BC girls Top 10 hoop ranks 01.16.24: It’s all about the rise and fall! Two new No. 1s, plus big climbers at Argyle, Yale, OKM and SMUS highlight a parity-filled party!

LANGLEY — Over a senior girls high school basketball season in which parity is clearly showing itself to be the norm within the province’s two largest tiers, the key plot line is all about the rise and fall.

That’s the story behind the first Top 10 rankings of 2024, with new No. 1’s at both the Quad-A and Triple-A tiers.

To avoid confusion, no new official Top 10 rankings in B.C.’s three largest tiers were released over the final two weeks of 2023, despite the fact that at the Quad-A and Triple-A level, virtually every ranked team took part in the Tsumura Basketball Invitational held Dec. 13-16 at the Langley Events Centre.

There, was, however, a set of Quad-A Top 10 rankings issued Dec. 26 by B.C. Sports Hub which was representative of where teams stood at the 4A tier heading into the holiday break.

As we feel it is important to state where every team in any new Top 10 was ranked the previous week, we have used B.C. Sports Hub’s rankings from Dec. 26 to help illustrate where 4A teams were sitting prior to the new poll which was released on Tuesday.

For the record, we have included both of the last Top 10 Quad-A rankings for that very purpose and each includes its release date to avoid confusion.

Defending B.C. champ Riverside of PoCo has moved back into its preseason No. 1 slot. Former No. 1 Seaquam of North Delta took a bit of tumble after losing to Abbotsford’s former No. 6 Yale Lions 82-59 in the semifinals of the the G.W. Graham Top 10. That contest was the catalyst in dropping the ‘Hawks to No. 5 and elevating the Lions to No. 3.

North Vancouver’s Argyle Pipers, No. 1 heading into the TBI in mid-December, moved back up to No. 2 following a single-game exhibition win over Yale on Monday evening.

Victoria’s SMUS Blue Jags lost 54-48 to Yale in the Top 10 championship final on Saturday, but its strong overall performance moved it to No. 1 in the Triple-A rankings. 

The latest Triple-A (Jan. 14), Double-A (Jan. 14) and Single-A ( Dec. 21) are also included below.

Jan. 16, 2024

QUAD-A

1 Riverside Rapids (Port Coquitlam) (FN) (LW-2)

2 Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (VSS) (4)

3 Yale Lions (Abbotsford) (EV) (6) 

4 Okanagan Mission Huskies (Kelowna) (TOK) (8) 

5 Seaquam Seahawks (North Delta) (SF) (1)

6 Burnaby Central Wildcats (FN) (3)

7 South Delta Sun Devils (SF) (9)

8 Kelowna Owls (TOK) (5)

9 G.W. Graham Grizzlies (Chilliwack) (EV) (7)

10 Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils (Coquitlam) (FN) (NR)

Honourable mention — Claremont Spartans (Victoria) (VI) (NR), Walnut Grove Gators (Langley) (EV) (NR), Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs (Vancouver) (VSS) (NR)

Dec. 26, 2023

QUAD-A (courtesy B.C. Sports Hub)

1 Seaquam Seahawks (North Delta) (SF) (LW-3)

2 Riverside Rapids (Port Coquitlam) (FN) (1)

3 Burnaby Central Wildcats (FN) (4)

4 Argyle Pipers (North Vancouver) (VSS) (1)

5 Kelowna Owls (TOK) (5)

6 Yale Lions (Abbotsford) (EV) (9) 

7 G.W. Graham Grizzlies (EV) (Chilliwack) (7)

8 Okanagan Mission Huskies (Kelowna) (TOK) (6)

9 South Delta Sun Devils (SF) (8)

10 Oak Bay Breakers (VI) (HM)

TRIPLE-A

1 St. Michaels University School Blue Jags (VI) (LW-3) 

2 Brookswood Bobcats (Langley) (EV) (1)

3 South Kamloops Titans (TOK) (2)

4 MEI Eagles (Abbotsford) (EV) (4)

5 Reynolds Roadrunners (Victoria) (VI) (5)

6 College Heights Cougars (Prince George) (HM)

7 Sa-Hali Sabres (Kamloops) (TOK) (6) 

8 Robert Bateman Timberwolves (Abbotsford) (EV) (8) 

9 W.L. Seaton Sonics (Vernon) (TOK) (HM)

10 Duchess Park Condors (Prince George) (NC) (HM)

Honourable mention — Vernon Panthers (TOK) (9), R.A. McMath Wildcats (Richmond) (SF) (10), Mark Isfeld Ice (Courtenay) (VI) (HM), Clayton Heights Riders (Surrey) (SF) (HM), Pitt Meadows Marauders (FN) (HM), Sir Charles Tupper Tigers (Vancouver) (VSS) (NR)

DOUBLE-A

1 Mulgrave Titans (West Vancouver) (VSS) (LW-1)

2 Langley Christian Lightning (Langley) (EV) (2)

3 Pacific Christian Pacers (Victoria) (VI) (3)

4 Holy Cross Crusaders (Surrey) (SF) (4)

5 St. Thomas More Knights (Burnaby) (FN) (5)

6 Notre Dame Jugglers (Vancouver) (VSS) (7) (HM)

7 Abbotsford Christian Knights (EV) (10)

8 Kalamalka Lakers (Coldstream) (TOK) (9)

9 Britannia Bruins (VSS) (6)

10 Abbotsford Traditional Titans (EV) (7)

Honourable mention — Fernie Falcons (KOO) (8), Southridge Storm (Surrey) (SF) (HM),, St. Patrick’s Celtics (Vancouver) (VSS) (HM), Lambrick Park Pride (Victoria) (VI) (HM)

SINGLE-A

1 Credo Christian Kodiaks (Langley) (EV) (LW-1)

2 Pacifc Christian Pacers (Victoria) (VI) (2)

3 Unity Christian Flames (Chilliwack) (EV) (3)

4 Kelowna Christian Knights (TOK) (4)

5 St. Ann’s Academy Crusaders (Kamloops) (TOK) (5)

6 Nanaimo Christian Trail Blazers (VI) (6)

7 Duncan Christian Chargers (VI) (7)

8 Grand Forks Wolves (KOO) (8)

9 Cedars Christian Eagles (Prince George) (NC) (9)

10 Immaculata Mustangs (Kelowna) (TOK) (NR)

Honourable mention — Bulkley Valley Christian Royals (Smithers) (NW) (HM), Aberdeen Hall Gryphons (Kelowna) (TOK) (10), Ft. St. James Falcons (NC) (HM), Maple Ridge Christian Hornets (FN) (HM), King David Lions (Vancouver) (VSS)

ZONE KEY

Eastern Valley — EV

Fraser North — FN

South Fraser — SF

Kootenays — KOO

North Central — NC

North West — NW

Thompson-Okanagan — TOK

Vancouver Island — VI

Vancouver Sea To Sky — VSS

If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at howardtsumura@gmail.com.