Stanislaus District Boys Basketball Rankings

LARGE SCHOOLS -- BOYS

1. (1) Merced (25-6): Also atop the list of most fun teams to watch. Unselfish Bears clearly the class of the large school ranks.

2. (2) Turlock (24-7): 'Dogs couldn't get over the hump against Merced, but played best ball in run to school's first NorCal berth.

3. (3) Manteca (23-6): Buffaloes won VOL by four games before stumbling early in the tough Division 3 section playoff bracket.

4. (4) Davis (24-5): Spartans first team to go undefeated in MMC play, and held home court in Division 1 playoffs to reach UOP.

5. (nr) Sierra (18-10): No coach did more with less than Scott Thomason, who led Timberwolves on a late six-game win streak.

6. (5) Sonora (18-10): Won six of last seven in VOL and came within three points of knocking off league-champion Manteca.

7. (nr) Johansen (17-10): Better showing in December Modesto City Classic could have springboarded Vikings to a better season.

8. (nr) Pitman (16-12): No one played Merced tougher than did the Pride, who also had a knack for losing to second-tier teams.

9. (nr) Golden Valley (15-13): Late win over Pitman, two-point loss to Merced showed how far Cougars came after slow start.

10. (nr) Modesto (12-15): An 11-game improvement after 1-16 campaign shows Donnie Wallace has Panthers moving forward.

SMALL SCHOOLS -- BOYS

1. (1) Modesto Christian (23-8): Hard to believe this team was 5-8 and foundering before Gary Porter went to platoon system.

2. (2) Calaveras (23-6): Strong and confident group gave Modesto Christian all it could handle in Division 4 section semifinals.

3. (3) Central Catholic (23-6): Guards developed just enough to complement inside game, earn two home games in D-4 playoffs.

4. (4) Hilmar (20-8): Only Central Catholic was able to beat the much-improved Yellowjackets in their home nest this season.

5. (5) Livingston (19-7): Played final game in one of area's grand gyms, but went out in style with wildly entertaining team.

6. (nr) Ripon Christian (22-8): Knights were one of the area's best half-court teams and rode that style into the D-5 NorCals.

7. (nr) Amador (23-5): Late three-point loss at Linden kept the Buffaloes from tying Calaveras for Mother Lode League crown.

8. (nr) Mariposa (24-4): Undefeated SL champs showed their strength, losing by just two to Christian Brothers in D-4 opener.

9. (nr) Escalon (17-11): Well-balanced team that did just enough scoring and rebounding to win more than its share of games.

10. (nr) Linden (14-11): Highlight of season was back-to-back wins over Ripon Christian and Central Catholic in December.