MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

In the Northern California showdown of the week — we can't say of the year because there have been so many — the East Bay scored one against Sacramento.

Salesian (Richmond) held onto the top spot in these rankings with a 69-60 victory over No. 3 Sheldon (Sacramento), thanks to its terrific guards, team defense and poise down the stretch. Jabari Bird, bucking for NorCal and State Player of the Year honors and another state title, had 15 of his 22 points in the second half. He went scoreless in the first quarter, then later soared for four dunks, had put-backs, endured a gash on his face and generally looked like a national recruit.

Serra (San Mateo) scored the week's upset in toppling previous No. 2 Mitty (San Jose) 65-59 in West Catholic Athletic League action, snapping the Monarchs' 24-game winning streak against WCAL foes. Sheldon remains firm at No. 3 here despite losing to Mitty in the second game of the season. It's important to note that in that 71-65 loss to Mitty, Sheldon did not have the services of two top-tier talents in D'Erryl Williams and Darin Johnson. And in comparing scores, Sheldon fared better against Salesian than Mitty did (a 72-51 loss).

MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

1. (Last week 1) Salesian (Richmond) 21-3, 9-0
The Pride stand as the clear top dog in NorCal after beating Sheldon 69-60 in a Saturday nonconference showcase behind leaders Mario Dunn, Markel Leonard and do-all marvel Jabari Bird. The Cal-bound Bird had 22 points and iced the game with two offensive rebound put-backs. He also became the third player in school history to score 1,500 points with the Pride. Salesian is unbeaten against NorCal teams with wins over Mitty (San Jose) and De La Salle (Concord). Salesian closes the regular season this week.

2. (4) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 18-3, 7-0
The Dragons have won 11 consecutive games and have lost only to national power Mater Dei (Santa Ana), Windward (Los Angeles) and Mundelein of Illinois. In 6-foot-9 post Ivan Rabb, the Dragons have one of the nation's top underclassmen talents. The sophomore has drawn rave reviews from his coach, Lou Richie, who told Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area Newspaper Group that Rabb is farther along than former 6-9 Dragons star Brandon Ashley. Said the coach, "He's taller, he's more athletic. He's more skilled and he's a better defensive rebounder."

3. (3) Sheldon (Sacramento) 18-5, 7-0
The Huskies left the East Bay seething that they let a grand opportunity against Salesian slip away, but they also knew they had too many mistakes against a team far too good to fool around with. That's two seasons in a row that Salesian has topped Sheldon. A third meeting could come in the NorCal Open playoffs next month. Darin Johnson, Dakarai Allen, D'Erryl Williams, Ryan Manning and Antonio Lewis make for one of the best starting fives in the state. Looming in the regular-season finale is a home date against rival Pleasant Grove (ElK Grove) to decide the Delta River League championship and overall No. 1 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff field, of which Sheldon is the three-time defending champion.

4. (2) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 17-5, 11-1
The Monarchs were stung by Serra (San Mateo) 66-59 but it's how they respond that will be telling with the playoffs looming. Entering the week, Mitty had a one-game lead on Serra in the muscle-bound West Catholic Athletic League. Aaron Gordon had 19 points against Serra and Brandon Farrell had 18. Mitty remains ahead of Serra in this ranking as the teams split the season series and it has a more difficult overall schedule. Of recruiting note, Gordon has listed Arizona, Kentucky and Oregon among his finalists.

5. (5) Deer Valley (Antioch) 18-4, 6-0
The Wolverines are closing in on a Bay Valley Athletic League championship after edging Freedom (Oakley) 76-73 and Pittsburg (66-63). The anchors are as good a 1-2 punch as there is in NorCal in Marcus Lee and Kendall Smith. Smith went for 26 points and 12 rebounds against Pittsburg and Lee went for 18 and 17. Early season wins include De La Salle (Concord) (55-38) and Sacramento (97-96).

6. (6) Modesto Christian 21-2, 9-0
The Crusaders needed a break from the Trans Valley League — they mow all comers — and got a challenge from Weston Ranch (Stockton) in pulling out a 70-59 nonleague victory. The losses are to El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) 90-65 and Redondo Union (60-58). Early wins are over St. Joseph (Alameda) (61-48), Campolindo (68-58) and El Cerrito (67-60).
7. (7) De La Salle (Concord) 19-3, 9-1
With Elliott Pitts scoring 27 points, collecting five rebounds and firing six assists, the Spartans took down Foothill (Santa Ana) in a showcase game in the Nike Extravaganza. Earlier in the week in East Bay Athletic League action, De La Salle avenged an earlier loss to Monte Vista with a 54-42 victory.

8. (9) Serra (San Mateo) 19-3, 10-2
The Padres beat Riordon (San Francisco) 64-56 to complete a season sweep in the West Catholic Athletic League behind Henry Caruso (22 points). It was the ninth consecutive victory for Serra over the Crusaders, and then the real fun: topping Mitty 65-59. Serra concludes WCAL action this week with games against St. Ignatius (San Francisco) and Valley Christian (San Jose) and then loom as a real threat in the postseason.

