MaxPreps Southern California boys basketball rankings

The top stays pretty similar but the bottom has lots of changes in this week's Southern California boys basketball rankings. This coming week could see some changes at the top, though, as the best teams have a few key matchups against other ranked squads.

We extend a welcome to defending state champion Village Christian, defending SoCal champion La Costa Canyon, a returning state semifinalist in Serra, plus undefeated Hart and Westlake as well.

MaxPreps Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings

1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 16-0, 2-0
Division: Southern Section Division I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 1 state, 5 national

The Monarchs are still the No. 1 team in the nation according to the Xcellent 25 after winning a pair of Trinity League contests last week. We saw some quality fourth-quarter play as well, as Mater Dei entered the fourth quarter tied against JSerra Catholic before emerging with a 53-47 victory led by 19 points and 13 rebounds from Stanley Johnson. An easy 18-point win over Santa Margarita followed. Now comes perhaps the biggest regular-season matchup of the season so far, as the Monarchs will head to St. John Bosco (Bellflower) on Wednesday. Adding to the intrigue, they head to Orange Lutheran after that for a Friday tilt.

2. (2) Long Beach Poly, 13-1, 2-0
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 2 state, 8 national

The Jackrabbits (still No. 3 in the Xcellent 25 National Rankings) hadn't played since Dec. 29, and showed no signs of rust in an 86-46 thumping of Jordan (Long Beach) on Monday in a Moore League game. It's the beginning of three straight nights of league games. Tuesday features a road contest at Millikan and Wednesday is a road date in Compton. A trip to the pretigious Spalding Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts looms Jan. 19, yet another chance for the Jackrabbits to impress against some of the nation's best teams

3. (3) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 16-0
Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 3 state, 11 national

Beating Palos Verdes by 63 and Narbonne by 36 were expected. What wasn't expected was a tight two-point triumph over Redondo Union, nor the pushing and shoving after the final buzzer. The Knights (still No. 13 in the Xcellent 25) continue to impress, and this week they have the chance to make a huge statement with back-to-back road games against Serra (Gardena) and St. John Bosco on Friday and Saturday. Don't forget Wednesday's Del Rey League opener at Bishop Amat (La Puente).

4. (4) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 10-1, 2-0
Division: Southern Section Division III-A
Freeman Rankings: 6 state, 26 national

A huge leap in the Freeman Rankings has followed after two Trinity League wins. The chance to move exceptionally high looms as the Braves face Mater Dei and Bishop Montgomery this week. They jumped all over JSerra Catholic, leading 43-26 at the half en route to a 79-63 triumph, and then pulled away from Orange Lutheran in the second half to win 95-81. Daniel Hamilton scored 21 points with 11 rebounds in the JSerra game and then Isaac Hamilton poured in 25 points in the Orange Lutheran win. The matchup with Mater Dei Wednesday is titanic, and then Saturday is the Bishop Montgomery contest.

5. (5) Loyola (Los Angeles), 12-2, 2-0
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 4 state, 21 national

The Cubs kicked off the Mission League schedule with an easy 75-46 triumph over Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) last week, and on Monday showed their supreme balance. In a 62-61 victory over Chaminade, Loyola had seven players score, and they all tallied between eight and 11 points. St. Francis looms on Friday and a visit from a quality Crespi team will be Monday the 14th.

6. (6) Centennial (Corona), 15-1
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 5 state, 24 national

The Huskies moved up one spot in the Xcellent 25 to 23rd even though they haven't played since Dec. 29. A road game at Big VIII League rival Corona is Tuesday, and Corona is a 13-2 team this year that beat Centennial twice last season on the way to the Southern Section quarterfinals. The Huskies also go to Norco on Thursday.

7. (7) Mission Viejo, 15-1
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 8 state, 37 national

The Diablos get back at it Wednesday at home against Aliso Niguel and then go to El Toro on Friday. Both those teams bring 14-4 records into the week, and Tesoro is 14-3. As you can infer, the South Coast League is extremely deep, so Mission Viejo is sure to face many stiff challenges.

8. (8) Etiwanda, 9-2
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 7 state, 33 national

The Eagles dispatched King (Riverside) 59-32 with a second-half blitzkrieg that included a 37-14 advantage in the final two quarters. Kenny Barnes led the team with 19 points. Road games at Upland and Los Osos await this week to begin Baseline League play, plus a Saturday nonleague contest against Beverly Hills. The Baseline, like the South Coast League, is stacked with great records. In fact, of the six teams, Etiwanda has the fifth-most preseason victories, but that has to do with the fact that everybody else has played many more contests.

9. (9) Bullard (Fresno), 12-1
Division: Central Section I
Freeman Rankings: 9 state, 40 national

The Knights blasted Clovis East 68-32, and then coach Tony Amundsen bested his brother Tim in a 79-55 win over Central (Fresno). Central is currently ranked No. 3 in the section in the Freeman Rankings, so that shows how Bullard should do in league and Central Section play. But a road game at Sacramento power Sheldon and a trip to LA to play Dorsey will give a better barometer in the coming weeks.

10. (11) Pacific Hills (Los Angeles), 11-2, 2-0
Division: Southern Section IV-A
Freeman Rankings: 10 state, 53 national

The Bruins dispatched Sierra Canyon 81-69 on Monday after entering the fourth quarter with just a one-point lead. Jahmel Taylor scored 32 points. That keeps the Bruins unbeaten in the tough Alpha League, with many more challenges to come. Trips to Windward and Campbell Hall follow on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

11. (12) Brentwood School (Los Angeles), 13-1, 2-0
Division: Southern Section IV-A
Freeman Rankings: 17 state, 120 national

The Eagles kept pace in the Alpha League with a 93-69 triumph over Viewpoint, as Tra Holder scored 30 and Leland King added 24 points and 17 rebounds. We can't wait to see what happens when they play Pacific Hills on Jan. 16.

12. (10) Westchester (Los Angeles), 13-5
Division: Los Angeles City Section I
Freeman Rankings: 12 state, 71 national

The Comets dropped a 65-61 decision at St. Anthony (Long Beach), then rebounded Monday with a 83-35 triumph over LACES (Los Angeles). What kept the Comets so high despite their loss? Wins over three national powers and the fact that three of their losses are to Poly, Bishop Montgomery and Pacific Hills. And the fact that Santa Monica and El Camino Real didn't pull off any big-name wins in the past week. But one more loss could mean the Comets get booted.

13. (15) Santa Monica, 11-4
Division: Southern Section I-A
Freeman Rankings: 23 state, 168 national

The Vikings begin Ocean League play Wednesday against Inglewood, which was ranked last week. They haven't played since Dec. 29, so there's not much more to say right now.

14. (16) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 13-2
Division: Los Angeles City Section I
Freeman Rankings: 13 state, 82 national

The Conquistadors blasted Dorsey (Los Angeles) 71-46 in their only action since the last rankings. Julian Richardson scored 21 points and added nine rebounds. West Valley League play begins Wednesday, against Cleveland (Reseda).

15. (14) Chaminade (West Hills), 12-3, 0-1
Division: Southern Section III-A
Freeman Rankings: 29 state, 219 national

A loss should probably drop a team more. When it's in the Mission League by a single point and it's to No. 5 Loyola, that's enough reason to believe that the Eagles deserve to be 15th in the rankings. They also blew out Providence (Burbank) 88-67 last week with a 22-8 blitz in the second quarter.

16. (19) JW North (Riverside), 14-2, 3-0
Division: Southern Section II-AA
Freeman Rankings: 21 state, 160 national

The Huskies have been idle since Dec. 29, but get back into Inland Valley League play Wednesday against a quality Rancho Verde team that is 11-4, 3-0 in league.

17. (21) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 13-2, 1-0
Division: San Diego Section III
Freeman Rankings: 18 state, 121 national

The Dons pushed St. Augustine (San Diego) aside for a second time this season, meaning right now they hold the distinction as the top team in the San Diego Section. However, La Costa Canyon was a state finalist last season and is charging hard. Cathedral Catholic erased a one-point deficit entering the fourth quarter and emerged with a 67-64 triumph in that Western League game against St. Augustine, and goes to Scripps Ranch Tuesday.

