MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

After a holiday season of tournaments and travel, league play starts for Northern California programs expecting championships.

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1. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (last ranking: 1) 5-2
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Update: Top ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle, the defending NorCal Open Division champion Dragons have lost only to out-of-state powerhouses despite big efforts from top players Ivan Rabb and Paris Austin. A big nonleague game looms Saturday against No. 7 Sacramento.

2. Folsom (3) 11-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: The Sacramento Bee No. 1-ranked Bulldogs lost only to out-of-state powers in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic. Folsom rallied from 33-12 down at the half to beat previous No. 2 Mitty (San Jose) 62-59 behind guard Jordan Ford, who had 33 second-half points. Sierra Foothill League action starts this week.

3. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (2) 6-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Update: Top ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, the Monarchs won a tournament at Jesuit (Carmichael), beat previous No. 4 El Cerrito and then took on a monstrous field at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic, losing 62-59 to No. 2 Folsom. Ben Kone and Sebastian Much lead the way. West Catholic Athletic League action starts this week.

4. De La Salle (Concord) (8) 9-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The loss was to defending CIF State Division IV champion Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 61-55 in the finals of the SoCal Christmas Classic Championship. East Bay Athletic League action starts this week.

5. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (6) 6-5
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Update: The defending NorCal Division IV champions, led by Oscar Frayer and Damari Milstead, had a strong showing at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic and have losses only to out-of-area heavies. An earlier win was 59-51 over then-No. 5 Modesto Christian. Mission Valley play starts this week.

6. Campolindo (Moraga) (NR) 9-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Update: The surging Cougars have wins over No. 7 Sacramento (66-65), No. 8 El Cerrito (67-63), No. 11 Modesto Christian 72-63, No. 25 Salesian (66-51) and previously ranked Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (69-57).

7. Sacramento (7) 9-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Update: The Dragons and leaders Solomon Young and Christian Terrell had a strong showing at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic and opened Metropolitan League play this week as the favorite. A Saturday showdown looms with No. 1 O'Dowd.

8. El Cerrito (4) 9-2
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Update: The Gauchos beat No. 8 Drake 58-53 and have losses of 70-61 to No. 3 Mitty and 67-63 to No. 7 Campolindo. Tri-County Rock League play starts this week.

9. Drake (San Anselmo) (11) 11-2
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Update: The defending NorCal Division III champions, led by Jesse Hunt, have a 65-64 loss to No. 5 Moreau Catholic and a 58-53 setback to No. 7 El Cerrito with a win over No. 6 Campolindo 59-49. Marin County League play starts this week.

10. Monte Vista (Danville) (12) 10-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The defending Division I state champions graduated all five starters and yet are still off to a fast start as North Bay League play starts this week. Monte Vista plays No. 2 Folsom on Saturday in the Father Kelly Tribute at Jesuit.

11. Modesto Christian (5) 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Update: Despite 21 points from Anthony Townes, the Crusaders lost to No. 6 Campolindo 72-63 in the finals of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Tournament. Modesto Metro Conference play starts this week with a Saturday nonleague game against No. 8 El Cerrito.

12. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (NR) 9-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Update: The Lancers beat No. 13 San Ramon Valley 60-53 to win their holiday Tournament behind Noah Stapes. West Catholic Athletic League play starts this week.

13. San Ramon Valley (Danville) (13) 10-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: A big win early was over No. 20 Berkeley 67-56, with a 60-52 setback to No. 12 Saint Francis. East Bay League action starts this week.

14. Woodcreek (Roseville) (14) 12-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: One loss was to No. 2 Folsom, 59-47, as star 6-foot-9 freshman forward Jordan Brown sat with a bad ankle, and there was a 45-44 setback to No. 10 Monte Vista. Sierra Foothill League action starts this week.

15. St. Mary's (Stockton) (9) 10-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City
Update: Early wins include Granite Bay (60-55) and previously ranked Jesuit (Carmichael) (72-61), with a setback to No. 3 Mitty (75-66). Next is a nonleague game against No. 6 Campolindo.

16. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (15) 8-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Outlook: An early loss was to top-ranked O'Dowd (59-41) as West Catholic Athletic League play starts this week.

17. Sheldon (Sacramento) (17) 3-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: Gearing up for Delta League play after a strong finish to beat Rocklin 84-71, the Huskies are led by guards Devin Greene and Isaiah Brooks.

18. Kennedy (Sacramento) (NR) 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Update: The Cougars battled No. 7 Sacramento to the wire in the St. Hope Classic and now compete against the Dragons for the Metropolitan League title.

19. Capital Christian (Sacramento) (20) 7-7
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee all of last season, the Cougars are rounding into form with a new starting lineup as Golden Empire League play starts this week. Losses include to No. 14 Woodcreek (58-47) and No. 18 Kennedy (66-62).

20. Berkeley (23) 7-3
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Update: The Yellowjackets have an opening win over previously ranked St. Joseph (Alameda) and losses to No. 7 Sacramento (62-61) and No. 13 San Ramon Valley (67-56). West Alameda County League play starts this week.

21. Serra (San Mateo) (NR) 8-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Update: The Padres are playing strong defense in holding teams regularly below 40 points, a good thing with West Catholic Athletic League play starting this week.

22. Half Moon Bay (NR) 11-0
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula North
Update: The Cougars have size and skill in Austin Hilton and terrific coaching in Rich Forslund. Peninsula League action starts this week.

23. Grant (Sacramento) (NR) 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Pacers are off to a fast start behind guard play and depth, with football players rounding into shape. Delta League action starts this week.

24. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (24) 7-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: Two early losses were without star center Marquese Chriss, and wins include No. 25 Salesian (74-66). Delta League action starts this week.

25. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (22) 9-3
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Outlook: The Pride have early losses to No. 6 Campolindo (66-51) and No. 24 Pleasant Grove (74-66) with a win over previously ranked Sacred Heart Cathedral (43-40). Tri-County League Rock play starts this week.

The Sacramento Bee on what to expect in the regional basketball season.... Click here

The Sacramento Bee Preps Show forecasts area basketball.... Click here

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty the weekly Bee Preps Show that airs on ComcastSportsNet California and can be found on sacbee.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through www.facebook.com/sacbeepreps