By Ray Hamill — The College of the Redwoods men are inching closer to their highest ranking ever in men’s basketball as they get set for some big upcoming games, including a huge home showdown against the top JC program in the state.

San Francisco City College will travel to Humboldt to take on the Corsairs next week in what will be one of the biggest non-conference games ever played in the area.

The powerhouse Rams are 8-0 and the top-ranked team in the state right now and they have played in five of the past seven state championship games, winning three of them.

The mouthwatering showdown, which takes place at CR a week from Friday (6 p.m.), will give local fans a chance to see some of the very best JC basketball in the state.

The Corsairs are 7-1 and ranked No. 14 in the state, just three spots behind their all-time highest-ever ranking of No. 11.

The CR men will also be in action this week when they host their annual Coach Tregs Classic.

Head coach Ryan Bisio and his players will open the three-day tournament when they play Mendocino on Thursday at 7 p.m.

They also play Southwestern Oregon on Friday at 7, before closing out the tournament against Simpson on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.