MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

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The heavies remained largely in place with some shuffling, and De La Salle stayed put at No. 1 despite a loss. Some teams will have senior nights this week to recognize graduating players, and others next week. And soon: the playoffs.


1. De La Salle (Concord) (Last week: 1) (21-2)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: A.J. Kuhle
Update: The Spartans suffered their first in-state loss, falling to state-ranked powerhouse Centennial (Corona) 50-46 in the Nike Extravaganza. De La Salle remains top-ranked here because it has no other state losses, and ambitious scheduling is always a factor here. A recent win was an overtime effort over rival Monte Vista (60-56). The East Bay League title is within reach, though tough games remain, including ranked rival Monte Vista.

2. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (2) (19-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Frank Knight
Update: The Mariners recovered from a 73-69 loss to ranked Newark Memorial to pick up steam again. The teams conclude league play on Feb. 19, likely to decide the title. Damari Milstead leads Moreau Catholic in scoring (18 a game). The biggest win of late was beating previous No. 1 Sacramento, 77-67, in the MaxPreps Martin Luther King Classic at Cal.

3. Sacramento (3) (23-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: Derek Swafford
Outlook: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons have cruised since losing 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) (22-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Mike Wall
Update: The Bulldogs have terrific balance, headed by Jordan Ford (19 points a game) and cogs Tre Finch (11.4), Jared Wall (10) and Mason Forbes (11). Earlier wins over ranked foes include Modesto Christian and Sheldon. The Sierra Foothill League title is within reach for the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champions.

5. Modesto Christian (5) (22-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Coach: Richard Midgley
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Crusaders extended their winning streak to 22 in dominating the Modesto Metro Conference, including routs of Gregori (Modesto) 83-34 and Enochs (Modesto) 69-35 and then blasting ranked Capital Christian 89-60 in a nonleague game. Darrian Grays has played big. The loss was in the final seconds in a season opener to No. 4 Folsom, 53-51. A rematch could come in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, if not the CIF Open Division NorCal playoffs, or both.

6. Sheldon (Sacramento) (6) (17-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joey Rollings
Update: The Huskies capped the first half of Delta League play unbeaten with a 62-60 victory over ranked rival Jesuit. Matthew Manning had 19 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 4 of 7 3-point shots, and Elishja Duplechan had 13. Drew Cobb played strong defense, per his norm. The lone in-section loss was 79-78 to No. 4 Folsom early in the season.

7. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (7) (19-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Motil
Update: Top ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, the Lancers are 11-0 in the brutally tough WCAL. Defense, offensive balance and typical good coaching are the keys. 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) (19-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Jon Rotz
Update: The Marauders have lost two close games to ranked rival Sheldon and likely will finish second in the Delta League with a potential rematch against Sheldon looming in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs. Malik Duffy leads the team in scoring (15.9) with Ethan Pangelinan (11.1), Matt Ehrlich (10.6) and Jake Virga (9.1) all contributing regularly.

9. Half Moon Bay (10) (22-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula
Coach: Rich Forslund
Update: The Cougars are closing in fast on another league championship with defense and balanced scoring. Austin Hilton (14.5 points per game), Tommy Nuno (12.4), Andrew Saffold (8.5) and Jake Salinero (8.4) lead the way. A big win was over ranked Bellarmine, 41-35.

10. Serra (San Mateo) (11) (16-5)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Chuck Rapp
Update: The Padres won't win the WCAL with Saint Francis rolling along, but this is a fear-factor team come playoff time, and there was joy after downing rival Mitty (San Jose), 57-54 in overtime. The remaining games include rival Bellarmine on Friday, a team Serra beat 44-40 earlier.

11. Monte Vista (Danville) (9) (18-5)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Nick Jones
Update: The Mustangs suffered a tough setback to Foothill (Pleasanton), 58-53 in double overtime, an indication that this league is pretty formidable again. An earlier loss was 60-56 in league play to rival and No. 1 De La Salle. Monte Vista is the two-time defending NCS D-I champion and won the CIF state title in 2014.

