MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

The regular season ends for most teams this week with the playoffs looming for all. These rankings reflect teams in all divisions: Open, Divisions I, II, III, IV and V.


1. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (Last week 1) 18-4
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Update: Top ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle and No. 1 in the state, the Dragons have no state losses, falling only to national powerhouse programs. This is the clear No. 1 team for the North Coast Section playoffs and the NorCal Open Division title. The leading player is the most unstoppable one around in Ivan Rabb.

2. Monte Vista (Danville) (2) 22-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The defending Division I state champions inched closer to a league championship after beating rival and previous No. 4 De La Salle 52-49 after beating the Spartans 67-2 in double overtime on Jan. 20. The winning streak is at 12, thanks to defense, balance and leaders in Stefan Mitu, Spencer LaShells and Wilson LaShells and a host of others. An earlier win includes 66-64 over then No. 2 Folsom. This is your NCS D-I favorite.

3. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (5) 19-5
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Update: The NorCal Division IV champions have a 15-game winning streak entering the week behind leading scorers Oscar Frayer, Damari Milstead and Terrell Brown. MC closes league play with games against Kennedy (Fremont) and American (Fremont). The Mariners are the favorite to win the NCS D-IV title.

4. Sacramento (7) 22-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Update: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons locked up another Metropolitan Conference title behind Solomon Young and Christian Terrell and waves of support players. The last loss was to No. 1 O'Dowd. Sacramento is a major contender in the section D-II playoffs a year after Young missed the postseason with a knee strain. He's fit and ready now.

5. Woodcreek (Roseville) (8) 22-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: The Timberwolves avenged an earlier league loss to then Sacramento Bee No. 1 Folsom 60-57 as Noah Blackwell, Jordan Brown and a host of others led the way. The teams will tie for the league crown. An earlier loss was to No. 2 Monte Vista 45-44. Woodcreek will be a leading contender for section D-I honors.

6. Folsom (3) 22-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: In suffering their first section loss since the end of the 2012-13 season, the Bulldogs fell at No. 5 Woodcreek 60-57, playing without injured post Colin Russell, whose tender ankle should be better by the start of the postseason. The defending D-II section champions are ready for another playoff march.

7. De La Salle (Concord) (4) 21-3
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The Spartans lost to rival and No. 2 Monte Vista 52-49 in a heated and fun league race. The other losses were in double overtime to Monte Vista and to defending CIF State Division IV champion Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 61-55 in the finals of the SoCal Christmas Classic championship. This is a leading contender in the NCS D-I scramble, along with Monte Vista.

8. Modesto Christian (12) 23-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Update: The Crusaders, top ranked by The Modesto Bee, locked up the league title and also knocked off another Sacramento powerhouse. A week after downing Capital Christian 67-46 in nonleague play, the Crusaders edged Sheldon 83-78 as Anthony Townes scored 22, Christian Ellis 20 and Jeff Wu 13. This is a leading contender for the D-II playoff race.

9. Sheldon (Sacramento) (9) 17-6
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Huskies clinched the league title with a 62-58 victory over rival Pleasant Grove as Matthew Manning had 23, Isaiah Brooks 14 and Devin Greene nine with role players such as Drew Cobb and Anthony Cook contributing. Sheldon also beat Grant 104-99 in four overtimes before falling to No. 8 Modesto Christian in nonleague play, 83-78. Sheldon could be the favorite to win the D-I section title, which would be the program's fifth in six years and seventh since 2006.

10. El Cerrito (12) 22-3
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Update: The Gauchos prepare for the league playoffs, and have a satisfying 55-50 victory over No. 11 Campolindo for a jump start, avenging a 67-63 setback to the same team earlier. Tyrell Alcorn and Sayeed Pridgett led the way. Another setback was 62-61 to No. 9 Sheldon.

