Salesian, Sheldon separate themselves as tops in Northern California.
League play is underway across all of Northern California sections with two clear-cut front runners as to whom the best teams are.
Salesian of the North Coast Section is unbeaten and owns a 77-59 victory over No. 2 Sheldon of the Sac-Joaquin Section from a Dec. 8 tournament — the Gridley Invitational. Salesian also beat No. 5 Modesto Christian 61-56 in overtime on Dec. 22 and will take on No. 3 Bishop O'Dowd on Monday in Tri-County League play.
MaxPreps Northern California high school boys basketball Top 20
1. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond), 18-0Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Coach: Bill Mellis
Next: El Cerrito, Albany, Bishop O'Dowd
2. Sheldon (Sacramento), 15-4Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joey Rollings
Next: Elk Grove, Franklin, Dublin
3. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 9-5Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Coach: Lou Richie
Next: Mt. Eden, Castro Valley, Salesian
4. Weston Ranch (Stockton), 17-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Chris Teevan
Next: Sierra, Oakdale, Grant
5. Modesto Christian (Modesto), 13-4Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Coach: Brice Fantazia
Next: St. Mary's, Tracy, Vanden
6. De La Salle (Concord), 14-2Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Justin Argenal
Next: Livermore, Dougherty Valley, San-Joaquin Memorial
7. Dublin, 14-2Section: North Section
League: East Bay
Coach: Tom Costello
Next: Amador Valley, California, Sheldon
8. Moreau Catholic (Hayward), 11-5Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Frank Knight
Next: Newark Memorial, Logan, Notre Dame
9. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), (11-4)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Coach: Joe Curtin
Next: Mitty, Bellarmine, Saint Francis
10. James Logan (Union City), 11-4Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Melvin Easley
Next: Washington, Moreau Catholic, Pleasant Grove
11. Folsom, 16-4Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Mike Wall
Next: Del Oro, Oak Ridge, College Park
12. Rocklin, 19-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Steve Taylor
Next: Oak Ridge, Whitney, Folsom
13. San Leandro (San Leandro), 13-4Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Coach: Darrnaryl Stamps
Next: Berkeley, Mt. Eden, Piedmont
14. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 10-5Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Tim Kennedy
Next: Riordan, Serra, Sacred Heart Cathedral
15. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 12-3Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Schneider
Next: Serra, Riordan, St. Ignatius
16. Campolindo (Moraga), 12-4Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Steven Dyer
Next: Las Lomas, Clayton Valley Charter, St. Patrick-St. Vincent
17. Branson (Ross), 16-2Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Jonas Honick
Next: Novato, Redwood, Terra Linda
18. Vanden (Fairfield), 13-4Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Michael Holloway
Next: Wood, Rodriguez, Modesto Christian
19. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 11-3Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula South
Coach: Mike Molleri
Next: San Mateo, Mills, Woodside
20. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 15-5Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Rich Sondhi
Next: Rocklin, Folsom, Liberty
The Next 1021. Liberty Ranch (Galt) — 20-1
22. Grant (Sacramento) — 15-3
23. San Ramon Valley (Danville) — 10-7
24. Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) — 13-4
25. Amador Valley (Pleasanton) — 13-4
26. Serra (San Mateo) — 12-3
27. Pleasant Valley (Chico) — 14-4
28. St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) — 9-6
29. Sacramento — 9-6
30. Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.) — 14-6Joe Davidson has covered high school sports since 1984, including the last 30 years at The Sacramento Bee. Follow him on Twitter: SacBee_JoeD and on Instagram: JoeDavidsonMedia
Jaden Lazo, Salesian College Preparatory
Photo by Dan Browning
