silverado needs just one victory over the final two games to clinch the Desert Sky League title, with Adelanto on the verge of clinching second place in the standings.

Adelanto’s Nina Lacy recovers a rebound during the third quarter against Silverado on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Silverado defeated Adelanto 72-46 and improved to 2-0 in Desert Sky League action.
Adelanto’s Nina Lacy recovers a rebound during the third quarter against Silverado on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Silverado defeated Adelanto 72-46 and improved to 2-0 in Desert Sky League action.

Hesperia Christian is also in the same position, with a two-game lead in the Cross Valley League standings. But Tuesday’s game between Riverside Prep and CIMS figures to determine second place in the league. If CIMS loses both games this week, University Prep could make a jump to being tied for third place in the standings with two victories.

Meanwhile, the lone girls squad that has claimed a league title is Lucerne Valley. The Mustangs clinched a third-straight Agape League title with a 44-21 victory over Excelsior last week.

Lucerne Valley has now won 30 consecutive games in Agape League play, dating back to the 2020 season.

Here’s a full look at the girls basketball league standings, along with the games left on the schedule.

Mojave River League Standings

1. Oak Hills 7-1; 2. Burroughs 7-1; 3. Hesperia 4-4; 4. Serrano 3-5; 5. Apple Valley 3-5; 6. Sultana 0-8

Wednesday Games — Hesperia at Sultana, 6 p.m.; Burroughs at Apple Valley, 6 p.m.; Serrano at Oak Hills, 6 p.m.

Friday's Games — Sultana at Apple Valley, 6 p.m.; Serrano at Burroughs, 6 p.m.; Oak Hills at Hesperia, 6 p.m.

Silverado’s Elizabeth Udeze shoots a three-pointer while guarded by Adelanto’s Divine Flournoy during the third quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Silverado defeated Adelanto 72-46 and improved to 2-0 in Desert Sky League action.
Silverado’s Elizabeth Udeze shoots a three-pointer while guarded by Adelanto’s Divine Flournoy during the third quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Silverado defeated Adelanto 72-46 and improved to 2-0 in Desert Sky League action.

Desert Sky League Standings

1. Silverado 6-0; 2. Adelanto 5-2; 3. Victor Valley 3-3; 4. Barstow 1-5; 5. Granite Hills 1-6

Tuesday's Games — Silverado at Barstow, 5:30 p.m.; Adelanto at Victor Valley, 6 p.m.

Thursday's Games — Barstow at Granite Hills, 3 p.m.; Silverado at Victor Valley, 6 p.m.

Cross Valley League Standings

1. Hesperia Christian 8-0; 2. Riverside Prep 6-2; 3. CIMS 5-3; 4. University Prep 3-5; 5. AAE 2-6; 6. Big Bear 0-8

Tuesday's Games — CIMS at Riverside Prep, 5:30 p.m.; University Prep at Big Bear, 5:30 p.m.; Hesperia Christian at AAE, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday's Game — Riverside Prep at Big Bear, 6 p.m.

Friday's Games — AAE at university Prep, 5:30 p.m.; Riverside Prep at Big Bear, 6 p.m.; CIMS at Hesperia Christian, 6 p.m.

Lucerne Valley's Jasmine Pepper, right, goes up for a rebound during a recent game against ACE. Pepper, a freshman, is one of the top players for the Mustangs, which recently captured a third straight Agape League title.
Lucerne Valley's Jasmine Pepper, right, goes up for a rebound during a recent game against ACE. Pepper, a freshman, is one of the top players for the Mustangs, which recently captured a third straight Agape League title.

Agape League Standings

1. Lucerne Valley 9-0; 2. Excelsior 6-2; 3. ACE 5-4; 4. Silver Valley 4-4; 5. Apple Valley Christian 1-8

Tuesday's Games — Silver Valley at Victor Valley Christian, 4 p.m.; ACE at Excelsior, 5 p.m.

Friday's Games — Excelsior at Silver Valley, 5 p.m.; Victor Valley Christian at Lucerne Valley, 5:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Here's what's on the line in the final week of the basketball season