We have 10 media members vote on the Orange County top 10 every Monday.
For the first time since I’ve been involved or followed the top 10 — and that would be since 1979 — we have a tie in the final county top 10. Mater Dei was No. 1 on the ballots of five voters. Mission Viejo was No. 1 on the other five (and, the voters who had MD at No. 1 had MV at No. 2, and vice versa).
My vote went like this:
1. Mater Dei (10-3 record)
2. Mission Viejo (14-0)
3. JSerra (7-3)
4. Orange Lutheran (6-6)
5. Servite (4-6)
6. La Habra (13-1)
7. Tesoro (9-3)
8. San Clemente (11-3)
9. Santa Margarita (5-5)
10. San Juan Hills (8-3)
As much as I wish they would play each other, Mater Dei and Mission Viejo don’t play each other in nonleague games. They play in different leagues and different playoff divisions.
So without that head-to-head result, we must look to common oppoents. And there is one: Mater Dei and Mission Viejo played Tesoro this season.
Mater Dei beat Tesoro by 21 points. Mission Viejo beat Tesoro by six points.
And that’s why Mater Dei was No. 1 on my ballot.
I can easily understand why anyone would vote Mission Viejo at No. 1. Outstanding team.
(This did not enter into my evaluations, but just in case you’re wondering … the last time Mater Dei and Mission Viejo played each other was in a 2013 playoff game won by Mater Dei, 21-14).
