MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

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The section basketball playoffs are in fast-forward now, be it the Central Coast, the North Coast or the Sac-Joaquin.

The Northern Section has strong teams but none with the sort of pedigree as these teams to be ranked.


1. De La Salle (Concord) (Last week: 1) (24-2)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: A.J. Kuhle
Update: Top ranked in the Bay Area, the Spartans are 2-0 in the North Coast Section D-I playoffs after bouncing College Park (Pleasant Hill) and Pittsburg as Jordan Ratinho led the way. The losses were to state power Centennial (Corona) 50-46 in the Nike Extravaganza and to Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 71-59 in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic.

2. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (2) (23-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Frank Knight
Update: The Mariners earned the top seed in the North Coast Section D-III playoffs and rolled Analy 83-40 in the quarterfinals as Damari Milstead had 23 points. Oscar Frayer has committed to Grand Canyon and had 19 points. A big recent win was beating previous No. 1 Sacramento, 77-67, in the MaxPreps Martin Luther King Classic at Cal.

3. Sacramento (3) (27-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: Derek Swafford
Outlook: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons are the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs and have rolled so far. Next is a formidable foe in Whitney (Rocklin) in a semifinal. The lone loss was to No. 2 Moreau Catholic, 77-67. Unsung performers flanking senior cornerstones Christian Terrell and Solomon Young include Andrew Williams (12.5 points a game), Sayvon Hines (12.1) and Raphael "Cinco" Durr (9.8).

4. Folsom (4) (26-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Mike Wall
Update: The Bulldogs are the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I field, just ahead of Modesto Christian and Sheldon due to head-to-head victories, and so far, so good with a quick 2-0 showing. Folsom plays No. 8 Jesuit in a semifinal at Sleep Train Arena. The defending section champions are led by Jordan Ford (19 points per game) and key cogs Tre Finch (11.4), Jared Wall (10), Alec Andrews (8.1) and Mason Forbes (11).

5. Modesto Christian (5) (28-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Coach: Richard Midgley
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Crusaders have the longest upper-division winning streak in Northern California at 28, losing only their opener to Folsom, 53-51. A tough quarterfinal win over Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) was a "wake-up call," according to players. Next is a semifinal meeting with No. 6 Sheldon. Christian Ellis (11.4 points per game) and center Robinson Idehen (16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds) lead the way for a powerhouse program that seeks its 17th section title, spanning different divisions.

6. Sheldon (Sacramento) (6) (22-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joey Rollings
Update: The Huskies are the 3-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I playoffs, having lost 79-78 to top-seeded Folsom early, which beat second-seeded Modesto Christian 53-51 early. Sheldon is 2-0 in the playoffs and rolled previously ranked Granite Bay behind balanced scoring and the versatility of Drew Cobb. Next is a semifinal showdown against No. 5 Modesto Christian. Sheldon is also led by guards Isaiah Brooks (15.1), Elishja Duplechan (14.3) and Devin Greene (8.4) and versatile wing Matthew Manning (20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds).

7. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (7) (23-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Motil
Update: Top ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, the Lancers are the top seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division field and sweated out an overtime win over Santa Cruz to set up a rivalry showdown with Mitty (San Jose). The losses were to No. 4 Folsom, 57-53, in the Father Kelly Tribute at Jesuit, and to No. 3 Sacramento, 73-53.

8. Jesuit (Carmichael) (8) (25-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Jon Rotz
Update: The Marauders earned the 4-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I playoffs and backed it up with two wins, including a spirited victory over Woodcreek in a quarterfinal to set up a semifinal showdown with No. 4 Folsom. First-year coach Jon Rotz played at Sleep Train Arena as a key Jesuit player in the early 1990s. Malik Duffy leads this Big Red group in scoring (15.9) with Ethan Pangelinan (11.1), Matt Ehrlich (10.6) and Jake Virga (9.1) all contributing regularly.

9. Serra (San Mateo) (9) (21-4)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Chuck Rapp
Update: The Padres, the No. 2 seed in the Central Coast Section Open playoffs, beat previous No. 11 Palma and now prepare for league rival Bellarmine. Serra plays strong defense and shares the ball.

10. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (10) (26-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Coach: Bill Mellis
Update: The Pride have won 19 successive games since falling to No. 5 Modesto Christian, 68-56, earned the top seed in the North Coast Section D-IV field and rolled in the first two rounds. Arcata looms in a semifinal.

11. Weston Ranch (Stockton) (14) (25-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Chris Teevan
Update: Top-ranked by the Stockton Record, the Cougars are the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III playoffs and raced to a 2-0 showing in downing Cordova (Rancho Cordova) and El Camino (Sacramento) to set up a meeting with Placer (Auburn) in a semifinal. Jaelen Ragsdale (20 points per game), Fred Lavender (15.8) and D'Angelo Finley (14.4) lead the best team in school history.