11. Campolindo (Moraga) (6) 21-3
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Update: The Cougars lost to No. 10 El Cerrito 55-50 in nonleague play after beating the Gauchos 67-63 in December. Chris Hansen led Campolindo with 22 in the rematch. Other ranked wins include Sacramento (66-65) and Modesto Christian (72-63).

12. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (13) 19-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Update: The Lancers remained in first place in the league after beating Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 80-65 and St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 53-36 to set up a showdown with Mitty this week. This is a section title contender in every way.

13. Serra (San Mateo) (15) 17-5
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Update: The Padres are in second place in the league race after beating Mitty 72-46 in the team's best showing of the season. An earlier loss was to No. 13 Saint Francis 59-53.

14. Half Moon Bay (11) 23-1
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula North
Update: The Cougars, then top-ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, were stunned by Terra Nova (Pacifica) 46-45 and had to settle for a league co-championship with their rivals. Coach Rich Forslund expects this to be a wake-up call heading into the CCS postseason, in which the Cougars are a leading contender.

15. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (14) 19-7
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Eagles lost to rival and No. 9 Sheldon 60-57 after beating the Huskies 65-61 earlier. This will be a major contender team in the D-I section playoffs behind 6-foot-9 post Marquese Chriss.

16. Kennedy (Sacramento) (17) 19-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Update: The Cougars head into the D-I section playoffs as a serious player with guard play, inside play and veteran coaching, headed by Robert Fong, a Kennedy alum. Three losses were to No. 5 Sacramento, which is in the D-II playoff field.

17. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (16) 14-9
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Update: Momentum was stalled with a crushing 72-46 loss to Serra in league play, setting up an interesting meeting against No. 12 Saint Francis this week. Mitty beat Saint Francis 61-52 on Jan. 28.

18. San Ramon Valley (Danville) (18) 20-4
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The Wolves close league play against rivals that beat them earlier in No. 7 De La Salle and No. 2 Monte Vista. De La Salle won the first meeting 53-32 on Jan. 23 and Monte Vista won the first contest 47-40 on Jan. 27.

19. Drake (San Anselmo) (9) 22-4
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Update: The defending NorCal Division III champions, led by Jesse Hunt and Dane Wells, recovered from two league losses to tie for the title. This is a clear force in the NCS playoffs. An earlier win includes then No. 6 Campolindo.

20. Capital Christian (Sacramento) (20) 17-8
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Update: The Cougars won another league title and now set aim on another section championship, this one in D-IV. Tiegen Jones, Justice Shelton-Mosely and Zachary Chappell lead Capital in scoring.

21. Albany (21) 25-1
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Stone
Update: The Cougars have an 18-game winning streak and won the league title outright, unbeaten. The league playoffs start this week. This is a serious contender for the NCS D-III title.

22. Sierra (Manteca) (24) 24-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Update: The Timberwolves locked up the league race and now aim for more in the section D-III playoffs as a serious contender along with No. 24 Vanden.

23. Stuart Hall (San Francisco) (25) 20-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Counties West
Update: The Division V powers are league champions and expect to win the NCS section title, too. Armani Collins is one of the state's unsung talents.

24. Vanden (Fairfield) (NR) 22-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Solano County Athletic
Update: Tall, talented and swift, the tradition-rich Vikings ran away with the league and are a serious player in the section D-III playoff race. DeMarre Walker leads the team in scoring at 21 points per game.

25. Oroville (NR) 21-3
Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Update: The Tigers have won 10 consecutive games and target a Northern Section D-III title. Leading players include Kahliel Wyatt, Jabari Jenkins and James Jones.

The Sacramento Bee Preps Show with basketball features and highlights

The Sacramento Bee on Sac-Joaquin Section powerhouse programs meeting for a league title

The Sacramento Bee on the bounce-back of Sheldon High basketball

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty the weekly Bee Preps Show that airs on ComcastSportsNet California and can be found on sacbee.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through facebook.com/sacbeepreps.