At this point in the season, teams are beginning to pull ahead in the Foothill League standings, while others are grasping for wins.

Canyon (6-4, 3-0):

The Cowboys sit atop the Foothill League with an unblemished 3-0 league record. The most recent win for Canyon came against the 6-7 Highland Bulldogs. 

The bout was decided by seven points in favor of Canyon with a final score of 58-51.

Junior, Shannen Wilson paved the way to victory boasting 25 points and tying Brooke Philips for a team high of seven rebounds.

Throughout the season Wilson has led the team with 16.2 points per game, with freshman Darby Dunn averaging just a point less with 15.2.

Dunn and senior Lanie Rafkind played pivotal roles in the game’s final outcome, contributing a combined 18 points.

As formidable as the shooting trio was, the Cowboys’ defense matched their intensity with six steals.

The Cowboys look to harness the moment as they travel to Arizona for the Nike Tournament of Champions that begins Wednesday.

Hart (7-3, 3-0):

The Hawks are blazing through league play, defeating Valencia, Golden Valley, and Saugus by margins of 25 points or more.

However, in their most recent game against Birmingham, Hart suffered a narrow 52-50 loss. Despite outscoring Birmingham in the second half, their comeback effort fell just short.

Hart will have another tough opponent Friday when they take on Rancho Cucamonga in the first game of the La Salle Winter Showcase.

Valencia (9-1, 3-1):

Since losing to Hart 65-35 on Dec. 3, Valencia has been on a roll, outscoring their last four opponents 259 to 112.

The strongest showing from Valenica’s previous quad of games was against West Ranch when they downed the Wildcats 77-12.

Freshman Kamilla Basyrova was a threat, tallying 25 points, five blocks, four assists and a rebound.

Valencia’s young talent shone brightly throughout the game, starting with sophomores Kaydence Johnson and Keira McLaughlin, who led the team with six steals each towards a team total of 29. McLaughlin also contributed impressively on defense with four blocks.

The chance the Vikings have to showcase their talent is on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Palisades.

Castaic (5-6, 1-2):

Castaic’s season has been a roller coaster ride marked by numerous highs and lows.

Lately, the Coyotes have been trending upward as they build upon a two-game win streak, coming against SCCS and The Palmdale Aerospace Academy.

In Castatic’s close 42-41 win over SCCS, seniors Alana Clark and Trinity Haddad accounted for 30 of the teams’ points. Haddad additionally showcased her defensive talent with 12 steals.

The Coyotes have the opportunity to have its longest win streak (3) of the season when they challenge Trinity on Friday at 5 p.m.

Saugus (2-6, 1-3):

The Centurions have been in a rough patch this season, with a number of close games dropped.

From the beginning of the season, Saugus has struggled to have a consistent offensive drive but has shown life during a close 47-46 loss to Canyon and a dominant 74-21 win over West Ranch.

With ample time remaining in the season, Saugus has an opportunity to climb the rankings if they can stay focused. Their comeback journey kicks off Thursday at the Santa Barbara Tournament.

Golden Valley (2-8, 0-3):

Much like Saugus, Golden Valley has not had an ideal start to the season, beginning with a four-game losing streak.

The Grizzlies have struggled to supply a sufficient amount of points, with the top three scores averaging less than nine points per game.

Defensively, Golden Valley has struggled to force turnovers and hold the opposing team’s top scorers.

With half the season still ahead, the Grizzlies have a chance to make a playoff push if they can turn things around starting now.

West Ranch (4-5, 1-3):

At the halfway point of the season, West Ranch finds itself in the middle of the Foothill League standings with a 1-3 league record.

In their last three league games, the Wildcats have allowed over 71 points while failing to score more than 21 points in any contest.

Before this three-game skid, West Ranch showed promise with four wins and competitive performances in their two non-league losses.

With Golden Valley and Saugus still having time to turn their seasons around, West Ranch also has a chance to bounce back. They can take the first step in the right direction Friday at 4 p.m. against Vaughn High School.

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