12. Newark Memorial (18) (20-8)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Craig Ash
Update: The Cougars are the 5-seed in the North Coast Section D-II playoffs, having played a much more difficult schedule than some of the higher seeds. Newak Memorial split with MaxPreps NorCal No. 2 Moreau Catholic in league play. This is a proven, state-level program.

13. Monte Vista (Danville) (22) (21-6)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Nick Jones
Update: The Mustangs are the 6-seed in the North Coast Section D-I playoffs and have played like the defending champion in eliminating Logan (Union City) and Freedom (Oakley). Spencer LaShells beat Logan with late free throws and powered Monte Vista past Freedom to set up a meeting with newly ranked Berkeley.

14. Manteca (17) (24-5)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Brett Lewis
Update: The Buffaloes, seeded third, are 2-0 in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III field and have beaten El Capitan (Merced) 70-53 and Lincoln 65-41 and now take on Vista del Lago (Folsom) in a semifinal. Anand Hundal leads the team in scoring (16.2 points), followed by Kenny Wooten Jr. (13.4) and Dwight Young (12.1).

15. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (12) (17-7)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Coast Athletic
Coach: Patrick Schneider
Update: The Bells are the 3-seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs and slugged past No. 16 Half Moon Bay in a defensive show. Now it's a familiar foe in WCAL rival Serra in the next round.

16. Half Moon Bay (13) (25-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula
Coach: Rich Forslund
Update: The Cougars, seeded sixth in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs, fell to the consolation bracket after falling to No. 15 Bellarmine. Next is No. 17 Palma. The HMB leaders are Austin Hilton (14.5 points per game), Tommy Nuno (12.4), Andrew Saffold (8.5) and Jake Salinero (8.4).

17. Palma (Salinas) (11) (23-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Kelley Lopez
Update: The Chieftains bristled at their No. 7 seed and then hurt some more after getting rolled by Serra in an opener. Palma, motivated like never before, can now regroup in the consolation bracket. Next is a regular-season matchup with No. 16 Half Moon Bay. The teams split.

18. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (NR) 14-11
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Tim Kennedy
Update: The Monarchs, a longtime power, have been hammered by injury but continue to find a way, a credit to super coach Tim Kennedy. Mitty beat No. 19 Menlo-Atherton in an Open Division opener to set up a league-rivarly meeting with top-seeded Saint Francis.

19. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) (24) (24-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula South
Coach: Mike Molieri
Update: The Bears lost a crusher to powerhouse Mitty (San Jose) in the Central Coast Section Open playoffs and now take on Santa Cruz, which nearly upset top-seeded Saint Francis. Menlo Atherton has balanced scoring with Blake Henry (12 points per game), Eric Norton (11.5), Lucas Fioretti (10.7) and Christian Fioretti (10.1). The losses were to ranked Bellarmine (58-57) and ranked Half Moon Bay (55-49).

20. Berkeley (NR) (20-7)
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda
Coach: Mark DeLuca
Update: The Yellowjackets are soaring in the North Coast Section D-I field after beating San Leandro and No. 21 Dougherty Valley. Next is a showdown with defending champion Monte Vista.

21. Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) (20) (26-2)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Mike Hansen
Update: The Wildcats blasted California (San Ramon) 78-48 in a North Coast Section D-I game and then fell to No. 20 Berkeley 42-39. Now the waiting game: Dougherty Valley expects to be picked to the NorCal D-I playoffs, particularly if De La Salle wins it.

22. Liberty Ranch (Galt) (NR) 29-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Valley
Coach: Josh Williams
Update: Rolling along in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-IV field, the lone unbeaten in these rankings is a story to behold, an example of small-school pride in a town that embraces sports. The coach — Josh Williams — is equally as impressive in sportsmanship. The top player is leading scorer Isaiah Halsey, a guard who is the heart and soul of the team. Next is a semifinal showdown against West Campus (Sacramento).

23. Woodcreek (Roseville) (18) (20-9)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Hayes
Outlook: The Timberwolves earned a late regular-season win over No. 4 Folsom in league play, eliminated Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) in a playoff opener and then were bounced by No. 8 Jesuit. The key returner will be 6-foot-10 national recruit Jordan Brown.

24. Freedom (Oakley) (16) (23-5)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Drew Torres
Update: The Falcons were the 2-seed in the North Coast Section D-I race behind MaxPreps NorCal No. 1 De La Salle and then was eliminated by defending champion Monte Vista. An early win was an 83-81 triple-overtime effort over MaxPreps NorCal No. 4 Folsom.

25 Mt. Eden (Hayward) (NR) 27-4
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda
Coach: Aaron O'Brien
Update: The Monarchs are 2-0 in the North Coast Section D-II as the No. 2 seed, beating Northgame 66-48 and Redwood (Larkspur) 55-52 to set up a meeting with third-seeded El Cerrito. Patrick Ramos, Jacob Duran, Jacob Smith, Frederick Steen and Camdenn Young-Harry lead the way.

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports in Northern California since 1984, including since 1988 for The Sacramento Bee. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacbeepreps