MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 boys basketball rankings

Back when Mater Dei lost its first game of the season, we stood pat with the Monarchs, still thinking they were the best team in Southern California. It looked like the right decision when Bishop Montgomery finally lost a game.

Now all that is in the past, because Etiwanda has blown us away.

The Eagles are the new No. 1 in the rankings after pulling off a double dose of destruction. Not only did they eliminate Long Beach Poly from the Southern Section I-AA playoffs, they then knocked off Mater Dei in the title game. That's wins over two of the area's top three teams in a span of five days.

That's No. 1 material.

The state playoffs are here now, so we will continue to see movement as the best play the best. You will also notice that three San Diego Section teams jumped into the rankings this week.

Click here to visit our California boys basketball playoff brackets (All sections, plus state brackets)

MaxPreps Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings

1. (7 last week) Etiwanda, 27-2
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 1 state, 2 national

Moving from the seventh spot to the top spot all the sudden? You bet. When you knock off the Nos. 1 and 2 teams, you've proven that you are the top team in the area, and that's what the Eagles did in an impressive Southern Section run. In Tuesday's semifinals, Etiwanda knocked out Long Beach Poly with a 59-55 overtime triumph. Then in Saturday's finals, the Eagles became the only California team to beat Mater Dei, coming out on top 54-51 behind 16 points from Kenny Barnes. The Mater Dei win was especially noteworthy, as they took a 43-30 lead into the fourth quarter. The Eagles are now the top seed in the Open Division, have earned a bye and await the winner between Bullard and Westchester next Tuesday.

2. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 30-2
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 2 state, 4 national

The Monarchs lost, but their resume prevents a fall any lower. An undefeated run through the Trinity League and a trip to the I-AA final is hard to knock. Before they succumbed to Etiwanda in the CIFSS I-AA title game, the Monarchs bested Inglewood in the semifinals, 65-48. Mater Dei will host El Camino Real Friday in the Open Division first round.

3. (2) Long Beach Poly, 27-3
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 3 state, 11 national

The Jackrabbits, just like Mater Dei, only lost to one California team this season: Etiwanda. They fell in the I-AA semifinals despite erasing a six-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, and are another example of how it's hard to drop a team that lost to two national powers and the top SoCal squad. Earlier this season, Bishop Montgomery was ahead of Poly until it lost to Lutheran. Since Poly's loss to Etiwanda was much closer, they get the nod to stay. Poly will head to St. John Bosco on Friday for an Open Division opening-round contest.

4. (4) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 29-1
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 4 state, 18 national

The Knights didn't play last week, as they were eliminated in the CIFSS IV-AA tournament by Luthern (La Verne). That loss also kept them out of the Open Division, so they will compete in Division IV and open the state playoffs Wednesday with a home contest against 24-9 Coalinga of the Central Section. The Knights don't jump Poly because Poly's loss was a tight one, but they don't fall because they beat Westchester earlier this season.

5. (5) Westchester (Los Angeles), 28-6
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 8 state, 29 national

The Comets won the highly anticipated Los Angeles City Section final with a 65-59 verdict over El Camino Real, a great victory for the program. According to the Torrance Daily Breeze, Westchester finished the game on a 16-6 run. The Comets surely won't be afraid of anybody in the Open Division bracket, and will head up to Fresno to take on Bullard Friday in the opening round of the Open Division bracket.

6. (6) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 24-6
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 6 state, 23 national

The Braves pasted Chaminade in the III-A final, winning 80-56 behind a 19-9 third quarter blitz. Isacc Hamilton scored 23 points and sophomore Tyler Doresey added 22. The big win got the Braves into the Open Division, and that gives them a huge home game against Long Beach Poly on Friday. Poly won 60-54 in their meeting earlier this season.

7. (8) Bullard (Fresno), 27-2
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 12 state, 51 national

The Knights did what was expected: Roll through the Central Section Division I bracket. They capped off the title with a 66-53 triumph over Clovis West. They 44-28 halftime lead evaporated into a 48-46 lead after three quarters, then they hit the gas and took the crown. Bullard hosts Westchester in the Open Division opener Friday.

