MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

The final weekend of playoffs at the section level provided a solid amount of surprising wins, and many ranked teams saw their positions change. Two even dropped out.

La Costa Canyon comes back into the rankings after it won the San Diego Section's Open Division bracket with a tight win over St. Augustine, and Village Christian makes its first entrance into the rankings this season thanks to a dominant run through the 4A bracket in the Southern Section.

You can click this link for all the state's playoff brackets, including CIF State editions. Be sure to visit the California rankings page, and the metro pages for the Fresno area, Los Angeles area and San Diego area.


1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 31-0
Classification: Southern (1AA), State Open Division
Ranks: 1 state, 1 national, 1 Xcellent 25

The Monarchs now are the consensus top team in the nation when it comes to MaxPrepsm, as they grabbed the No. 1 spot in the computer rankings. They stayed undefeated by winning the Southern Section Open Division title, 48-44 over Chino Hills. They only allowed 14 points in the first half, and Stanley Johnson scored 28 of his team's points and pulled in 15 rebounds, not to mention closing the game with eight consecutive free throw makes. The Monarchs host St. Augustine (San Diego) Friday in the regional Open Division playoffs.

2. (3) Chino Hills, 26-5
Classification: Southern (1AA, Open), State Division I
Ranks: 2 state, 11 national

The Huskies earned the No. 2 spot when they took on Mater Dei and were in it until the end. They led by one with a little more than a minute left but couldn't hold on. Freshman LiAngelo Ball scored 14 points for the Huskies, who played great defense but shot 26.2 percent, according to the LA Times. They will host Dorsey (Los Angeles) tonight in the Division I regional playoffs.

3. (2) JW North (Riverside), 25-3 (26-1 on court)
Classification: Southern (1A, Open), State Open Division
Ranks: 6 state, 25 national

The Huskies did not play. They begin the Regional Open Division playoffs Friday with a home game against Westchester (Los Angeles).

4. (4) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 24-5
Classification: Southern (2AA, Open), State Open Division
Ranks: 10 state, 42 national

The Sea Hawks did not play. They will host La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) Friday in the Regional Open Division playoffs.

5. (6) Etiwanda, 26-4
Classification: Southern (1AA, Open), State Open Division
Ranks: 9 state, 40 national

The Eagles did not play. They will travel to El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) Friday in the Regional Open Division playoffs.

6. (7) Loyola (Los Angeles), 25-3
Classification: Southern (1AA, Open), State Division I
Ranks: 3 state, 12 national

The Cubs did not play. They will host Palisades (Pacific Palisades) tonight in the Regional Division I playoffs.

7. (8) Centennial (Corona), 25-3
Classification: Southern (1AA, Open), State Division I
Ranks: 7 state, 28 national

The Huskies did not play. They will host Bullard (Fresno) tonight in the Regional Division I playoffs.

8. (11) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 28-3
Classification: Southern (4A, Open), State Division IV
Ranks: 11 state, 51 national

The Trailblazers won the Open Division consolation bracket by beating Bishop Montgomery 66-62 in comeback fashion. They trailed by five at the half and 11 entering the fourth quarter but gutted out a victory. Sophomore Devearl Ramsey scored 22 points and freshman Cody Riley added 19 with 10 rebounds. Sierra Canyon earned a bye in the first round of the Regional Division IV playoffs and will face the winner between JSerra Catholic and Tri-City Christian on Saturday.

9. (9) Mayfair (Lakewood), 23-6
Classification: Southern (1AA, Open), State Division I
Ranks: 33 state, 256 national

The Monsoons did not play. They will host Torrey Pines (Lakewood) tonight in the Regional Division I playoffs.

10. (12) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 24-6
Classification: Southern (4AA, Open), State Division IV
Ranks: 14 state, 61 national

The Knights moved to the Open Division's consolation final but lost to Sierra Canyon, 66-62 A three-minute scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter hurt, as did a 21-6 run for Sierra Canyon. Justin Bibbins scored 27 and Stephen Thompson Jr. had 26. The Knights have a bye in the first round of the Regional Division IV playoffs and will face the winner between Washington Union (Fresno) and Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) on Saturday.

11. (19) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 25-6
Classification: Los Angeles City (I), State Open Division
Ranks: 16 state, 71 national

The Conquistadores were the big winners in this week's rankings thanks to their 58-56 triumph over Westchester in the LA City Section title game, according to the LA Times. It was a revenge win after last season's title game, and Evan Wardlow poured in 15 points and Maleke Haynes sank the game-winning free throws. Now they get to focus on winning a state title. ECR will host Etiwanda in a Friday-night battle.

12. (5) Westchester (Los Angeles), 28-6
Classification: Los Angeles City (I), State Open Division
Ranks: 18 state, 75 national

The Comets fall seven places not because losing to El Camino Real is a "bad" loss, but because once you get into common opponents, it's where Westchester must be. ECR won 58-56 despite Elijah Stewart scoring 29 points and getting his team within two points with 26 seconds left. Next up is a Friday trip to JW North.

