MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

Video: Viewpoint (CA) Dunk off the Backboard
Teammates go off the glass for a nasty two-handed jam.

The CIF Northern California Regional semifinals are here, the champions crowned for the upper divisions at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento and the smaller divisions at American Canyon High School.

A lot of games are evenly matched.

Check out the California basketball playoff brackets here.


1. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (Last week 1) 25-4
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Update: Top ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle and No. 1 in the state, the Dragons are unbeaten in state play, losing only to national powerhouse programs. O'Dowd beat Saint Francis 76-55 in a NorCal Open Division opener as Ivan Rabb scored 30 points with 14 rebounds. The Dragons face No. 4 Folsom in a semifinal at Laney College.

2. Modesto Christian (3) 29-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Update: The Crusaders, top ranked by The Modesto Bee, beat previous NorCal No. 2 Monte Vista 47-44 in an Open Division game behind Jeff Wu's 17 points and Anthony Townes, who had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Next is No. 7 Serra in San Mateo in an Open semifinal.

3. Monte Vista (Danville, Calif.) (2) 27-4
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The defending Division I state champions lost 47-44 to No. 3 Modesto Christian in an Open contest, closing out a terrific season. Monte Vista remains ranked ahead of De La Salle after beating its rivals three times, including the finals of the North Coast Section Division I tournament, 50-49.

4. Folsom (4) 28-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: The Bulldogs beat previous No. 5 El Cerrito 78-75 in an Open Division opener as Jordan Ford scored 23 and Jared Wall 16. Tre Finch, Josiah Deguara and Alec Andrews all played well. Next is top-ranked O'Dowd in a semifinal at Laney College.

5. De La Salle (Concord) (8) 27-4
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The Spartans beat McClymonds (Oakland) 50-37 in a Division I contest to bounce back from a 50-49 NCS D-I setback to rival Monte Vista. Next is a D-I semifinal against No. 13 Woodcreek on Tuesday in Concord.

6. Sacramento (7) 27-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Update: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee entering the playoffs, the Dragons bounced back from a 49-46 loss to Modesto Christian in the SJS D-II finals to win a D-II NorCal opener over San Marin (Novato) 72-53 as Stephen Matthews, Christian Terrell and Solomon Young led the way. Next is a semifinal game against No. 20 St. Mary's (Stockton).

7. Serra (San Mateo) (11) 23-5
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Update: Top ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, the Padres belted previous No. 3 Moreau Catholic in an Open Division opener 79-51, thanks to hot shooting and strong defense. Jake Killingsworth and Jimmy Wohrer have played well. Next is No. 3 Modesto Christian in an Open semifinal in San Mateo.

8. Campolindo (Moraga) (10) 26-4
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Update: The Cougars beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 79-65 in a D-III opener as the second seed. They now face No. 18 Sierra in a semifinal in Moraga. The last loss was to top-ranked O'Dowd.

9. Berkeley (21-10) (NR) 21-10
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Update: In and out of these rankings all season, the Yellowjackets storm back in after beating No. 10 Sheldon 79-74 in a D-I action. Next is a semifinal game against No. 12 San Ramon Valley in Danville.

10. Sheldon (Sacramento) (9) 21-8
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Huskies lost to Berkeley 79-74 in D-I play, ending a season for a team that a week earlier lost to No. 2 Folsom in the SJS D-I finals 50-49. Sheldon has no senior starters so the title push is on again next season. An earlier win was over No. 11 El Cerrito.

11. El Cerrito (5) 29-4
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Update: The Gauchos lost to No. 2 Folsom 78-75 in an Open opener, though a lot of players return for another run next season. El Cerrito won the NCS Division II title.

12. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (2) 23-7
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Update: The defending NorCal Division IV champions lost to No. 7 Serra 79-51 in an Open opener. A lot of players return, including leading scorer Oscar Frayer.

