Irvine Valley's women's basketball team stayed at No. 7 in the latest California Community College Sports Information Association State Top 20 Poll.
The Lasers have been ranked seventh in the poll the last two weeks. IVC has a record of 21-3 overall and is 10-0 and in first place in the Orange Empire Conference.
IVC has the longest win streak in the state at 12 games.
There was a new No. 1 team this week in the poll with Palomar moving up to the top spot.
Last week was one of upsets and a message that the eventual 2018 state champion could be anyone of a number of teams. Sierra's undefeated run at 23 straight wins came tumbling down, as did its top ranking. And No. 2 Mt. San Jacinto also had its 21-game win streak snapped. That left Palomar earning 14 of 15 first-place votes as the Comets are the new No. 1-ranked team in this week's state poll.
Palomar is now responsible for both of new No. 3 MSJC's losses. Dropping to No. 2, Sierra fell in a Big 8 battle vs. No. 9 Diablo Valley, allowing the Vikings to rise three slots. City College of San Francisco climbed to No. 4, but No. 5 Sequoias was upset by No. 8 Fresno City. The Giants then turned right around and beat No. 6 and Central Valley leader Merced.
The South Coast North continues to be pick'em on most nights. Mt. San Antonio jumped up three spots to No. 11 behind a win over No. 12 LA Trade Tech, which dropped four places. East Los Angeles also tumbled four spots to No. 15 in an upset loss v. Pasadena City, moving on to the rankings for the first time at No. 20. PCC head coach Joe Peron became the 13th coach in California Community College women's basketball history to reach 500 victories.
Irvine Valley at No. 7, Ventura at No. 10, College of the Siskiyous at No. 13 all hung on to their positions in the poll. El Camino moved up a few spots to No. 14. No. 16 Chabot and No. 17 Cabrillo were two more top 20 teams that got beat last week. LA Valley (at No. 18) and Cypress (at No. 19) each moved on to the rankings while former No. 17 Feather River, No. 19 Long Beach City and No. 20 West Los Angeles fell off this week's poll.
In an interesting stat supplied by CCCAA SID Mike Robles, last week's "received votes" teams went a combined 10-1 (.909) while state Top 20 squads were winning at a .676 clip, just 25-12 during the week that was.
Irvine Valley plays at Santa Ana on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. in a conference game and then hosts one of its biggest games of the season, taking on No. 19 Cypress in a battle for first place in the OEC on Friday at 5 p.m.
Conference Updates
NORTH
Bay Valley: Unranked Los Medanos (11-2) still a 1/2 game leader over Merritt.
Big 8: Diablo Valley shares 1st place with Sierra, both 12-1.
Central Valley: Merced (8-1) still has a game lead over Sequoias.
Coast North: San Francisco at 8-0 widened its 1st place advantage to 2 games over Chabot.
Coast South: Cabrillo (8-1) has a half game lead over Mission.
Golden Valley: Siskiyous flies into a 1-1/2 game conference lead over Feather River and Lassen.
SOUTH
Orange Empire: Irvine Valley (10-0) is 1 game ahead of Cypress.
Pacific Coast North: Palomar and Mt. San Jacinto are tied at 4-1.
Pacific Coast South: Unranked San Diego City (5-0) is one game ahead of Grossmont.
South Coast North: LA Trade Tech (5-1) holds a 1 game lead over the trio of Mt. SAC, ELAC and PCC.
South Coast South: El Camino (5-0) has a comfortable 2 games lead.
Western State East: LA Valley at 6-0 is 1 game in first over Antelope Valley.
Western State North: Ventura at 6-0 advances its lead to 2 games over two teams.
Western State South: Unranked Canyons is the new leader here, a 1/2 game over West LA.
Here is the complete CCCSIA State Top 20 Rankings for February 5:
CCCSIA Women's Basketball State Poll (Feb. 5)
Rk School (first-place votes)
1. Palomar (14)
2. Sierra (1)
3. Mt. San Jacinto
4. City College of San Francisco
5. College of the Sequoias
6. Merced
7. Irvine Valley
8. Fresno City
9. Diablo Valley
10. Ventura
11. Mt. San Antonio
12. L.A. Trade-Tech
13. College of the Siskiyous
14. El Camino
15. East Los Angeles
16. Chabot
17. Cabrillo
18. L.A. Valley
19. Cypress
20. Pasadena City
Others: Feather River (19), West L.A. (18), Moorpark (18), Los Medanos (12), San Joaquin Delta (6), Merritt (3), Lassen (3), Long Beach City (2), College of the Canyons (1)
