Long Beach Poly has a huge matchup against St. John Bosco on Saturday, and MaxPreps will be there.
Photo by Louis Lopez
This may be the only place in the nation that still has Mater Dei ranked ahead of Bishop Montgomery. Well, here and the Freeman Rankings.
The records say that the Knights have been flawless, and that the Monarchs had a game where the other team won. But strength of schedule is important here, and it's a fact that Mater Dei has played better teams overall.
Sadly they are in separate enrollment divisions, so we won't see them battle it out in the Southern Section playoffs.
It's a week full of big games, and last week wasn't too shabby either. The Fairfax State Preview is past us and next comes the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei, which we will be covering.
Read our coverage from the Fairfax event
MaxPreps Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 21-1, 7-0Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 1 state, 6 national
The Monarchs rebounded from their 56-44 loss to St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) with a 40-point triumph over Santa Margarita in their only game of the week. This week brings three really tough games, ones that will determine whether our trust in them is worthy. A Trinity League home game against St. John Bosco on Tuesday is followed by the Nike Extravaganza in the Monarchs' home gym: Eisenhower (Rialto) on Friday and Westchester (Los Angeles) on Saturday.
2. (2) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 23-0, 5-0Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 2 state, 10 national
The Knights are making us sweat our choice to keep the Monarchs on top. They added another three blowout wins: 86-29 over St. Bernard, 65-25 over Bishop Amat and 79-34 over Lincoln (San Diego) at the Fairfax State Preview. A Wednesday date with Serra will be a solid test, then there is a Friday date at La Salle.
3. (3) Long Beach Poly, 20-2, 9-0Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 3 state, 13 national
The Jackrabbits have a titanic matchup Saturday with St. John Bosco at the Nike Extravaganza. They pasted Jordan (71-35), Cabrillo (88-47) and Compton 66-44 in typical fashion when it comes to league play. One more win in Moore League play wraps up the title for Poly, which has only suffered losses to out-of-state powers.
4. (4) Centennial (Corona), 22-1, 6-0Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 6 state, 34 national
Santiago fell 74-63 and Corona succumbed to the Huskies, 82-52. But what was great was a 72-66 triumph over Damien (La Verne). A two-game lead in the Big VIII with four to go looks mighty solid for Centennial. Games against Norco and King are on the schedule this week.
5. (5) Etiwanda, 18-1, 6-0Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 4 state, 24 national
The Eagles scored a huge victory on Saturday when they jumped out to a fast start against La Costa Canyon and rode it out for a 56-51 victory.
Darryl Adigwu tallied 20 points in the win. It would almost be enough to move Etiwanda up a spot, but their only loss of the season is to Centennial. They have another big game on Saturday, against Loyola at the Nike Extravaganza. Etiwanda's other wins of the week were 75-38 against Glendora and 66-30 over Upland.
6. (7) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 17-4, 6-1
Tyler Dorsey, St. John Bosco
Photo by Nicholas Koza
Southern Section III-A
Freeman Rankings: 5 state, 30 national
The Braves will be at Mater Dei Tuesday, and they head back to Mater Dei on Saturday to face Long Beach Poly. Yeah, that's a big week. Speaking of big weeks, they had one last week with a 77-68 triumph over JSerra Catholic and a 67-64 win over Loyola at the Fairfax event. Sophomore
Tyler Dorsey was the leader for Bosco in the Loyola win, tallying 23 points and 15 rebounds. Read
Steve Galluzzo's feature on the Braves' brutal schedule.
7. (8) Westchester (Los Angeles), 19-5, 7-0Division: Los Angeles City Section I
Freeman Rankings: 14 state, 85 national
The Comets get a shot at Mater Dei on Saturday. They certainly won't be intimidated, as Westchester has played plenty of great teams this season. A trip to Venice Wednesday isn't too worrisome, but second-place Palisades comes to town Friday for a Western League battle that could have a first-place tie at stake. University (76-51) and LACES (76-56) provided little resistance last week.
