With basketball season well underway and some local teams already approaching the 10-game mark, it’s time to take a stab at the first team rankings of the season. These rankings of the top seven North Bay boys teams are determined by the sports staff at The Press Democrat.

Checking in at No. 1 is Cardinal Newman. The Cardinals, the defending North Bay League Oak division champs and North Coast Section Division 2 runners-up last year, are off to a 5-1 start. Their lone loss came in overtime to Moreau Catholic, the team they lost to in the NCS Division 2 title game.

Montgomery is No. 2. The Vikings have played a tough schedule and so far have quality wins over American Canyon (52-44), Tamalpais (53-51) and Rancho Cotate (77-39). They also beat Archie Williams in their foundation game, which doesn’t count toward their official record. Their two losses are against quality opponents in St. Bernard’s (58-48) and Terra Linda (64-42).

Santa Rosa and Casa Grande were a bit of a toss-up for No. 3, but the Panthers got the early edge due to their 48-44 win over Bethel, a team that beat the Gauchos 54-42. The Gauchos also have some early quality wins over Rancho Cotate (57-55) and Windsor (58-47).

Justin-Siena has also played a tough schedule to start and is a bit hard to gauge this early. The Braves played NCS powerhouses De La Salle and Campolindo tough in losses of 55-43 and 52-43, respectively, and lost 67-57 to a top-20 NorCal team in Franklin-Sacramento. They count wins over La Salle-Pasadena (58-54), El Capitan-Merced (70-58) and Oak Ridge (70-63) among their early games.

The tail end of the top seven is a bit harder to decipher this early in the season. Windsor, Rancho Cotate, Ukiah and American Canyon all have decent cases, but the Jaguars and Wildcats get the nod for the final two spots.

Windsor has a win over American Canyon (50-47) and Ukiah has a quality win over Marin Academy (71-63). American Canyon is probably the next in.

The Wolves have some narrow losses to Montgomery (52-44) and Bethel (68-65) but have won their last three games — over Wood (61-49), Vallejo (79-33) and Hercules (73-35) — since their 0-3 start.

With the season just a few weeks old, expect shakeups in these rankings going forward.

1. Cardinal Newman (5-1)

Last week: 4-0, beat Ukiah 59-42 and won McKinleyville tournament. Beat Las Plumas 68-35, Cosumnes Oaks 69-38 and McKinleyville 55-49.

Next up: Hosting Rose City tournament.

2. Montgomery (4-2)

Last week: 2-2, beat Rancho Cotate 77-39, placed fourth at home Peterich tournament. Beat Woodside 50-35, lost to St. Bernard’s 58-48 and Terra Linda 64-42.

Next up: Arcata tournament.

3. Santa Rosa (3-2)

Last week: 3-1, placed second at Napa tournament. Beat Bethel 48-44 and Westmoor 55-43, lost to Milpitas 61-45. Also beat Vintage 58-52.

Next up: Rose City tournament at Cardinal Newman.

4. Casa Grande (4-1)

Last week: 3-1, lost to Bethel 54-42, beat Rancho Cotate 57-55, Windsor 58-47 and Healdsburg 72-30.

Next up: vs. San Rafael (3-2), Monday.

5. Justin-Siena (3-3)

Last week: 2-2, lost to Campolindo 52-43 and placed third in Rio Americano tournament. Beat El Capitan 70-58, lost to Franklin-Sacramento 67-57, beat Oak Ridge 70-63.

Next up: Freedom HS tournament: vs. Cosumnes Oaks (2-2), Friday; vs. Redwood (2-3), Saturday.

6. Windsor (1-2)

Last week: 0-2, lost to Redwood 47-20 and Casa Grande 58-47.

Next up: Arcata tournament.

7. Ukiah (3-3)

Last week: 1-3, lost to Cardinal Newman 59-42, placed sixth at McKinleyville tournament. Beat West Valley 72-47, lost to McKinleyville 73-48 and Cosumnes Oaks 75-69.

Next up: Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament in Healdsburg.

On the bubble

Rancho Cotate (2-2), American Canyon (3-3), Sonoma Academy (5-0), Vintage (3-4), Analy (6-1).