8. (9) Tustin, 30-2
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 22 state, 107 national

The Tillers' magical season continued with a 49-32 victory over Royal in the CIFSS III-AAA game. That now equals 17 victories in a row as the Tillers enter the state playoffs. They open with a home game against 24-7 Ocean View of Huntington Beach on Wednesday.

9. (10) JW North (Riverside), 28-3
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 19 state, 92 national

North won the CIFSS II-AA bracket with a 59-58 victory over Villa Park, and is undoubtedly breathing a sigh of relief after nearly blowing a 13-point lead entering the fourth quarter. Dorian Butler led North in scoring with 16 points in the win. Rancho Verde and St. Augustine are the only California teams to beat North, which has the top seed in the Division II state playoffs bracket. Sylmar (21-13) comes to town on Wednesday for the state playoffs opener.

10. (12) Pacific Hills (Los Angeles), 24-4
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 21 state, 104 national

The Bruins won the CIFSS IV-A crown with a 74-65 victory over Brentwood in the CIFSS IV-A final, taking the rubber match from their Alpha League nemeses. They erased a two-point halftime deficit to take the triumph and now look forward to a home contest against the Central Section's Chowchilla (21-8) on Wednesday.

11. (11) Brentwood School (Los Angeles), 27-4
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 45 state, 280 national

Read above for how the Eagles fared in the section final against Pacific Hills. They would have fallen a bit but own a win over El Camino Real, so Brentwood stays pat after losing to a very good Pacific Hills squad. Now the Eagles can look forward to hitting the road to go to Mater Dei Catholic in Chula Vista (25-6).

12. (3) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 28-3
State Division: Open
Freeman Rankings: 16 state, 72 national

The Conquistadors came up short in their big chance to prove that their somewhat-weak schedule wasn't an issue, falling to Westchester. They are hardly a bad team, but the lack of big-name opponents has them drop nine spots. A state playoffs run will get them right back up near the top. They lost to Brentwood earlier this season, and Brentwood lost to Pacific Hills. Westchester won 65-59 in that LA City Section final, and now ECR gets a chance to travel to Mater Dei in a Friday Open Division opener.

13. (17) Serra (Gardena), 25-6
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 18 state, 91 national

The Cavaliers made Lutheran's victory over Bishop Montgomery seem like it wasn't a big deal when they blasted Lutheran 70-52 in the CIFSS IV-AA final over the weekend. The state playoff brackets certainly gave Serra a huge vote of confidence when it gave them the top seed and the only bye in the SoCal part of the bracket. On Saturday, Serra will get the winner between Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) and Brentwood School (Los Angeles).

14. (23) Santa Monica, 25-6
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 20 state, 98 national

The Vikings are the CIFSS I-A champions after a 66-56 victory over El Toro in the title game, one that featured a 20-5 advantage in the second quarter that broke open a tie game. In the semifinals, SaMoHi took down Dana Hills 60-41. The opening round of the state playoffs will feature a visit from Narbonne (Harbor City), with a 16-12 record.

15. (NR) St. Augustine (San Diego), 25-4
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 11 state, 49 national

Because Cathedral Catholic had defeated St. Augustine three times during the regular season, it was hard to find a way to get the Saints back in to the rankings. They were always right there on the outside but not in. Well, they kicked down the door and got back in to the rankings by blasting Cathedral Catholic 62-36 in the SDS Division III title game. Their victories over J.W. North, Salesian, La Costa Canyon and Army-Navy got lost in the Cathedral Catholic losses, but now it's unavoidable. Their playoff run was a rout, as the Saints won by 65, 29, 35 and 26. Message received.

16. (19) Army-Navy (Carlsbad), 27-4
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 29 state, 179 national

The Warriors trailed by seven after one quarter and trailed by two entering the fourth, but managed to dispatch Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) in the San Diego Section Division IV title game, 56-50. Devin Watson was huge with 22 points. In the semifinals, Army-Navy won 59-53 over Santa Fe Christian. Now comes the D-IV state playoffs, a No. 2 seed and a home date against Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello (20-9).

