Coming Down the Final Stretch

With only a few league games left for most area teams, here is the Whittier Daily News latest TOP 5

Keep your heads up La Mirada.

1. Cal-Hi (13-0)
Last Week's Ranking: 1
Received votes in Division III-AA, but unranked

The Condors are making Del Rio League play seem easy even though it isn't. Against the supposed contenders to the DRL crown, Cal-Hi defeated Santa Fe in three and La Serna and El Rancho in four. Cal-Hi has three games left, including the last two against Santa Fe and La Serna. However, by the time they get to the La Serna game, the league title may have been decided. The only mystery left is what it takes to get ranked by the CIF-SS.

2. La Habra (17-4)
Last Week's Ranking: 2
Ranked No. 4 in Division II-AA

Sooner or later, the Highlanders had to lose A GAME. La Habra, however, has stretched its match winning streak to nine and is crushing Freeway League opposition in a pretty convincing manner. While league play appears to be little more than a cupcake, the Highlanders have a super matchup this Saturday against Division I-AA No. 5-ranked Redondo Union. Yeah, that same Redondo team that took down Alex Klineman and National No. 1 ranked Mira Costa last season. Good Luck girls!

3. St. Paul (20-5)
Last Week's Ranking: 5
Ranked No. 6 in Division IV-AA

It's been a pretty good few days for the Swordsmen. First, St. Paul takes third in the Gabrielino Tournament on Saturday. Then the team welcomes back Victoria Polo from injury Monday. Then on Tuesday night, St. Paul goes out and wins the first team league title in 40 years. What's next, a CIF championship? Well, let's not get too far ahead here. Two more league games before the playoffs, then we can start talking CIF playoffs.

4. La Mirada (18-4)
Last Week's Ranking: 4
Ranked No. 8 in Division III-A

Boy, Wednesday afternoon at Mayfair was brutal. Up 2-1, the Mats couldn't close out a proud Mayfair bunch. It appears both teams will split the Suburban League title. However, La Mirada can't overlook Cerritos at home next Wednesday. The good news for the Mats is that they get Miranda Doing back from injury. The bad news is that this team only has two games left to a find a consistent scorer and offense for that matter.

T5. La Serna (12-9)
Last Week's Ranking: 3
Unranked in Division III-A

Last week's loss to El Rancho was disappointing but not unexpected, especially for such a young team. The Lancers finish up with three solid challenges starting with Santa Fe today. Kavanagh's team cannot overlook Whittier next Tuesday before Thursday's league finale against Cal-Hi.

T5. El Rancho (7-8)
Last Week's Ranking: Unranked
Unranked in Division III-A

Way to go Coach Ida Picon. The Dons looked dead early on with a 1-5 record while losing to average teams like Bell Gardens and Temple City. However, El Rancho has rallied around the strong play of senior middle blocker Megan Barr and looks in good position to snatch up either a Del Rio League second or third seed. The Dons season finale against Santa Fe coupled with the La Serna-Cal game may decide whether El Rancho is second, third or fourth in league.

On the bubble:
Santa Fe (8-5) and Montebello (8-6)