MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

The playoffs are about predictability, as the top seeds generally roll early. But every so often, a wild shot shakes things up a bit.

No. 15 Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) beat previously ranked Half Moon Bay 49-46 on a 75-foot circus shot by David Parsons that banked through in a Central Coast Section Open Division contest, leaving all stunned and left to wonder what just happened.

Parsons said he fires up similar shots for practice, "and they never come close." He added, "It was just lucky. It was crazy."

And so it goes...

See the Northern California boys basketball playoff brackets


1. (Last week 1) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (24-4)
The Dragons, top-ranked here most of the season, rolled past Allen (Santa Rosa) and Encinal (Alameda) in the opening rounds o the North Coast Section D-III playoffs, and should keep rolling. There's no single better talent than Ivan Rabb (32 points, 16 rebounds against Encinal) and his support crew is top-tier as well. A NorCal Open title is the goal.

2. (2) Capital Christian (Sacramento) (26-3)
The Cougars are rolling in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-V playoffs, seeking a three-peat and then an invitation into the NorCal Open playoffs. This has been The Sacramento Bee's No. 1 team all season.

3. (3) Monte Vista (Danville) (26-1)
The Mustangs, top seeded in the North Coast Section D-I field, avenged their lone loss to No. 11 San Ramon Valley to cap East Bay Athletic League action. The playoff opening win was not easy, slipping past tough San Leandro 49-44 to set up a semifinal meeting with old rival and No. 17 De La Salle, a team Monte Vista beat twice in league play.

4. (4) Folsom (27-2)
The Bulldogs have played the role of top-dog in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs, taking out Vallejo and Cordova (Rancho Cordova) behind balanced offense and timely defense. The X-factor is center Colin Russell as Folsom now prepares for a semifinal showdown against newly ranked Grant (Sacramento). Jordan Ford averages 22 points for Folsom.

5. (5) Newark Memorial (21-7)
The Cougars have won 19 consecutive games and loom large as the No. 2 seed in the North Coast Section D-II race after playoff wins over Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa) and Windsor. This is a big, physical, well-coached lot. Next is Washington (Fremont).

6. (6) Jesuit (Carmichael) (26-3)
The Marauders brilliantly put it all together in crushing a very sound Granite Bay team 77-39 in a Sac-Joaquin Section D-I quarterfinal, the team's finest showing to date. Lake Lutes, Brady Anderson and Isaiah Bailey led the way, and top-seeded Jesuit now faces Kennedy (Sacramento) in a semifinal at Sleep Train Arena.

7. (7) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (24-4)
The Monarchs rolled past Santa Cruz 84-51 in a Central Coast Section Open opener and now prepare for West Catholic Athletic League rival and No. 15 Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco). Mitty beat SCH 61-56 in the WCAL Tournament title game and went 2-0 against the Fightin' Irish in regular-season play.

8. (8) St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) (24-5)
The Pilots won the Tri-County Athletic League postseason tournament and opened North Coast Section D-V play with a 57-32 rout of Head-Royce (Oakland). Next is University (San Francisco).

9. (9) El Cerrito (27-3)
The Gauchos have wins over Piner (Santa Rosa), Pinole Valley and Miramonte (Orinda) in the North Coast Section D-III playoffs as the No. 2 seed. Next is No. 18-ranked Campolindo, with top-ranked O'Dowd looming in the opposite side of the bracket.

10. (10) Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (13-16*)
The Wolfpack beat previous No. 11 St. Mary's 76-74 in a thrilling Sac-Joaquin Section D-II quarterfinal for their 27th consecutive on-court victory. Team captain and scholar Matt Muldavin made a late three and was given a standing ovation at a local In-and-Out Burger. L.J. Reed had 23 points to send CO to a semifinal round game against No. 13 Del Oro on Wednesday at Sleep Train Arena.

11. (13) San Ramon Valley (Danville) (23-4)
The Wolves earned splits with East Bay Athletic League rivals in No. 3 Monte Vista and No. 13 De La Salle, and as the No. 2 seed in the North Coast Section D-II playoffs have a 78-72 victory over Pittsburg. Next is new No. 22 Freedom (Oakley).

