Here we go again, back to the East Yosemite League and what to do with a team heavy on wins and light on competition.
It occurred in football with Tulare, which stayed within Tulare-Kings counties for competition while forging a 12-0 record. The Redskins climbed no higher than fourth in our Central Section rankings before getting plowed 63-14 by El Diamante for the Division II title.
Now comes Porterville's boys basketball team. The Panthers, remaining exclusively within the section, are 17-2. The Panthers' losses occurred on neutral courts -- 41-40 to Sanger, which is 4-14, and 49-46 to Memorial, which is 14-5 and ranked eighth.
We have Porterville unranked in the section's overall top 10 and third in D-II. And that's going to have to do for now.
Andy, you are absolutely right, the Porterville program warrants little respect because they havent traveled out of Tulare and Kings counties, but I wouldnt sell them short, this is a program that has been in the Valley finals 4 years ago, losing to a perennial powerhouse in Washington Union by 5pts, when no one expected them to be within 30, and last year this program won 21 games, was the only team in the EYL to beat Valley runner-up Tulare Western and then lost to them in overtime of the quarterfinals of the playoffs.That Porterville team was all juniors and you had them ranked 9th overall at the end of last year. So whats changed? ...this porterville team went into the Polly being told Lemoore and Golden West were the teams to beat, and they squeaked one out vs. Lemoore 74-47 and Golden West by 13, and then defeated Redwood easily in the Finals. I can only say that as nice as it is to gain the respect of those around the area...the only rankings that really matter are the ones at the end of the year. Coach "O"
We know that we are not from the big towns in the central section. We know that we have not traveled outside of our area. We know that Porterville basketball is not a perennial powerhouse in the central section year in and year out. But, if you have seen this team in action any person with basketball knowledge can see that this is truely a "TEAM". We dont have any colleges salavating over any of our players, we dont have any head toppers. We just have a bunch of kids that love the game and put all of their energy and effort night in and night out in to this game. We play team basketball, and we play for eachother. Nothing else matters...... We do appreciate the press....
Andy,
I live in Tulare and I am a High School Basketball fan who enjoys going and watching games. I watched Porterville play Tulare Union last friday, and I have to say they do not look like a top 10 team to me. I also watched Monache beat Tulare Union last night, and I was more impressed with what I saw out of Monache than what I saw in Porterville. Monache is more athletic and they have more depth than Porterville. I wouldn't be surprised if Monache beat Porterville in there rivalry game next week. I have been following basketball in this area for some time now, and I have to say that this is deffinitely a down year, and no Tulare County teams deserves to be ranked in the Valleys top 10. The only team in Tulare/Kings County that deserves the hype is Hanford. Porterville may be Tulare Counties top ranked team, but in previous years they wouldnt even crack the top 5 in the area.
Hey Andy, the CIF Central Section site has Porterville in Division 3. Are they D-2 or D-3? Rick.
I too live in Tulare County and have been watching high school ball for over thirty years. I agree that this is a down year for B-Ball in Tulare County but Porterville's team is the real deal. Manual hit the nail on the head, "they are a TEAM".
Richard says they wouldn't have cracked the top 5 in Tulare County last year. Richard, these guys beat the counties best last year (Western) then lost to them in overtime in the playoffs. Its the same kids! The starting 5 has not changed. The union game was their worst outing of the season yet they found a way to win and... well just check the score from the Monache game.
Chris
Porterville is D-2. They have a hard time playing against Tulare schools this year. An overtime game at Tulare Union that they barely escaped with. Last Friday came back from a 19 point defecit in the 3rd quarter at Tulare Western. Both Tulare schools are shells of their former selves. Yet, this team that people in Tulare county are fussing about being in the top ten of the valley is rediculous! Their are teams in Bakersfield and Fresno that would destroy this squad. Only time will tell where Porterville deserves to be. Until then let them play in the Easy Yosemite League.....