Bay Area News Group high school basketball predictions: Jan. 28, 2026
The Bay Area News Group high school crew is back to predict six more prep basketball games this week from across the Bay.
All in good fun, of course.
Last week, Nathan Canilao went 5-1, taking advantage of a thrilling win by Half Moon Bay and a surprisingly comfortable win by Los Gatos to take a two-game lead over Christian Babcock and Darren Sabedra.
This week, the guys discussed Hillsdale-Half Moon Bay, Los Gatos-Fremont-Sunnyvale and San Ramon Valley-Archbishop Riordan on the girls side, as well as Valley Christian-Mitty, Willow Glen-Westmont and Dougherty Valley-Amador Valley on the boys.
Canilao went against the grain once again on the girls side. He was the only writer to pick Fremont to top Los Gatos in their Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division clash.
“They beat them at their place, and I think that’s huge,” Canilao said of the Firebirds. “They have a little bit of a psychological advantage, and so I’m going to take Fremont in an upset.”
Babcock complimented San Ramon Valley’s depth as all three panelists picked the Wolves to beat Riordan.
“They got players on JV that they’re just sort of giving seasoning so they can pull them up,” he said. “So I think they’re at a bit of a different level, and they’re going to get this one.”
Sabedra thinks he’s learned his lesson from last time and will not be picking against Dougherty Valley this time around.
“I don’t even know how to pick this league,” he said. “I mean, it’s impossible, but we’re going to try. I’m not going to go against Mike Hansen again. I’m going to take Dougherty Valley to get the W on Friday night.”
Be sure to check out the video below.
Now, on to the picks:
Round 4 picks
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wednesday
Hillsdale (12-5) at Half Moon Bay (14-3), 6 p.m.
Babcock: HMB
Canilao: HMB
Sabedra: HMB
Los Gatos (12-5) at Fremont-Sunnyvale (9-9), 7 p.m.
Babcock: LG
Canilao: Fremont
Sabedra: LG
Saturday
San Ramon Valley (18-3) at Riordan (11-5), Sat, 6 p.m.
Babcock: SRV
Canilao: SRV
Sabedra: SRV
BOYS BASKETBALL
Thursday
Valley Christian (10-6) at Mitty (10-6), 6 p.m.
Babcock: Mitty
Canilao: Mitty
Sabedra: Mitty
Willow Glen (16-1) at Westmont (15-2), 7 p.m.
Babcock: WG
Canilao: WG
Sabedra: WG
Friday
Dougherty Valley (15-7) at Amador Valley (14-8), 7:30 p.m.
Babcock: AV
Canilao: AV
Sabedra: DV
Round 3 results
BOYS BASKETBALL
Thursday
Willow Glen 64, Pioneer 46
Babcock: Willow Glen (W)
Canilao: Willow Glen (W)
Sabedra: Willow Glen (W)
Friday
Oakland 67, Oakland Tech 59
Babcock: Oakland (W)
Canilao: Oakland (W)
Sabedra: Oakland (W)
Saturday
St. Joseph’s-Santa Maria 67, Salesian 63
Babcock: Salesian (L)
Canilao: Salesian (L)
Sabedra: Salesian (L)
GIRLS
Wednesday
Los Gatos 46, Los Altos 35
Babcock: Los Altos (L)
Canilao: Los Gatos (W)
Sabedra: Los Altos (L)
Friday
Half Moon Bay 51, Menlo-Atherton 49
Babcock: M-A (L)
Canilao: Half Moon Bay (W)
Sabedra: M-A (L)
Dougherty Valley 55, Monte Vista 34
Babcock: Dougherty Valley (W)
Canilao: Dougherty Valley (W)
Sabedra: Dougherty Valley (W)
Round 3 standings
Canilao: 5-1
Babcock: 3-3
Sabedra: 3-3
Season standings
Canilao: 11-7
Babcock: 9-9
Sabedra: 9-9
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