12. (12) Modesto Christian (20-8)
The Crusaders are looking like the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III playoffs, racing past Center (Antelope) and Rio Americano (Sacramento) in the first two rounds to set up a semifinal game against Christian Brothers (Sacramento). The next win for outgoing coach Gary Porter will be his 500th.

13. (15) Del Oro (Loomis) (28-1)
The Golden Eagles have won 24 consecutive games, and as the No. 2 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II race, they now take on NorCal No. 10 Cosumnes Oaks in a semifinal. Connor Drake, a 6-foot-8 center headed to Cal Poly on a volleyball scholarship, had 21 points, including three 3-pointers, in a 73-49 rout of Del Campo (Fair Oaks).

14. (11) St. Mary's (Stockton) (27-2)
The Rams have lost twice to Cosumnes Oaks, both times at home, and each a crusher, including the 76-74 setback in a Sac-Joaquin Section D-II quarterfinal. Gabriel Vincent had 40 in his final outing.

15. (16) Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) (18-10)
So much for the slow start to the West Catholic Athletic League regular season. The Fightin' Irish stunned Half Moon Bay 49-46 on a wild 75-foot, game-winning bank shot at the buzzer in a Central Coast Section Open Division quarterfinal.

16. (17) Serra (San Mateo) (20-7)
The Padres beat previously ranked Leigh (San Jose) 61-43 in a Central Coast Section Open game and now draw an old friend in Sacred Heart Cathedral, which beat the Padres in the WCAL semifinals last week. Danny Mahoney leads Serra.

17. (18) De La Salle (Concord) (20-7)
The Spartans beat Liberty (Brentwood) 39-36 and Heritage (Brentwood) 52-47 in early playoff rounds to set up a North Coast Section D-I semifinal against No. 3 Monte Vista, a team they lost to twice in East Bay Athletic League action.

18. (19) Campolindo (Moraga) (22-6)
The Cougars, the 3-seed in the North Coast Section D-III race, beat Miramonte (Orinda) 72-65 and now draw NorCal No. 9 El Cerrito in a semifinal.

19. (21) Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (22-6)
The Mariners beat Gateway (San Francisco) 94-41 and Willits 76-53 in North Coast Section D-IV play in looking the part of top seed. An early win includes No. 4 Folsom with losses to No. 2 Monte Vista, No. 5 Newark Memorial and No. 7 Mitty.

20. (22) St. Ignatius (San Francisco) (20-6)
The Wildcats beat Sobrato 65-47 in a Central Coast Section D-II game as Trevor Dunbar and Julian Marcu had 21 each. Next is Wilcox (San Jose) in a semifinal.

21. (NR) Grant (Sacramento) (25-5)
The Pacers of the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II race blasted previously ranked Sacramento 93-61 to set up a semifinal showdown with No. 4-ranked Folsom. Cameron Oliver, a 6-8 forward who can shoot and dunk, is perhaps the section's top talent.

22. (NR) Freedom (Oakley) (23-5)
The Falcons beat Logan (Union City), 77-61, and Dougherty Valley (San Ramon), 76-61, in North Coast Section D-I play to set up a semifinal meeting with No. 11 San Ramon Valley.

23. (NR) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (17-9)
The Crusaders beat previously ranked Burlingame 61-44 in Central Coast Section Open Division play and now draw WCAL rival Serra. The teams split in the regular season.

24. (NR) Montgomery (Santa Rosa) (23-5)
The Vikings are the No. 1 seed in the North Coast Section D-II playoffs and opened with a 63-55 win over Redwood (Larkspur) 63-55. Next is Concord. Looming on the opposite side of the bracket is No. 5 Newark Memorial, seeded second in this event.

25. (24) Half Moon Bay (24-4)
The Cougars were floored by a 75-foot buzzer beater to Sacred Heart Cathedral, knocking them into a loser's bracket game. Corey Cilia had 19 for Half Moon Bay.

The Sacramento Bee breaks down some story lines for the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD and on www.sacbee.com.