8. (10) Brentwood School (Los Angeles), 20-2, 7-1Division: Southern Section IV-A
Freeman Rankings: 20 state, 149 national
The Eagles all the sudden are in control of their own destiny for the Alpha League title. They got revenge upon Pacific Hills on Monday (81-71) thanks to a 13-0 start and got 27 points from
Tra Holder and 23 from
Leland King. Brentwood had to gut out a 51-50 triumph over Rolling Hills Prep at Fairfax, a very close call. Road games at Viewpoint and Campbell Hall are scheduled for this week.
9. (11) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 21-2, 6-0Division: Los Angeles City Section I
Freeman Rankings: 10 state, 56 national
The Conquistadors made history last week and in the process, they got much closer to a West Valley League title. A 77-48 victory over Taft last week was the first time that ECR beat Taft since 1992, according to the LA Times. They also beat Cleveland 80-36, and more importantly knocked down Orange Lutheran by a 65-57 score. Road games at Birmingham and Chatsworth are what the Conquistadors have to look forward to this week.
10. (13) Bullard (Fresno), 18-2, 4-0Division: Central Section I
Freeman Rankings: 15 state, 87 national
The Knights ripped through Sanger (66-36) and Madera (74-24). Edison and Madera South are likely to suffer the same fate this week. Bullard's two losses are to Centennial and Sheldon, a pair of state title contenders. Be sure to read
Steve Galluzzo's feature on Tony Amundsen's team.
11. (15) Mission Viejo, 20-2, 4-1
Darin Sutton, Mission Viejo
Photo by Rob Carmell
Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 12 state, 72 national
The South Coast League race has reached a red-hot point now, as Mission Viejo looks to avenge its only league loss in a Tuesday tilt against El Toro. They will also face Aliso Niguel (3-2) in the SCL in addition to a matchup against Colony (Ontario) Saturday at Mater Dei. Last week, Mission Viejo bested Capistrano Valley, 60-52. If the Diablos beat El Toro and Colony, this ranking is justified. Anything less will likely bring about a sizable tumble.
12. (16) Tustin, 22-2, 9-0Division: Southern Section III-AAA
Freeman Rankings: 37 state, 254 national
The
Tillers have won 12 of their last 13, with that one loss coming to Mater Dei. They're absolutely blowing the doors off the Empire League, and strangely have no games this week on the schedule. In fact, they have clinched at least a share of the title with just two games left. A high seed in the III-AAA playoffs likely awaits.
13. (9) Loyola (Los Angeles), 16-5, 6-2Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 7 state, 46 national
The Cubs are fighting through injuries and fighting a brutal schedule, nonleague and in the Mission League. They trounced Chaminade 74-55 then succumbed to St. John Bosco by a 67-64 count. This is another team with a huge week coming up: St. Francis on Wednesday, Crespi on Friday and Etiwanda on Saturday. That is no easy task.
14. (17) Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 18-4, 8-0Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 48 state, 333 national
It was a cake walk last week for the Mustangs, with a 50-24 victory over Riverside Poly and a 61-33 victory over Claremont. But it''s all about looking forward, and by that we mean Friday's tussle with JW North likely with first place on the line. Rancho Verde jumped into the rankings thanks to their win over North, and if they win against Canyon Springs and North, it would secure the Inland Valley League title.
15. (18) JW North (Riverside), 19-3, 7-1Division: Southern Section II-AA
Freeman Rankings: 31 state, 225 national
The Huskies have set up a huge IVL contest with Rancho Verde (see above) by winning 72-46 over Vista Del Lago and 68-31 over Canyon Springs. Deshon Taylor is averaging just less than 20 points per game.
16. (6) Pacific Hills (Los Angeles), 17-4, 7-2Division: Southern Section IV-A
Freeman Rankings: 13 state, 74 national
It's tough times in Bruins land, as their Alpha League lead vanished after losses to Windward (66-62) and Brentwood School (81-71). A 72-66 win over Campbell Hall made the week bearable at least. Sierra Canyon and Paraclete are on the schedule this week, which should give Pacific Hills two good chances to keep pace in the league title race, which shows Windward and Pacific Hills trailing Brentwood School by one in the loss column.