12. Capital Christian (Sacramento) (12) (14-9)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Coach: Devon Jones
Update: The Cougars have endured as brutal a schedule as anyone in Northern California, and will remain ranked high here because of it. The ranked wins include Newark Memorial and Salesian and the ranked losses include Moreau Catholic (69-48), Sacramento (75-59), Folsom (80-53), Sheldon (85-68) and Modesto Christian (89-60).

13. Newark Memorial (13) (17-6)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Craig Ash
Update: The Cougars target another league title and have three games to go, capped by senior night at home on Feb. 19 against No. 2 Moreau Catholic. Newark won the first meeting, 73-69.

14. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (14) (21-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Coach: Bill Mellis
Update: The Pride have won 14 successive games since falling to No. 5 Modesto Christian, 68-56, and are surging toward another league title with two games to go before the league tournament starts.

15. Palma (Salinas) (15) (19-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Kelley Lopez
Update: The Chieftains are closing in on another league championship and are warming up for the section playoffs. One loss was to No. 7 Saint Francis with a split against ranked Half Moon Bay.

16. Weston Ranch (Stockton) (18) (20-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Chris Teevan
Update: Top-ranked by the Stockton Record, the Cougars are unbeaten in league play, punctuated by wins of 72-68 and 52-48 over ranked rival Manteca. An early win was over ranked Salesian, 69-67, with an early loss to Capital Christian, 68-61.

17. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (18) (14-6)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Coast Athletic
Coach: Patrick Schneider
Update: The Bells have lost the hard way — 56-53 in double-overtime to St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 44-40 to Serra, 61-56 to Valley Christian and 47-40 to Saint Francis — but this is a dangerous playoff team. Serra looms on Friday.

18. Woodcreek (Roseville) (11) (15-8)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Hayes
Outlook: The Timberwolves still have a shot to win or tie for the Sierra Foothill League title, but need to win at Folsom on Wednesday and cannot lose the rest of the way, and need Folsom to lose again. Jordan Brown has played big (26.3 points a game) and Tyrell Roberts has been solid (9.5).

19. Granite Bay (20) (18-6)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jason Sitterud
Update: The Grizzlies avenged an earlier loss to Nevada Union (Grass Valley) with a 62-56 win as Darren Nelson and Charlie Tooley continue to lead the way. An earlier win was over ranked Monte Vista, 63-56.

20. Freedom (Oakley) (24) (19-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Drew Torres
Update: The Falcons are the lone unbeaten in a competitive Bay Valley scramble after downing Heritage (Brentwood), 70-69, on a late steal by Tre'von Collins. An early win was an 83-81 triple overtime effort over Folsom with close losses to ranked Granite Bay and ranked Manteca.

21. Dublin (21) (19-3)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Tom Costello
Update: The Gaels have won seven consecutive games, and they beat No. 22 Dougherty Valley, 55-51, to avenge an earlier loss. The league race will come down to those two.

22. Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) (20) (22-2)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Mike Hansen
Update: The Wildcats remain in first place in league play and have two road games this week. They have split with rival Dublin, as both will battle to the wire for league honors.

23. Manteca (17) (19-5)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Brett Lewis
Update: The Buffaloes lost their chance at a league title with two setbacks to rival Weston Ranch and an upset defeat to Sierra (Manteca), 58-52. Manteca is still a big threat in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.

24. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) (23) (21-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula South
Coach: Mike Molieri
Update: The Bears are mauling all comers in league play at 11-0, as Eric Norton, Lucas Fioretti and Blake Henry lead the way. The losses were to ranked Bellarmine (58-57) and ranked Half Moon Bay (55-49).

25. Oakland Tech (25) (22-1)
Section: Oakland
League: Oakland
Coach: Karega Hart
Update: The Bulldogs have recovered strong from their lone loss, an overtime effort to once-ranked Pittsburg. Souley Boum, Dejon Davis and Will Campbell lead the way as the Oakland Section playoffs loom.

The Sacramento Bee on area players and a coach who have hit milestone efforts...click here

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