8. (8) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 19-4, 6-1
Bouncing back from their 85-79 setback to Sheldon, the Sacramento Bee-ranked No. 2 Eagles beat Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) and Ponderosa (Shingle Springs) to remain a game behind Sheldon in the Delta River League. Three games remain in regular-season play: Folsom, Jesuit (Carmichael) and Sheldon. Wins include Newark Memorial and the losses are close, including 71-65 to 19-1 state power Centennial (Corona) and 67-60 to Sacramento.

10. (11) Capital Christian (Sacramento) 21-2, 8-0
Ranked third in The Sacramento Bee rankings behind Sheldon and Pleasant Grove, the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division V Cougars are led by first-year coach Devon Jones, a 34-year old who says he can relate to his players because he once had golden dreams himself. Only Jones reminds his players that he didn't accept discipline when he played at Florin (Sacramento) and that it took time to mature and grow. They listen. An early season win includes Sacramento at the buzzer.

11. (11) Newark Memorial 14-7, 9-0
The Cougars blasted Irvington 83-31 in Mission Valley Athletic League play as Jo Jo Zamora sizzled on 8 of 11 shooting. Newark edged Moreau Catholic 62-60 for its 2th consecutive MVAL win in a row. The last two losses are to Pleasant Grove 64-57 and to Deer Valley 55-54. Newark has two wins over Dublin and a one-point loss to Salesian.

12. (13) Dublin 19-4, 9-0
The winning streak is at nine since last losing to Serra (San Mateo) 71-63, and the Diablo Valley League title is within reach for Joe McGlaston and company. Dublin nonleague wins include Monte Vista (Danville) and Sacramento.

14. (14) Monte Vista (Danville) 17-5, 8-2
There's no shame falling to De La Salle 54-42 in East Bay Athletic League action, especially considering the teams have split this season. The Mustangs earlier in the week beat Livermore 54-49.

15. (15) Sacramento 18-6, 10-1
The Dragons have a shot to avenge their lone Metropolitan Conference loss to Kennedy (Sacramento) on Thursday, or a loss crowns Kennedy as league champion. Sacramento early victories include Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Antelope, West Ranch (Valencia) and Chaminade (West Hills). Losses are to Deer Valley, Dublin and Bishop O'Dowd.

16. (16) San Leandro 18-4, 6-2
The Pirates are still in the West Alameda County League title hunt behind Bishop O'Dowd, a team they lost to 57-46 and play next week. Wins last week were over Hayward (56-44) and Berkeley (64-49).

17. (17) Antelope 18-6, 7-0
The Titans are not as heavy with three-year starters as last season but this is a talented bunch with emerging point guard Tyler Winston, leading scorer Gabe Bealer and rebounding ace Isaiah Ellis. The Titans are the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champions. Close losses include Sacramento (59-48) and Bullard (Fresno) 65-60).

18. (18) Palo Alto 19-1, 9-0
The Vikings have won 17 consecutive games with defense the theme. Last week, it was a 59-43 win over Saratoga and a 71-42 triumph of Homestead (Cupertino) to remain untouched in the DeAnaza League. Aubrey Dawkins is the star here.

19. (19) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 21-2, 11-0
Defense is the name of the game here for the North Bay League front runners after putting the hammer to Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) 71-27 and Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa) 62-38. A showdown looms with Montgomery (Santa Rosa). Nonleague wins include 50-46 over Campolindo (Moraga) with a 57-51 loss to Monte Vista (Danville).

20. (21) McClymonds (Oakland) 14-7, 5-0
Mack beat Fremont (Oakland) 53-40 then edged rival Oakland Tech 55-54 to remain in charge of the Oakland League in putting a little distance over Tech. Nonleague wins include El Cerrito (72-54).

21. (22) El Cerrito 17-8, 7-2
The Gauchos have lost twice to Salesian in Tri-County League action — 61-50 and 61-48 — in a competitive show of consistency. On senior night, El Cerrito beat St. Mary's (Albany) 66-59 and will conclude league play this week against Pinole Valley.

22. (23) Campolindo (Moraga) 16-6, 6-2
A loss at Miramonte Monday night hurts, but the Cougars trail Dublin in the Diablo Valley League and get Dublin this week at home, seeking to avenge an 86-72 loss. Matt O'Reilly and Matt McCue lead the way. Nonleague losses include Cardinal Newman (50-46) and Modesto Christian (68-58).

24. (24) El Camino (South San Francisco) 17-4, 9-0
The red-hot Colts are on their way to winning the Peninsula North with a high-scoring and defensive-minded group. El Camino beat Terra Nova (Pacifica) 80-50 and Westmoor (Daly City) 74-51. Michael Smith is leading the way with a 24-point average.

25. (25) Enterprise (Redding) 19-3, 5-0
The Hornets of the Northern Section are in charge of the Sacramento River League, taking down Foothill (Palo Cedro) 51-38 and Shasta (Redding) 56-49. Nonleague loss of 56-49 to El Cerrito in a tournament is proof of this product.