13. (10) St. Augustine (San Diego), 28-3
Classification: San Diego (Open), State Open Division
Ranks: 23 state, 126 national

The Saints lost 62-60 to La Costa Canyon in the SDS Open Division final. However they also have a win over LCC earlier this season and a better overall resume, so we will reward LCC more than punish St. Augustine. Furthermore, nobody else lower than here rocked the boat with wins. We figure a road game at Mater Dei in the first round of the Regional Open Division playoffs is punishment enough. Trey Kell scored 26 points and added 12 rebounds, according to UT San Diego. The game at Mater Dei is Friday.

14. (13) Chaminade (West Hills), 22-6
Classification: Southern (3A, Open), State Division III
Ranks: 21 state, 86 national

The Eagles did not play. They host Dinuba tonight in the Regional Division III playoffs.

15. (14) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 18-11
Classification: Southern (2AA, Open), State Division II
Ranks: 17 state, 73 national

The Braves did not play. They host Granada Hills tonight in the Regional Division II playoffs.

16. (15) Long Beach Poly, 25-7
Classification: Southern (1AA), State Division I
Ranks: 15 state, 70 national

The Jackrabbits beat Mission Viejo at the Honda Center to take the CIF-SS Division 1AA title, probably more reason to believe they were snubbed in the Open Division process. Regardless, they are in the state playoffs. In the 54-46 win over Mission Viejo, Poly got 19 points from Kameron Murrell (13 on free throws) and 14 from Ke'jhan Feagin. They open the Regional Division I playoffs tonight at home against Narbonne (Harbor City).

17. (18) Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista), 28-2
Classification: San Diego (II), State Division II
Ranks: 28 state, 227 national

The Crusaders capped off a stellar regular season with a 55-46 win over Parker in the SDS Division II final. It would have been nice to see this team in the Open Division. Their seven-point lead after one quarter paved the way for the title-winning victory, and they are third in the UT San Diego rankings. They host Tustin tonight in the Regional Division II playoffs.

18. (16) Compton, 22-7
Classification: Southern (2A, Open), State Division II
Ranks: 25 state, 180 national

The Tarbabes did not play. They host Garfield (Los Angeles) tonight in the Regional Division II playoffs.

19. (17) Serra (Gardena), 20-9
Classification: Southern (4AA, Open), State Division IV
Ranks: 38 state, 275 national

The Cavaliers did not play. They host Granite Hills (Porterville) tonight in the Regional Division IV playoffs.

20. (NR) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 28-5
Classification: San Diego (Open), State Open Division
Ranks: 22 state, 101 national

We welcome the Mavericks back into the fold thanks to a 62-60 victory over St. Augustine. They are No. 1 in the final UT San Diego poll, which we don't have the same feeling as. They split with St. Augustine and lost to Mater Dei Catholic, plus went 1-2 against El Camino of Oceanside. Still, this is a very good team, and LCC will go to Redondo Union for a Friday night game in the Regional Open Division playoffs.

21. (25) Calabasas, 27-5
Classification: Southern (2A), State Division II
Ranks: 20 state, 79 national

The Coyotes are section champs after thoroughly handling Sonora in the final, 66-47. They got 19 points from Austin Smith and 17 from Conner Longmire, according to the LA Daily News.

22. (25) Canyon (Anaheim), 28-4
Classification: Southern (2AA), State Division II
Ranks: 13 state, 59 national

The Comanches took out Westlake, 71-54, to win the CIF-SS 2AA title. Nick Anderson and Anthony Ballestero each scored 20 points for the Comanches, who outscored Westlake 43-22 in the second half. They host Hoover (San Diego) tonight in the Regional Division II playoffs.

23. (22) Cathedral (Los Angeles), 22-5
Classification: Southern (3A, Open), State Division III
Ranks: 62 state, 473 national

The Phantoms did not play. They host Hamilton (Los Angeles) tonight in the Regional Division III playoffs.

24. (23) Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 20-8
Classification: Southern (4A, Open), State Division IV
Ranks: 42 state, 289 national

The Cardinals did not play. They will host Bakersfield Christian tonight in the Regional Division IV playoffs.

25. (NR) Village Christian (Sun Valley), 26-4
Classification: Southern (4A), State Division IV
Ranks: 29 state, 230 national

The Crusaders blasted their way through the 4A bracket in the Southern Section, and their small-school status hides the overwhelming talent. Their losses are all to national-caliber teams and in the playoffs the average margin of victory was 25.8 points. They will host Coalinga tonight in the Regional Division IV playoffs.

Dropped out: No. 20 Sonora, No. 21 Sweetwarer




Dropped out: