Video: Jalen Green highlights Watch the Prolific Prep star while being compared to James Harden as prep.
Sometimes, coaches say, a late regular-season loss, is not such a bad thing. It often helps teams re-focus.
Two-time defending CIF State Open Division champion Sierra Canyon hopes that's the case.
The Trailblazers lost a tough 86-74 game to nationally-ranked Long Island Lutheran at the Metro Classic in New Jersey on Saturday to drop to 24-4. But they are still comfortably in the No. 1 spot in the latest MaxPreps California Top 25 boys basketball rankings.
Sierra Canyon has a rating of 37.9 compared to 36.1 for No. 2 Centennial, which has won 22 straight heading into the Southern Section Open Division playoffs this week.
In Northern California. Bellarmine knocked off previous No. 7 Riordan 62-51 in West Catholic Athletic League play on Friday to move into the No. 9 spot in the rankings. Another WCAL squad Mitty dropped from 5 to No. 10 after a one-point loss to unranked St. Ignatius.
Among the top 10 squads, Prolific Prep, led by McDonald's All-Americans
Jalen Green and
Nimari Burnett, made the biggest leap from No. 9 to No. 4, just ahead of Sheldon which dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 despite three wins last week.
Much of the state — especially on the Southern end — finished up the regular season last week and open section playoffs.
Below is a full look at the Top 25. The rankings are updated every Tuesday and Friday.
