High school boys basketball: Final California Top 25 team rankings

After five failed previous attempts, the boys basketball team at Etiwanda finally got over the hump Saturday night by winning its first Southern California regional championship with a 68-65 Open Division win at previously unbeaten Torrey Pines. With the victory, Etiwanda also earned the season-ending top spot in the MaxPreps California Top 25 rankings.

According to the Press-Enterprise, Marcus Green had 22 points and Jahmai Mashack added 21 as Etiwanda (14-2) took a commanding 17-point halftime lead before holding on in the title game. It came just two days after upsetting three-time defending regional Open champion Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 82-76, and five days after defeating the state's winningest program, Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 71-62.

Nick Herrmann had a game-high 24 points in the championship game for Torrey Pines, which entered the game 30-0.

The victory was particularly sweet for the Eagles, who had lost some previously painful regional finals, particularly the last two seasons, squandering big second-half leads to Sierra Canyon and Chino Hills.

In the final rankings, Etiwanda earned the No. 1 spot, edging No. 2 Torrey Pines which had earlier in the year defeated Southern Section Open champion Centennial (Corona). The Huskies finished No. 3 based upon their win over No. 4 Sierra Canyon in the SS Open championship game.

Compare these human rankings with the MaxPreps computer rankings, which were posted twice a week during the entire season.

Due to the pandemic and four of the five Northern sections not even attempting playoffs, there were no state championships for a second straight year. See all 12 Southern California regional brackets and champions crowned. Final MaxPreps California Top 25 Basketball Rankings

1. Etiwanda
Record: 14-2 | Fact: Beat teams with combined records of 73-4 in the regional.

2. Torrey Pines (San Diego)
Record: 30-1 | Fact: Had won 18 straight home games and 46 of 48 overall before Saturday.

3. Centennial (Corona)
Record: 21-2 | Fact: Opted out of the Southern California regional for players to focus on college recruiting.

4. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Record: 16-2 | Fact: Lost two of final three games.

5. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Record: 23-4 | Fact: Won 1-AA Regional with 70-68 championship win over Ribet Academy.

6. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Record: 27-4 | Fact: Lost its final two games, including 71-62 to Etiwanda in first-round regional.

7. Damien (La Verne)
Record: 29-4 | Fact: After 102-71 first-round win over St. Joseph, lost Open regional semifinal to Torrey Pines, 63-42.

8. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City)
9. Campolindo (Moraga)
Record: 15-0 | Fact: Played all but few games without top player Aidan Mahaney, a top 2022 recruit.

10. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
Record: 16-1 | Fact: Pepperdine signee Mike Mitchell led the charge in CCS final, with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

11. Modesto Christian (Modesto)
Record: 15-0 | Fact: Only one senior on team's 12-member roster.

12. Ribet Academy (Los Angeles)
Record: 13-5 | Fact: Won two 1-AA regional games, including 89-56 over top-seed Westchester before dropping 78-68 final to St. John Bosco.

13. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Record: 17-3 | Fact: Lost 63-60 in San Diego Section Open final to Torrey Pines, 63-60.

14. St. Joseph (Santa Maria)
Record: 27-3 | Fact: Won Central Section Open championship; Five players averaged at least 12 points per game. 

15. San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno)
Record: 22-3 | Fact: Lost CS Open title game to St. Joseph (70-64) before regional opener to Harvard-Westlake (78-70).

16. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco)
Record: 14-4 | Fact: Lost in Central Coast Section Open final to Mitty.

17. Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach)
Record: 20-4 | Fact: Fifth-seed won the Southern California 1-A Regional with three wins, including  65-38 over Capistrano Valley in the finals.

18. Capital Christian (Sacramento)
Record: 12-2 | Fact: Finished on five-game win streak.

19. Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo)
Record: 17-4 | Fact: Two impressive 1-A regional wins before decisive loss in finale to Santa Fe Christian.

20. Chaminade (West Hills)
Record: 21-4 | Fact: Eliminated in Southern California 1-A Regional by Capistrano Valley, 76-64.

22. San Marcos
Record: 25-2 | Fact: Won 25 straight before SDS loss to Cathedral Catholic (58-48) and regional defeat to Ribet Academy (68-60).

23. Jesuit (Carmichael)
Record: 16-0 | Fact: Averaged 72.0 points per game, led by sophomore Andrej Stojakovic's 17.4 per outing.

24. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro)
Record: 13-3 | Fact: Dropped 2-AA regional semifinal to Santa Margarita, 52-44.