NorCal Girls Hoops Rankings (Jan. 18)

So the shuffling at the top deserves a little explanation “¦

First, there are four teams that have separated themselves from the NorCal pack: St. Mary’s of Stockton, Berkeley, Bishop O’Dowd and Carondelet. In that group, only two teams have played each other, and St. Mary’s just beat Carondelet.

That result confirms St. Mary’s as No. 1, and that plus the Cougars’ loss to Oaks Christian, which lost to a team No. 8 Archbishop Mitty beat, is enough to slide them a hair behind the top trio.

So why does Berkeley go to No. 2? The Yellowjackets’ only loss is to No. 3 in the nation Windward of L.A., and they are 7-0 against teams in the top 20. Bishop O’Dowd has a loss to Villa Maria of Pennsylvania, a good but not great team, and is just 3-0 against the NorCal top 20.

All of which is why Berkeley is now No. 2 — but O’Dowd will have its chance to change things on Feb. 11, when the Dragons take on St. Mary’s. The “˜Jackets don’t play any of the other three, unfortunately, so for them to get to No. 1, they just have to sit back and hope for some upsets. Carondelet, of course, is on track to play St. Mary’s in the Division II NorCal finals, so the Cougars too have a shot.

And as for St. Mary’s, all the Rams have to do is keep winning, and it will be crystal clear which is the best team in Northern California.

“” Clay Kallam, contributor

All records from MaxPreps, through Jan. 17

1. (1) St. Mary’s-Stockton 12-3

2. (4) Berkeley 14-1

3. (2) Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 13-2

4. (3) Carondelet-Concord 13-3

5. (5) Sacramento 11-6

6. (6) Lincoln-Stockton 13-2

7. (7) Miramonte-Orinda 16-0

8. (8) Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 12-4 

9. (9) St. Ignatius-S.F. 13-3

10. (11) Mission San Jose-Fremont 16-1

11. (10) Terra Nova-Pacifica 11-4

12. (12) Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove 10-6

13. (13) Modesto Christian 13-4

14. (15) St. Mary’s-Berkeley 9-6

15. (16) River City-West Sacramento 18-1

16. (17) Salesian-Richmond 15-2

17. (20) Casa Grande-Petaluma 17-1

18. (19) Dougherty Valley-San Ramon 9-7

19. (NR) Wilcox-Santa Clara 14-0

20. (NR) Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa 14-3

DROPPED OUT: No. 14 Granada, No. 18 Brookside Christian-Stockton

BIGGEST MOVER: Casa Grande, which has lost only to No. 7 Miramonte, by five, jumps three spots to No. 17.

TEAMS STILL RANKED FROM PRESEASON Top 20: 15

KNOCKING AT THE DOOR: Heritage-Brentwood (14-2), Brookside Christian-Stockton (13-3), Presentation-San Jose (11-5), Santa Cruz (15-1), San Marin-Novato (16-2), El Camino-Sacramento (14-3), Monte Vista-Danville (14-3), Pleasant Valley-Chico (14-2), Palo Alto (10-3), St. Patrick St. Vincent-Vallejo (13-3), Eastside College Prep-Palo Alto (9-8),