This is the year of short boys basketball teams in the Central Section. That doesn't necessarily reflect on their caliber of play. Defending Division I champion Clovis East, for example, is starting a 6-foot center, Kenneth Russell.

The exceptions to the short rule are Clovis West and Edison. The section's Nos. 1-2 teams are not only tall, but very good with 6-10 DeAndre Medlock and 6-7 Elliott Berry representing the Golden Eagles, and 6-9 Greg Smith, 6-7 Steve McClellan and 6-6 Phillip Ward playing for the Tigers.

But here's the bummer: They haven't played each other, and they won't.

The only chance was in the season-opening BCW Classic, but it was there that Edison was dumped into the consolation bracket by Bakersfield Christian in a first-round stunner, while Clovis West went on to win the tournament.

Now, with only league play and section playoffs remaining, they're on different paths -- CW in D-I and Edison in D-II.