18. (NR) Hart (Newhall), 14-0
Division: Southern Section III-AAA
Freeman Rankings: 34 state, 255 national

The Indians have an amazing record. The Indians also haven't played a very tough schedule. But with a healthy amount of losses happening in the Top 25 this past week, it's time to give Hart a chance. We'll find out quickly whether the record is for real, as Hart hosts West Ranch Tuesday in the Foothill League opener. The Indians' last game was a 75-64 triumph over Rio Mesa (Oxnard).

19. (NR) Village Christian (Sun Valley), 14-2
Division: Southern Section V-AA
Freeman Rankings: 48 state, 374 national

The defending Division V state champions pulled off a big win last week to get them into the rankings, as they dispatched then-No. 13 West Ranch 56-54. They blasted a halftime deadlock with a 17-7 third quarter. Village Christian has losses to Leuzinger and Tustin this season. The Crusaders open Olympic League play against Whittier Christian this week.

20. (13) West Ranch (Valencia), 10-4
Division: Southern Section I-A
Freeman Rankings: 24 state, 176 national

After a 4-0 start, the Wildcats are 6-4 in their last 10, including the aforementioned 56-54 setback to Village Christian. West Ranch immediately gets a shot to improve its standings, though, as it travels to Hart Tuesday to battle the 14-0 Indians, who debut at No. 18 this week.

21. (24) Sonora (La Habra), 15-2, 1-0
Division: Southern Section III-AAA
Freeman Rankings: 37 state, 286 national

The Raiders last played Dec. 29 and go to Buena Park Tuesday. Wins against Troy and Sunny Hills in Freeway League play would go a long way toward keeping Sonora in the rankings, as they don't have a lengthy list of signature victories against upper-echelon teams.

22. (NR) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 11-3
Division: San Diego Section II
Freeman Rankings: 41 state, 320 national

The Mavericks are on a roll, with seven straight victories and five of those are against teams with winning records. And all but one of those seven straight are by double digits. Their losses are by three, four and three points, so the defending SoCal champions are right in all their games. The schedule could be a bit better, but we can wait until Jan. 26 when LCC faces Etiwanda. Jeff Van Dyke has averaged 16.8 points per game despite missing six contests.

23. (18) Orange Lutheran, 14-2, 1-1
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 22 state, 165 national

The Lancers did what we expected last week.They lost 95-81 to St. John Bosco and then whacked Servite 64-29. Next week may very well bring the same results, as they face Santa Margarita but then have to match up with Mater Dei. Ah the Trinity League, never a dull moment.

24. (NR) Serra (Gardena), 11-3
Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 49 state, 375 national

The Cavaliers knocked off Inglewood last week, 64-57, and that knocked the Sentinels out of the rankings. So this seemed like a good replacement. Serra went 31-3 last year and missed the state title game by one win. This season has already seen three losses, but they're not terrible ones: Westchester, Bishop Montgomery and Salesian (Richmond), the defending state champ. Wednesday's game against La Salle (Pasadena) is neat, but what's really exciting is a Friday tilt with Bishop Montgomery in Del Rey League play.

25. (NR) Westlake (Westlake Village), 14-2, 4-0
Division: Southern Section II-A
Freeman Rankings: 35 state, 265 national

We were tempted to add Calabasas here in an effort to give the Ventura County area some recognition. But Westlake gets the nod with its 86-76 victory over Thousand Oaks last week. All four of the Warriors' Marmonte League victories are by double digits. One defeat was to Hart by two points and the other is to Chaminade, so Westlake is proving to be a solid squad. Calabasas has the exact same record but a slightly lower Freeman Rankings spot.

Dropped out: No. 17 JSerra Catholic, No. 20 Harvard-Westlake, No. 22 Foothill (Santa Ana), No. 23 Inglewood and No. 25 St. Augustine (San Diego).