MaxPreps Final 2012-13 Southern California Top 25 boys basketball rankings

Six Southern California boys basketball teams will be heading to Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena this weekend to fight for state titles. And though there is still one more chance to alter the rankings for these teams, we are calling this edition the final Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings.

It should be little surprise that Mater Dei is the SoCal champion. Sure, the Monarchs lost to Etiwanda for the Southern Section I-AA title. But then they came back in the regional Open Division final and obliterated the Eagles.

With that loss to Etiwanda being the only one against California competition, it's safe to say that Mater Dei is the class of the area. The Monarchs play for a third-straight state title this weekend.

It was a spectacular Saturday of basketball in Ontario, as regional titles were awarded. Click here to see a recap of the action.

Santa Monica, Redondo Union, St. Augustine, Pacific Hills and Horizon Christian will all play for titles as well.

For a look at this weekend's festivities and schedule, click here.

Click here to visit our California boys basketball playoff brackets (All sections, plus state brackets)

MaxPreps Final Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings

1. (2 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 33-2
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 1 state, 2 national

The Monarchs will play for the Open Division state championship Saturday in Sacramento, and they made a huge statement in getting there. Mater Dei's 54-51 loss to Etiwanda in the Southern Section Division I-AA final lost them the top spot in these rankings, but they showed that the loss was an aberration with a 60-37 trouncing of the Eagles Saturday in Ontario. Stanley Johnson erupted for 25 points after a slow start in the first half. In order to win a third-straight state title, Mater Dei will have to beat Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) and star Aaron Gordon.

2. (1) Etiwanda, 28-3
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 2 state, 3 national

The Eagles had a stellar run in the CIFSS playoffs and got as close to the state title game as possible without advancing. A dreadful shooting performance killed Etiwanda's chances Saturday, and star Jordan McLaughlin was the unluckiest of them all, scoring well below his 15.6 points per game average. The season was indeed a success, as coach Dave Kleckner said his squad may have overachieved. Etiwanda beat Compton, Cathedral Catholic, Centennial (Corona), Chino Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, La Costa Canyon, Loyola, Poly, Mater Dei and Westchester. Yeah, that's pretty good.

3. (3) Long Beach Poly, 28-4
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 4 state, 17 national

Could you argue that the Jackrabbits' strength of schedule in the preseason should put them ahead of Etiwanda? Perhaps. But the fact is that the Eagles beat Poly head-to-head in the postseason, so that's reason enough to leave the Jackrabbits third. Their season ended in the Open Division SoCal semifinals at Mater Dei, falling 83-63.

4. (7) Pacific Hills (Los Angeles), 28-4
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 15 state, 75 national

Not only are the Bruins going to play for a Division IV state title, but they've also slayed plenty of larger dragons this season. In the state playoffs they took down Lutheran (La Verne) and Serra, then won 73-69 over Bishop Montgomery in the SoCal Regional Final. They have won 11 straight and will face Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) for the state title. They also own wins over Westchester, Brentwood School (twice) and West Ranch, all teams that had been in the rankings this year.

5. (4) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 32-2
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 6 state, 33 national

A season that saw the Knights climb so high before the CIFSS IV-AA playoffs (they were undefeated coming in) turned into a disappointment, as they lost to Pacific Hills in the SoCal Regional final, 73-69. At one point Bishop Montgomery looked like a national title contender, but it wasn't meant to be. Still, they own this litany of victories over ranked teams: Serra (thrice), Westchester, Price, Redondo Union, St. John Bosco and Army-Navy.

6. (5) Westchester (Los Angeles), 29-6
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 9 state, 38 national

The Comets fell to Etiwanda in the Open Division regional semifinals, 56-46. They trailed by 18 points at halftime and allowed Jordan McLaughlin to score 30 points. Still, it was a successful season, with a City Section Division I title, an Open Division berth and wins over Serra, Bullard and El Camino Real, plus a solid showing against out-of-area teams at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic.

7. (8) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 24-7
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 8 state, 37 national

The Braves' season ended the week before against Long Beach Poly. While they didn't play, they still move up because of JW North's loss. Bosco's season featured a second-place finish in the Trinity League, a win over Loyola and a 24-point blowout over Chaminade in the CIFSS D-IIIA title game. Chaminade made it to the regional title game, by the way. Its losses were to Inglewood, Mater Dei (twice), Bishop Montgomery, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) and Long Beach Poly (twice).

8. (9) Bullard (Fresno), 27-3
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 16 state, 85 national

The Knights lost to Centennial (Corona), NorCal finalist Sheldon and Westchester this season. That's it. They beat NorCal finalist Dublin, NorCal powers Antelope and Salesian, plus Royal. Their season ended on a bizarre bucket in the Open Division, but are still worthy of such a lofty ranking.

9. (11) Santa Monica, 29-6
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 12 state, 62 national

The Vikings are a great story, getting a 3-pointer from Jordan Mathews with 3 seconds left to beat Loyola 53-50 and move on to play Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) for a state title Friday. A Division I regional champ ranked so low? Well, they lost to Loyola twice and dropped contests to Compton and Beverly Hills this season. They do have one win over Loyola and also beat El Toro and Mission Hills, so ninth seems appropriate.

10. (15) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 27-8
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 22 state, 126 national

The Sea Hawks' finish overwrites their beginning and middle. They had a two-game losing skid and two other three-game losing streaks earlier this season. But now they are on a 20-game winning streak and headed to Sacramento to take on College Park (Pleasant Hill) in the Division II state title game. Not bad for a team that was 11-17 last season, huh? The Sea Hawks gave JW North fits all night in the regional final, winning 60-48 and rendering the North offense ineffective.

