MaxPreps 2016-17 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section preseason high school girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Basketball Playoff
Go way back and check out footage from Sacramento High battling Modesto Christian in the 2012 playoffs.


Note: St. Mary's (Stockton) is ranked in the overall California Fab 5 and not eligible for this ranking.

1. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
Head coach: Stephen White
2015-16 record: 29-3

The Trojans graduated just one player off a massive and productive 20-person roster last season. Among those who won't return is leading scorer Hailey McCoy, a 5-foot-10 junior who averaged 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. She was the only Oak Ridge player to average in double-digits. Her family moved to San Diego. The only other close to averaging in double digits was Kassidy DeLapp, a 6-3 junior who averaged 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Trojans have been a model of consistency under White, having recorded 11 straight seasons of 20 wins or greater, including three 30-plus win seasons. In 2009-10 they went 32-3 and won a state title.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Elk Grove
Head coach: Larry Price
2015-16 record: 24-11

The Thundering Herd peaked at the right time en route to a Northern California Division II championship. Elk Grove beat Sacramento 46-45 for the NorCal title before losing in the state finals to Cajon, 55-36. The Herd return their top two scorers in Mira Shulman, a 5-9 senior who averaged 18.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, and Paiton Demps, a 5-7 senior who averaged 12.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per outing.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball stat leaders

3. Sacramento
Head coach: Michele Massari
2015-16 record: 24-10

One of the most consistent programs in the state, Sacramento returns its second-leading scorer from a year ago in 5-10 junior wing Richelle Turney. Last year she averaged 10.2 points per game. Massari has two players — Andriana Avent (7.2 ppg) and RyAnne Walters (6.9 ppg) — who were big contributors last year as freshmen.
 
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4. Vanden (Fairfield)
Head coaches: Allison Johnson, Jake Johnson
2015-16 record: 24-9

The Vikings figure to rely heavily on 5-10 senior Julia Blackshell-Fair, who averaged team bests of 14.3 points, 4.6 assists and 11.0 rebounds per game. Vanden has been one of the most successful programs in Northern California over the last 12 seasons with at least 22 wins each year. The Vikings have won 304 games in that span.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball playoff brackets

5. Antelope
Head coach: Sean Chambers
2015-16 record: 29-3 The Titans love to get up and down the court, as proven by their 67.7 scoring average last season. Much of that offense is initiated by good defense, as they averaged an impressive 17.6 steals per game. They were looking good until the Johnsons, Nadia Johnson (12.9 points per game) and Nia Johnson (12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds) tranferred to West Campus. Nadia is a 5-9 senior and Nia a 5-9 junior. Arianna Spann, a 6-foot sophomore guard, averaged 9.9 points and 8.5 rebounds as a freshman.

Note: rankings updated Nov. 16, 2016.