13. San Ramon Valley (Danville) (13) 24-6
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Update: The Wolves beat previous No. 16 Pleasant Grove 76-62 in D-I play and now face No. 9 Berkeley in a semifinal. Berkeley lost to Pleasant Grove earlier this season. San Ramon Valley last lost to De La Salle in the NCS D-I semifinals, 62-55.

14. Woodcreek (Roseville) (14) 26-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Update: The Timberwolves beat Freedom (Oakley) 70-59 in D-I play and now take on No. 5 De La Salle in Concord in a semifinal. Noah Blackwell and Jordan Brown led the way against Freedom. The last loss was to Sheldon, 62-55 in the SJS D-I semifinals.

15. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (14) 17-10
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Update: The second-seeded Monarchs beat Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) 80-63 in a D-II game and now face No. 15 Cosumnes Oaks in a semifinal in San Jose. Ben Kone leads Mitty.

16. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (NR) 23-8
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: Back in the rankings, the Wolfpack are coming off a 56-49 win over D-II three-seeded Montgomery (Santa Rosa) behind the efforts of Jeff Dresser, Jaaron Stallworth and Eric Toles Jr.. Next is a semifinal game against Mitty.

17. Drake (San Anselmo) (17) 29-4
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Update: The defending NorCal Division III champions beat Aptos 61-54 in a D-III game and take on Mission (San Francisco) in a semifinal. The last loss was to then No. 3 Moreau Catholic 80-69 in the NCS D-III finals.

18. Capital Christian (Sacramento) (18) 23-8
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Update: The Cougars beat previously ranked Palma (Salinas) 59-42 in a D-IV game and now take on top-seeded Marin Catholic in a semifinal. The leader is Justice Shelton-Mosely.

19. Sierra (Manteca) (18) 30-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Update: The Timberwolves beat Riordan 65-57 in D-III play after winning the program's first SJC title. Next is a semifinal showdown at No. 8 Campolindo.

20. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (12) 22-6
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Update: The Lancers lost the CCS Open Division title game to rival Serra 40-38 on two late free throws and then lost to top-ranked O'Dowd 76-55. Saint Francis won the WCAL.

21. St. Mary's (Stockton) (NR) 23-8
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Update: The Rams beat Dublin 83-72 in a D-II game and now face top-seeded Sacramento, ranked sixth here. Lance Coleman II leads the team in scoring at 19.2 points.

22. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (NR) 23-10
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Update: The Wildcats beat Liberty Ranch (Galt) 84-69 in D-IV play. An earlier win was 61-54 over No. 23 Cardinal Newman in the NCS D-IV finals. Marin Catholic is led by sophomore Joey Calcaterra (20.2 points) and senior Charlie Duysen.

23. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) (NR) 30-3
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Update: Back in these rankings with fury, the Cardinals beat previously ranked Half Moon Bay 48-47 in D-IV play and now take on No. 17 Capital Christian in a semifinal. Seeded second, Cardinal Newman plays Saint Mary's (Berkeley) in a semifinal.

24. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (16) 21-10
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Update: The Eagles lost to No. 12 San Ramon Valley in D-I play, ending the stellar career of Marquese Chriss. Earlier wins include ranked Berkeley and Sheldon.

(TIE) 25. Stuart Hall (San Francisco) (23) 30-3
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Counties West
Update: The small-school powers behind standout Armani Collins beat Hamilton (Hamilton City) 72-57 in D-V play. The top-seeded Knights now play Brookside Christian (Stockton) in a semifinal.

(TIE) 25. University (San Francisco) (NR) 26-7
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Counties
Update: The Red Devils beat Trinity 95-55 in D-V play and play longtime power St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) in a semifinal. The last loss was to No. 23 Stuart Hall in the NCS D-V finals.

Click here to see The Bee Preps Show breaking down the NorCal playoffs

Click here to see The Sacramento Bee on NorCal basketball semifinals previews

Click here to see The Sacramento Bee on the inspired efforts of an unsung performer for a NorCal power

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty the weekly Bee Preps Show that airs on ComcastSportsNet California and can be found on sacbee.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through facebook.com/sacbeepreps.