11. (12) St. Augustine (San Diego), 28-4
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 5 state, 32 national

The Saints are in the state title game, and surprisingly they won't be playing Cathedral Catholic. Nope, they'll get Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) instead. St. Augustine beat Chaminade in the regional title game, 61-57, to continue a wildly successful season. We heard feedback a couple times this season that the Saints weren't getting the respect they deserved. Those three losses to Cathedral Catholic hurt, but now it's obvious this is the best team from the San Diego Area. They take a 13-game winning streak to Sacramento, and can tout wins over Army-Navy, Salesian and JW North, to name a few.

12. (6) JW North (Riverside), 31-4
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 23 state, 133 national

North just had a terrible time Saturday in Ontario, falling behind Redondo Union early and not having the offensive power to make a comeback attempt. We had the Huskies high all season, but it just wasn't meant to be in the Division II regional bracket. They earned victories over Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) and Westlake this season, to name a few.

13. (16) Loyola (Los Angeles), 25-8
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 11 state, 61 national

Loyola is loaded with talent, and a loss to Santa Monica on a last-second shot doesn't knock the Cubs down at all. Parker Jackson-Cartwright had to leave the game in the fourth quarter after reinjuring his foot or ankle, and they came oh-so-close to advancing. Loyola beat Pacific Hills, Santa Monica twice, Brentwood School, West Ranch, Chaminade twice, Crespi and El Toro. Losses came to Fort Bend Travis (Texas), Crespi, Harvard-Westlake, St. John Bosco, Etiwanda, Long Beach Poly and Santa Monica.

14. (13) Serra (Gardena), 26-7
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 21 state, 121 national

The Cavaliers lost to Pacific Hills, 53-50, in the SoCal Regional semifinals despite holding a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter. It ended a season that featured a CIFSS IV-AA title and victories over Redondo Union, Inglewood, JSerra, Crespi and Lutheran (La Verne).

15. (13) Army-Navy (Carlsbad), 29-5
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 30 state, 184 national

The Warriors saw their season end in the regional semifinals when Bishop Montgomery rolled 75-56. This team wasn't ranked to begin the season but just kept getting better. A San Diego Section title, two wins over D-V state finalist Horizon and two victories in the state playoffs certainly provided a quality ending.

16. (14) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 29-5
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 24 state, 155 national

Just like their quest for a San Diego Section title, the quest for a regional title ended in a loss to St. Augustine, the team the Dons beat three times earlier this season. The SoCal semifinal went St. Augstine's way, 55-45, so it was an improvement over the section title game loss. They beat Santa Margarita and Tustin in the state playoffs and their losses were to St. Augustine (twice), Etiwanda, Army-Navy and St. Joseph.

17. (17) Westlake (Westlake Village), 28-6
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 37 state, 267 national

The Warriors fell to JW North 58-50 to end their season, one that featured a brutal trek through the Marmonte League schedule and a trip to the CIFSS II-A final against Redondo Union. They beat Royal twice, Thousand Oaks once, Calabasas once and La Costa Canyon.

18. (18) Hoover (San Diego), 31-6
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 35 state, 236 national

Another Redondo Union victim, Hoover posted plenty of wins and came on late in the rankings. Redondo beat the Cardinals 60-52 in the regional semifinals, ending a season that featured wins over La Costa Canyon (twice), Compton and San Marcos (twice).

19. (19) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 29-5
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 26 state, 161 national

The Grizzlies lost to Santa Monica in the regional semifinals, 51-34. For the season, they beat Horizon, Miramonte (Orinda), Chino Hills, San Marcos and Inglewood, not mention winning the SDS title.

20. (20) Centennial (Corona), 26-3
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 13 state, 63 national

The Huskies lost extremely early in the CIFSS Division I bracket. But here is the list of ranked or previously ranked teams they dispatched: Inglewood (twice), Etiwanda, D-I finalist Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Calabasas, Bullard and Santa Monica. The resume screams that the Huskies should be higher, but a loss in the second round of the section playoffs is a big deterrent.

21. (24) Chaminade (West Hills), 27-8
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 34 state, 205 national

The Eagles eliminated Royal in the regional semifinals with a 70-55 victory, and that got them to the SoCal final against St. Augustine. But the Eagles' season stopped there, as St. Augustine won 61-57. For the season, Chaminade beat El Camino Real, Santa Monica, Westlake, Crespi (twice), Harvard-Westlake and Royal.

22. (21) Brentwood School (Los Angeles), 27-5
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 53 state, 417 national

Brentwood School fell victim to Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista, 62-58 in the opening round, and its season is over. The Eagles beat El Camino Real earlier this season, so they get the edge over the Conquistadors in the rankings. They beat Pacific Hills earlier this year.

23. (22) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 28-4
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 20 state, 102 national

The Conquistadors were third at one point this season, but now that they lost two in a row (granted, to great teams) they fall. The knock was always that their schedule didn't feature enough top-notch opponents, and now that they are eliminated, that schedule is hurting them. Still, a very successful season over in the San Fernando Valley.

24. (23) Tustin, 31-3
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 27 state, 165 national

The Tillers' season ended with a 57-45 defeat against Cathedral Catholic in the SoCal quarterfinals. They beat Royal, Santa Margarita and El Toro this year.

25. (NR) Royal (Simi Valley), 25-9
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 55 state, 427 national

The Highlanders lost to Chaminade in the regional semifinals, 70-55. Their season featured a trip to the CIFSS III-AAA final and wins over Thousand Oaks (twice), Calabasas and Independence (Bakersfield).