RANKINGS: Who's the Best Heading into CCS?

With the Central Coast Section playoffs set to begin, here are Patch's Peninsula high school rankings for basketball and soccer teams.

The weekly rankings are drawn from all San Mateo County schools, as well as schools in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.

Records include games played through Saturday, Feb. 19.

BOYS BASKETBALL

1. Serra 19-8 (Last week: 1) Romp over SHC & narrow loss to Mitty suggest Padres are peaking

2. Burlingame 24-3 (2) PAL tourney champs hope Shaffer (ankle) recovers to bolster CCS hopes

3. Sacred Heart Prep 22-2 (3) Top seed in Div. IV ready to roll in rival Menlo’s pristine gym

4. St. Francis 13-12 (4) 11-day break before CCS opener; clear path to title game vs. Mitty

5. Palo Alto 18-6 (5) SCVAL De Anza champs may see pesky Cupertino in Div. II quarters

6. Mountain View 20-4 (6) Eager to validate gaudy record with strong postseason showing

7. Gunn 15-9 (7) Hosts second-round game in Div. I; may face Watsonville & 6-foot-8 star Basor

8. Pinewood 19-5 (8) 9-point loss to Harker should be wake-up call on eve of Div. V playoffs

9. El Camino 16-10 (9) One home win = chance to stun up-and-down St. Francis in Div. II quarters

10. Mills 16-9 (10) Quick PAL tourney exit a concern; hopes to repeat last year’s CCS run at SI

GIRLS BASKETBALL

1. Pinewood 21-5 (Last week: 2) Atoned for earlier Eastside loss with late execution in WBAL final

2. Eastside College Prep 19-7 (1) Late Harvey 3-pointer didn’t fall this time against Pinewood

3. Terra Nova 23-4 (3) Moe breaks school scoring record in run to third straight PAL tourney title

4. Palo Alto 19-4 (4) Escapes loaded Div. II and becomes instant favorite in much weaker Div. I

5. Gunn 17-5 (5) Like Paly, has a real opportunity in Div. I; finished 7-3 in SCVAL De Anza

6. Mills 18-8 (6) Had Terra Nova worried until 4th in PAL final; likely to see Tigers for 4th time in CCS

7. Menlo School 16-10 (7) Young team hopes hard WBAL lessons pay off with deep Div. IV run

8. St. Francis 11-13 (8) Would become talk of CCS if it can manage another stunner over Mitty

9. Notre Dame 11-14 (9) Morris & Co. would love to cap trying year with title in winnable Div. IV

10. Sacred Heart Prep 12-10 (10) Hopes to top ’10 run to Div. IV semis but tough Soquel looms

BOYS SOCCER

1. Mountain View 15-1-3 (Last week: 1) Elite opponents from now on; may see ‘10 champ Alisal early

2. Serra 9-8-5 (3) Can’t overlook surging Woodside even with potential Bells grudge match looming

3. St. Francis 11-5-6 (2) Limped to finish line in WCAL; needs adrenaline boost heading into CCS

4. Burlingame 15-3-2 (4) Earned share of 1st PAL Bay title since ’07; focus needed with 10-day break

5. Menlo-Atherton 13-3-2 (5) CCS success elusive in recent years -- can Bears snap trend?

6. Palo Alto 8-3-8 (6) All signs point toward intriguing Div. I quarterfinal match with M-A

7. Woodside 10-5-4 (7) Ousted Serra in ’07 CCS opener in PK’s; if focused, could pull stunner again

8. Los Altos 10-6-2 (8) Hopes to put late dip in past; could face Burlingame in Div. II quarters

9. Sacred Heart Prep 17-1-1 (9) Extremely motivated after first-round CCS ouster last year

10. Carlmont 8-8-3 (10) Late fade proves costly – Scots miss CCS for first time since ‘05

GIRLS SOCCER

1. St. Francis 14-3-3 (Last week: 1) Gunning for 3rd CCS title in four years after near miss in WCAL

2. Mountain View 13-2-5 (2) Turbulent SCVAL De Anza final day leaves Spartans relieved champs

3. Aragon 13-2-5 (3) Streaked to first PAL Bay championship; team no one wants to face in CCS

4. Burlingame 10-3-5 (4) KO’d Mitty last year; would be big underdog if teams meet in Div. II quarters

5. Los Altos 8-5-7 (6) Battle tested after De Anza grind; needs to be sharp against talented Leigh

6. Gunn 9-6-5 (8) Denied Los Gatos De Anza title with upset win; draws hot Carlmont in Div. I opener

7. San Mateo 11-4-2 (5) Losing three of four costs Bearcats Bay crown; faces potent Los Gatos

8. Woodside 11-6-2 (7) Unpredictable ‘Cats could make extended Div. I run or quickly bow out

9. Carlmont 7-6-7 (9) Turned Bay race upside down with great finish; looks to reverse early loss to Gunn

10. Sacred Heart Prep 13-4-3 (10) Decorated senior class intent on second CCS crown in three years