Playoff basketball continues to roll along across Southern California - but that doesn't mean anybody's season is over yet.
The section playoffs are just one bump on the road to the regional and state playoffs. And that's why we don't see any teams completely falling out yet.
Though regular-season success plays a big role in the rankings, the fact is that playoff games are the most important of the year. So head-to-head playoff game results will determine most of the movement from here on out.
Click here to see the California Computer Rankings and
click here to see California boys basketball pro photo galleries.
But most importantly,
click here to see the California basketball playoff brackets.
MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 Basketball Rankings
1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 26-3Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 2 state, 9 national
We are now one game away from the second 1 vs. 2 matchup of the season, provided Mater Dei beats Etiwanda on Saturday and Bishop Montgomery wins as well. The Monarchs beat Price 65-56 and Chino Hills 73-62 in the Open Division playoffs.
2. (2) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 28-1Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 1 state, 5 national, 18 Xcellent 25
The Knights will battle Orange Lutheran (a No. 12 seed) on Saturday in the Open Division semifinals. They got to this point with a blowout 81-55 triumph over JW North and a solid 59-47 triumph over Cathedral.
3. (3) Fairfax (Los Angeles), 28-2Section and Division: Los Angeles City Open
Rankings: 7 state, 27 national
The Lions shot down Gardena in the Open Division opener in their playoffs, winning 65-41. They face El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) on Saturday in the semifinals.
4. (8) Etiwanda, 22-7Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 10
state, 56 national
The Eagles are hitting their stride in the Open Division bracket. They whacked Cantwell-Sacred Heart 52-39 before eliminating Sierra Canyon in a 65-60 showing. They will take on Mater Dei on Tuesday, a game date that changed from its original Saturday slot.
5. (11) Orange Lutheran, 24-4Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 3
state, 15 national
The Lancers were seeded too low, and they showed that in their Open Division victories. They edged Damien in a tight 60-59 victory in the first round, then advanced with a 78-73 triumph over Centennial. They will play Bishop Montgomery on Saturday.
6. (4) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 22-4 Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 4 state, 16 national, 7 Xcellent 25
The Trailblazers likely saw their stay in the Xcellent 25 end when they lost 65-60 to Etiwanda in the second round of the Open Division playoffs. They opened the bracket with a 75-63 triumph over St. John Bosco and will await the CIF Regional Playoffs.
7. (5) Centennial (Corona), 22-5Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 5 state, 18 national
The Huskies took care of Alemany quite easily in a 95-69 victory, but their second-round game was a 78-73 loss to Orange Lutheran. They will await the state playoffs as well.
8. (12) Chino Hills, 14-13 (6 forfeit losses)Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 22
state, 190 national
The Huskies took down Long Beach Poly in their playoff opener, a 78-54 blowout on the road. That got them to the next round, where they lost 73-62 to No. 2 seed Mater Dei. They await the regional playoffs now.
9. (10) Cathedral (Los Angeles), 20-7Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 11 state, 74 national
The Phantoms advanced to the second round of the Open Division playoffs by defeating Redondo Union, 61-56. They lost to top-seeded Bishop Montgomery 59-47 and now wait for the regional playoffs.
10. (6) Long Beach Poly, 23-4Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 9 state, 47 national
The Jackrabbits were upset by Chino Hills in the Open Division opener, 78-54. In the consolation bracket they stayed alive with a 67-50 victory over Price. They will face St. John Bosco on Saturday.
11. (7) Damien (La Verne), 24-4Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 8
state, 36 national
The Spartans experienced some heartache with a tough 60-59 loss to Orange Lutheran to kick things off in the Open Division. In the first round of consolation they won 74-61 over Alemany and next will battle Redondo Union.
12. (9) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 22-6Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 12 state, 76 national
The Sea Hawks' 61-56 loss to Cathedral dropped them down into consolation but they stayed alive with a 61-58 victory over JW North. Damien is up next on Saturday.
13. (14) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 27-2Section and Division: San Diego Open
Rankings: 27
state, 210 national
The Falcons were awarded the top seed in the San Diego Section's Open Division, and they will start things off Friday against No. 8 seed Vista. They finished their regular season with a 73-44 blasting of Canyon Crest Academy.
14. (15) Foothills Christian (El Cajon), 21-7 (2 forfeit losses)Section and Division: San Diego II
Rankings: 15
state, 116 national
The Knights are not in the SDS Open Division though they certainly can compete at that level. Instead, they are the top seed in Division II and started it off with a 77-37 thumping of Patrick Henry. They face No. 9 Bishop's on Friday
15. (17) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 17-11Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 19 state, 178 national
Christian Rhodes, Sonora
Photo by Louis Lopez
The Braves drew Sierra Canyon in the first round and suffered a 75-63 loss to move to consolation. There, they beat Cantwell-Sacred Heart 64-61 to stay alive, and will face Long Beach Poly on Saturday.
16. (19) Sonora (La Habra), 26-4Section and Division: Southern 3AA
Rankings: 38
state, 286 national
The top-seeded Raiders are rolling in the 3AA bracket, winning 85-57 over Northwood then digging deep to hold off Pasadena in a 60-57 game. They will battle Diamond Ranch (Pomona) in the semifinals on Friday.
17. (13) JW North (Riverside), 24-3Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 53 state, 397 national
The Huskies showed that maybe their record was inflated a bit due to lesser competition. They lost 81-55 to Bishop Montgomery in a blowout then their comeback attempt against Redondo Union failed in a 61-58 loss.
18. (16) Alemany (Mission Hills), 21-8Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 25
state, 208 national
The Warriors went two-and-out in the Open Division, falling 95-69 to Centennial and then 74-61 to Damien.
19. (18) Price (Los Angeles), 21-7Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 20 state, 182 national
The Knights are slipping. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games, granted they are as-usual playing tough opponents. They fell 65-56 to Mater Dei and then dropped to consolation, losing 67-50 to Long Beach Poly.
20. (20) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 19-7Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 49
state, 386 national
The Eagles crushed Montebello 73-47 and did the same to Rancho Cucamonga, 74-59. Each was on the road. Now they draw Los Alamitos in a Friday quarterfinal.
21. (21) Foothill (Santa Ana), 25-3Section and Division: Southern 1A
Rankings: 24
state, 202 national
The Knights spanked Woodrow Wilson 68-45 and then went on the road to Troy and took a 60-53 win. Next up is a home quarterfinal against Godinez.
22. (22) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 21-6Section and Division: San Diego Open
Rankings: 31
state, 238 national
The Mavericks are seeded second in the SDS Open Division and host Mission Bay Friday in the opener. They finished their regular season with an 81-48 pasting of crosstown rival Carlsbad.
23. (23) Loyola (Los Angeles), 19-9Section and Division: Southern 1A
Rankings: 42
state, 325 national
The
Cubs are the top seed and didn't get much resistance from Burbank (82-55) and Villa Park (77-68). They face Walnut in a Friday quarterfinal.
24. (25) Thousand Oaks, 26-3Section and Division: Southern 2AA
Rankings: 35
state, 259 national
The Lancers are blasting everybody in the 2AA bracket right now. They won 84-54 over Santa Maria and then put a 77-23 beating on Garden Grove. Tesoro will be Friday's opponent in the quarterfinals.
25. (24) Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 15-13
Section and Division: Southern Open
Rankings: 55 state, 413 national
The
Cardinals have taken on all comers this season and have had verifiable success. But the Open Division was not kind to them, as they lost 52-39 to Etiwanda and 64-61 to St. John Bosco.
