HS: Winter SIMA FAB 50, Dec. 29

by Sheldon Shealer

December 29, 2015

BIG MOVERS -- BOYS: Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.). Palos Verdes moved 13 spots, from No. 45 to No. 32, following a 5-0 week. GIRLS: Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). Despite not playing, Aliso Niguel advanced four spots this week, moving from No. 16 to No. 12. Aliso Niguel's advances were tahnks to a series of losses and ties last week by four California teams that were previously ranked ahead of Aliso Niguel.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 50 Valencia/Placentia (Placentia, Calif). GIRLS: No. 49 [Kamehameha Schools - Kapalama hi-w] (Honolulu, Hawaii) and No. 50 Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.).

LOOKING AHEAD: The tournament season is winding dwn for teams in the West, but this week offers several of the most important rankings events of the season. BOYS: The Southern California High School Classic might have a bit of a misleading name since the event includes elite programs from Arizona and Northern California, as well. In any case, this is the last major event before California teams get into league play. The boys National Showcase features the likes of Cathedral (Los Angeles, Calif.), Servite (Anaheim, Calif.), St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.). Meanwhile, the Arizona Soccer Showcase continues at Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.). For good measure, the Golden State Classic in Northern California features Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), Homestead (Cupertino, Calif.), Paramount (Paramount, Calif.) and Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.). GIRLS: Teams from Arizona, California and Hawaii will be at the Excalibur event, hosted by Santa Ana Foothill. Meanwhile, most of the top programs in Arizona will be competing in the Arizona Showcase.