What a week it was.
It started with one of the most bizarre finishes you will ever see and went from there.
The results gives us a change at the top for the first time.
No. 1 Casa Grande (14-7) (Last week No. 2) …No doubt they would like to have the last :30 seconds of the Cardinal Newman game back, but still has a one game lead in the NBL race.  Talk about your character test.  They responded nicely to that the rest of the week.

No. 2 Montgomery (12-9) (3)…This is as close a call as the NBL race is.  Montgomery healthy for the first time in the New Year and as it showed against Cardinal Newman, healthy is a big thing.  The impressive win over Cardinal Newman, part of a 3-0 week.
No. 3 Cardinal Newman (19-2) (1)… They really had a two loss week.  Well it should have been a two loss week.  Four games in six days made for a busy week.  They ended up the week with a make-up game against Central Catholic, which was supposed to be the first round of the Rose City tournament.  That has to be the longest tournament win in the history of sports.
No. 4 Elsie Allen (17-5) (4)…They might be undervalued here. They look so out of place this high.  They will play as the first place team for the first time in school history on Wednesday.  If that goes well then they will have a chance to break the school record for wins Friday night when they host Analy.
No. 5 Windsor (13-7) (6)…Here comes the moment of truth with the top three teams in the rankings lined up. After a trip to Cardinal Newman on Tuesday, they have home games against Casa Grande on Thursday and Montgomery next Monday.
No. 6 Piner (12-6) (5)…After being handled by Elsie Allen, faces must win against Analy if they are to stay in Sonoma County League race.
No 7 Cloverdale (14-5) (9)…Takes over first place in NCL I. Might regret the non-league loss to Fortuna come playoff time.
No. 8 Analy (10-11) (8)…Unexpected loss to Sonoma Valley puts them in a little trouble. This could be the week to decide if they will win another SCL crown, with games at Piner and Elsie Allen.
No. 9 Willits (16-4) (7)…Surprising loss to Clear Lake knock them out of the first place tie with Cloverdale. Can get back into the tie Tuesday Night when they host Eagles.
No. 10 Sonoma Valley (10-11) (NR)…An improving program gets a big win at Analy. That puts them in good shape for a plus .500 league finish for the first time since 2010.

 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jalen Busby, Elsie Allen…A week of big time performances made this a tough choice, but      how  can you ignore his performance in the first place showdown against Piner.  Not only  did he  score the 42 points, but he also had ten rebounds for his sixth double-double of the  year.  His  average is now 21.1 a game and over eight rebounds.  It is the third time that Busby has won the Player of the Week honor.  No one else has won the honor twice.
 
POWER RANKINGS
While there were changes in the YSN rankings, not much of a chance here.  Although there are some new teams listed.
No. 1 (Last Week 1) Cardinal Newman
No. 2 (2) Montgomery
No. 3 (3) Casa Grande
No. 4 (5) Windsor
No. 5 (4) Piner
No. 6 (6) Cloverdale
No. 7 (7) Elsie Allen
No. 8 (9) Analy
No. 9 (NR) Willits
No. 10 (NR) Kelseyville
 
WEEK SCHEDULE
NORTH BAY LEAGUE
TUESDAY
Rancho Cotate at No. 1 Casa Grande
Maria Carrillo at No. 2 Montgomery
No. 5 Windsor at No. 3 Cardinal Newman
Ukiah at Santa Rosa
THURSDAY
No. 1 Casa Grande at No. 5 Windsor
No. 2 Montgomery at Rancho Cotate
No. 3 Cardinal Newman at Ukiah
Santa Rosa at Maria Carrillo
SONOMA COUNTY LEAGUE
MONDAY
No. 8 Analy at No. 6 Piner
Petaluma at No. 10 Sonoma Valley
El Molino at Healdsburg
Elsie Allen BYE
WEDNESDAY
El Molino at No. 4 Elsie Allen
No. 6 Piner at Petaluma
Healdsburg at No. 8 Analy
No. 10 Sonoma Valley BYE
FRIDAY
No. 8 Analy at No. 4 Elsie Allen
No. 10 Sonoma Valley at No. 6 Piner
Petaluma at Healdsburg
El Molino BYE
NON LEAGUE
El Molino at St. Helena
NCL I
TUESDAY
No. 7 Cloverdale at No. 9 Willits
Kelseyville at Fort Bragg
Lower Lake at Clear Lake
St. Helena at Middletown
FRIDAY
Lower Lake at No. 7 Cloverdale
No. 9 Willits at Fort Bragg
Middletown at Kelseyville
Clear Lake at St. Helena
NON LEAGUE
El Molino at St. Helena
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