17. (19) Crespi (Encino), 18-6, 8-1Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 52 state, 349 national
The Mission League has been put on notice: the title goes through Encino. The Celts maintained their grip on first place with yet more close wins, taking down Alemany 58-55 and St. Francis 66-62. This team is extremely prolific in tight ballgames, and is led by
London Perrantes and his 20.8 points per game to go with 5.8 assists and 5.9 rebounds. This is the Mission League, and that means no easy games: A change to avenge their only league loss comes Wednesday against Chaminade and then Loyola comes calling on Friday. A win over Loyola would secure the league title.
18. (20) Calabasas, 19-3, 9-1
Calabasas looks to defend its section title.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Southern Section III-AAA
Freeman Rankings: 47 state, 327 national
Agoura was no problem in a 76-60 triumph. Now there are four games left and they are against teams 2-5 in the Marmonte League standings. A game at Royal on Tuesday precedes visits from Moorpark Friday and Thousand Oaks on Saturday. Westlake awaits next week. Thousand Oaks and Royal are both 8-2, just lurking to snag a piece of the league title.
19. (21) Price (Los Angeles), 20-3Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 21 state, 153 national
In their only game of the week, the Knights won 56-32 over Parker (San Diego). All that's left is two Harbor Gold League contests against Renaissance Academy (this week) and Ribet Academy (next week). Price also jumped in to the Los Angeles Times Top 25 this week.
20. (24) Foothill (Santa Ana), 20-2, 8-1Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 23 state, 165 national
Villa Park had a very good Freeman Rankings number coming in, and had beat the Knights earlier this season, but Foothill took care of business with a 61-51 win. The Knights also beat El Modena 56-48. Now Foothill and Villa Park each have one Century League loss, so a shared title is certainly a possibility. A road game at El Dorado (Placentia) and a tangle with De La Salle (Concord) at the Nike Extravaganza await.
21. (25) El Toro (Lake Forest), 20-4, 4-0Division: Southern Section I-A
Freeman Rankings: 40 state, 283 national
Round 1 of the South Coast League was flawless for the Chargers. Round 2 kicks off with a game at Mission Viejo on Wednesday. Tesoro comes to town Friday as well. Beating Mission Viejo would secure at least a tie for the SCL crown.
22. (14) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 18-4, 4-0Division: San Diego Section II
Freeman Rankings: 36 state, 250 national
Etiwanda snapped the Mavericks' 14-game win streak (56-51) and that was the last shot LCC had a big-time state title contender. There are still six league games left.
23. (NR) Hart (Newhall), 21-1, 5-1
Lewis Stallworth, Hart
Photo by Larry Gasinski
Southern Section III-AAA
Freeman Rankings: 41 state, 286 national
The Indians blasted their way back in to the rankings by avenging a loss to West Ranch (their only one of the season), 84-65. They fell out because they lost to the Wildcats earlier. Now the Foothill League race is a dead heat and there are just four contests left.
24. (NR) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 19-3, 7-0Division: San Diego Section III
Freeman Rankings: 19 state, 123 national
The Dons are back as well, thanks to their third victory of the season against St. Augustine (San Diego), a previous rankings inhabitant. Now the Western League title is theirs to lose. University City is on the list this week, then four more league games to finish out the season. We would never declare a team a shoo-in for a section title, but Cathedral Catholic has a great chance of winning it all in the SDS and getting a shot at some Southern Section/City Section squads in the state playoffs.
25. (12) Santa Monica, 17-5, 6-0Division: Southern Section I-A
Freeman Rankings: 34 state, 241 national
This is a very good, maybe great, basketball team. But the Vikings just couldn't get over the hump to get into the elite. That chance is likely gone for a few weeks now, though, as Santa Monica lost 55-52 to Compton, which is a quality team. The Vikings put things back together with a 72-68 Ocean League triumph over Inglewood and they also beat Hawthorne 67-48. Santa Monica holds a two-game lead in the Ocean League with four games left to play this season, so expect a league title banner by the beach.
