From the Sacramento Bee

By Bill Paterson

Jesuit (13-3), Sheldon (11-3) and Pleasant Grove (15-1) – The Bee’s top three ranked teams, respectively – excelled in the preseason despite each taking on top competition throughout the state and beyond.

Their reward?

More white-knuckle games with the start of Delta River League play, which, with No. 12 Oak Ridge (9-6) and No. 14 Folsom (10-7), should really be called the Delta “Super” League.

The six-member DRL (only 8-8 Ponderosa isn’t ranked) may be second only to the Bay Area’s West Catholic Athletic League in top-to-bottom strength in Northern California.

A DRL team has won the past five Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championships – Sheldon three times, Folsom twice. Jesuit won the D-II section title in 2006, the league’s first year of existence.

The level of competition has created a dilemma for coaches, especially with a section playoff-qualifying power-rating formula that tilts strongly toward what happens during league play.

“The section has made a power league, and while it’s great for competition, it’s such a stress trying to make the playoffs,” Jesuit coach Greg Harcos said.

It’s meant some of the section’s best teams often go into the final week, even the final game, struggling to make the D-I or D-II postseason 16-team fields.

“That doesn’t seem fair, especially with some leagues having maybe one or two really strong teams,” Harcos said.

Although DRL teams will beat each other to a pulp for one more season – Sheldon plays at Jesuit this Friday – the playoff stress should lighten next season with a new section rule that any team that attains 15 wins is guaranteed a postseason berth.

Credit Jesuit’s Harcos, Sheldon coach Joey Rollings and Pleasant Grove coach John DePonte for continuing to play challenging nonleague schedules often on the road, despite the potential risks to their power ratings.

Jesuit’s losses were to Salesian of Richmond, Newark Memorial and Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco, ranked No. 5, No. 14 and No. 16, respectively, in California by MaxPreps.com. The Marauders also beat Newark Memorial, defending D-III NorCal champion Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, McClymonds of Oakland and Texas power Strake Jesuit of Houston, ranked No. 8 in the Lone Star State by MaxPreps.com.

Sheldon’s losses were to Strake Jesuit, San Jose’s Archbishop Mitty and Mayfair of Los Angeles. The latter two teams are ranked No. 3 and No. 21 in the state by MaxPreps.com. The Huskies have wins over No. 23 O’Dowd and McClymonds; Washington state No. 7 Lake Washington of Kirkland, Wash.; Kansas state No. 8 Sunrise Christian Academy of Bel Aire; Texas state No. 29 St. Thomas Catholic of Houston; and Westchester of Los Angeles (No. 31 in the state).

Pleasant Grove has a loss to state No. 41 Bakersfield and wins over No. 54 Pasadena and No. 57 King of Riverside, plus wins over Bee No. 6 Burbank, No. 7 Foothill, No. 8 Franklin, No. 11 Kennedy and No. 13 Center.

Sheldon, Jesuit and Pleasant Grove are ranked No. 10, No. 11 and No. 20, respectively, in California by Maxpreps.com.

In today’s 7 p.m. league openers, Pleasant Grove travels to Oak Ridge; Jesuit is at Ponderosa and Folsom at Sheldon. In addition to Sheldon at Jesuit on Friday, Oak Ridge plays at Folsom and Ponderosa is at Pleasant Grove.

Bulldogs make rankings debut – Folsom climbs into The Bee’s top 20 for the first time this season after beating No. 15 Granite Bay 64-53 and No. 16 Del Oro 57-53 in nonleague games last week. Senior guard Justin Woody continues to be a go-to scorer: 23 points against Granite Bay, 17 against Del Oro.

THE BEE’S TOP 20

PR – previous ranking; records through Monday

Team W-L PR

1. Jesuit 13-3 1

2. Sheldon 11-3 2

3. Pleasant Grove 15-1 3

4. Sacramento 10-4 4

5. Antelope 15-1 6

6. Burbank 11-4 5

7. Foothill 12-3 8

8. Franklin 11-4 7

9. Bella Vista 14-3 9

10. Del Campo 13-3 11

11. Kennedy 11-4 14

12. Oak Ridge 9-6 16

13. Center 12-3 12

14. Folsom 10-7 –

15. Granite Bay 8-8 10

16. Del Oro 10-6 13

17. Capital Christian 11-4 17

18. Cordova 9-5 18

19. River Valley 12-3 19

20. Cosumnes Oaks 12-5 15