17. (16) El Toro (Lake Forest), 27-6
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 31 state, 205 national

The Chargers beat Crescenta Valley 68-38 to reach the finals, then came up short in a 66-56 loss to Santa Monica in the CIFSS I-A final. They were undone by a 20-5 deficit in the second quarter. Now comes a Wednesday home game against El Camino of Oceanside (26-5) in the opening round of the state playoffs.

18. (NR) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 23-8
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 27 state, 158 national

The Sea Hawks, similar to St. Augustine, were always on the fringe. Unlike the Saints, they never got in, mostly due to a pair of three-game losing streaks in the middle of the season. Those eight losses aren't so bad when you consider they came to teams like Serra, Long Beach Poly, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), Sheldon, Price, Bishop Montgomery and some out-of-state teams. Furthermore, they have wins over Modesto Christian and Leuzinger. What got them in, though, was the 68-63 triumph over Westlake in the CIFSS II-A final.

19. (15) Lutheran (La Verne), 25-7
State Division: IV
Freeman Rankings: 49 state, 317 national

It was quite the letdown for Lutheran. After eliminating undefeated Bishop Montgomery in the CIFSS IV-AA playoffs, they came out in the title game and got whacked by Serra, 70-52. That win over Bishop Montgomery still carries some serious weight, though. Lutheran will open the state playoffs with a home contest against the Central Section's Sierra High of Tollhouse (18-11).

20. (14) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 27-4
State Division: III
Freeman Rankings: 30 state, 199 national

The Dons' streak of success against St. Augustine finally ran out in the SDS Division III final, losing 62-36. Their Southern California Regional Playoffs contest at home against Santa Margarita will be a very interesting situation. Santa Margarita went 0-10 in the Trinity League, yet reached the CIFSS III-AA final, so it's hard to tell just how good the Eagles are.

21. (18) Westlake (Westlake Village), 26-5
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 48 state, 298 national

Their 68-63 loss to Redondo Union dropped the Warriors a bit. They can climb steadily, though, with a decent draw in the SoCal Division II bracket. The opening game on Wednesday will be at home against Arroyo Grande, and if they win that then the next contest would be against the winner of La Costa Canyon and Kennedy (Granada Hills). 

22. (NR) Hoover (San Diego), 29-5
State Division: II
Freeman Rankings: 37 state, 227 national

The Cardinals are in the rankings for the first time this season, the latest San Diego Section squad to make a splash. They beat La Costa Canyon in the SDS D-II final, 58-50, despite trailing by eight points entering the second quarter. Hoover ended up beating LCC two out of three times this season and also owns a win over Compton, a fringe team. Plus, two of its losses are to out-of-state teams. Hoover opens the state playoffs with a Wednesday visit from Tesoro of Rancho Santa Margarita (21-9).

23. (20) Centennial (Corona), 26-3
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 14 state, 59 national

The Huskies are done. Still, it was a very successful season and they are one of the better teams around. Centennial lost 77-75 to Silverado of Victorville to end its season.

24. (21) Loyola (Los Angeles), 22-7
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 13 state, 55 national

Loyola is still alive, ladies and gentlemen. The Cubs should not be forgotten, and with two victories in the state playoffs, they could get back up in the Top 10, a place they spent a considerable amount of time at. Loyola will open the state playoffs with a home game against Taft of Woodland Hills (16-14).

25. (NR) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 27-4
State Division: I
Freeman Rankings: 25 state, 141 national

The San Diego Section is getting a solid representation this week, and Mission Hills has always been a part of the SDS discussion. The Grizzlies have wins over Chino Hills and Torrey Pines, and more importantly, they won the SDS D-I crown with a 52-42 triumph over El Camino (Oceanside). Mission Hills will host Dana Hills in the SoCal Division I playoffs on Wednesday.