What a treat this weekend will bring. No. 1 is going to face No. 2 at the Fairfax State Preview, with the home team battling No. 1 Sierra Canyon.
The flexibility in the event gives us the chance to see the best matchups possible, and since league play can sometimes make things relatively dull compared with showcase time and playoffs, this is a big deal.
On top of that game there are many more at Fairfax and some other venues featuring ranked squads.
Of note, the Chino Hills forfeit situation needs one more week to take effect in the rankings. Also, Cantwell-Sacred Heart is back in the rankings after beating Price. Should it have been Tustin? It was a tough call.
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MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 Basketball Rankings
1. (1 last week) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 15-1 Section and Division: Southern 5AA
Rankings: 1 state, 3 national, 4 Xcellent 25
The
Trailblazers are now in the Top 5 in the Xcellent 25 and have won 14 in a row. Can anybody stop them? They obliterated Brentwood School 77-35 and did the same to Paraclete, 91-51. While they host McAuliffe on Friday, the entire state - maybe the nation - will want to see what happens Saturday when Sierra Canyon takes on No. 2 Fairfax in the Fairfax State Preview. Expect a packed gym there. They also go to Viewpoint on Tuesday.
2. (2) Fairfax (Los Angeles), 21-0Section and Division: Los Angeles City I
Rankings: 2 state, 8 national, 17 Xcellent 25
The
Lions took care of their end of the bargain in setting up the 1 vs. 2 tilt, beating Westchester 54-49 in a huge game for City Section basketball fans and even some celebrities. They also took down Palisades in a 74-44 league game. They face Hamilton in a league game Friday before facing Sierra Canyon Saturday and will also battle LACES on Monday.
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 18-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 4 state, 19 national
The Monarchs now have a stranglehold on the Trinity League after blasting Servite 66-46 and doing the same to JSerra Catholic, 70-47. Things will get a little tougher with a Friday game against Santa Margarita and then a trip Wednesday to Orange Lutheran against the only team that could take the league title from them.
4. (4) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 21-1Section and Division: Southern 4AA
Rankings: 3 state, 13 national
The
Knights are staying right up there in the talk about the best team in the area, though their only loss was to a somewhat shocking 13-8 Marin Catholic team from NorCal. They won 63-50 over a good Cantwell-Sacred Heart team and then whacked Serra (Gardena) 73-53. After going to St. Bernard on Friday then will battle Loyola Saturday at the Fairfax State Preview Classic. Then they face Cathedral on Wednesday, so it will be a big week.
5. (5) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 17-4
Sedrick Barefield, Centennial
Photo by Nicholas Koza
Southern 1AA
Rankings: 8 state, 41 national
The
Sea Hawks had no trouble winning 68-37 against Palos Verdes and it was pretty much the same story in a 68-41 victory over Mira Costa. They go to Inglewood on Friday and host Morningside on Tuesday.
6. (6) Centennial (Corona), 15-4Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 6 state, 21 national
The
Huskies posted a pair of laughers in Big VIII play, taking down Corona 60-41 and Norco 83-37. Things should still be rosy next week, as they face King Thursday and Roosevelt on Tuesday.
7. (7) Cathedral (Los Angeles), 17-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 9 state, 53 national
The
Phantoms solidified their place among the elite by taking care of business against teams they were supposed to beat, as they took down Serra (Gardena) 82-63 and St. Bernard 74-42. Saturday will feature a fun matchup at the Greatest Showcase on Earth at Cathedral, with Morgan Park (Chicago) coming to town. Then on Wednesday the Phantoms go to Bishop Montgomery.
8. (8) Damien (La Verne), 18-2Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 7
state, 33 national
The
Spartans had to sweat to beat Rancho Cucamonga on the road, 76-72. It was looking bleak with a 62-49 entering the final quarter but Damien went crazy in the fourth quarter to earn the win. The Spartans also blew out Los Osos 71-43. After facing Upland on Friday then will battle Cantwell-Sacred Heart on Saturday and then face Etiwanda Tuesday in a key Baseline League battle.
9. (9) Long Beach Poly, 17-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 10 state, 60 national
The
Jackrabbits romped through Moore League games against Lakewood (74-60) and Woodrow Wilson (74-40) with relative ease. Hosting Millikan on Friday will be a decent challenge, then come trips to Jordan (Long Beach) on Monday and Cabrillo (Long Beach) on Wednesday.
10. (11) Chino Hills, 10-8 (4 forfeit losses)Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 36
state, 305 national
The Huskies are going in at No. 10 this week but they will be repositioned next week, as numerous media reports have them at 3-13 after it was self-reported that an ineligible player played for them. They will need to be penalized in the rankings but it's impossible right now to know exactly where to put them. They did beat Etiwanda 67-63 and Los Osos 75-61 after the forfeit issue, so it's still a great team on the floor. They go to Rancho Cucamonga Friday and face Maranatha Saturday at the Fairfax State Preview. Since they have a loss to Price earlier this season, they are likely to take a hit next week.
11. (13) Orange Lutheran, 18-3Section and Division: Southern 4AA
Rankings: 12
state, 76 national
The
Lancers beat two ranked teams in a row when they finished off St. John Bosco 64-51, then they stayed strong with a 68-54 triumph over Servite. Two of their losses are to major state powers so the Lancers have a reason to move up in the near future. They face JSerra Catholic Friday and then host Mater Dei Wednesday in a huge game.
12. (12) Etiwanda, 14-6Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 23
state, 199 national
The
Eagles lost 67-63 to Chino Hills and with the way the rankings were set, you can't fault them for losing to a team ranked higher. They whacked Upland 81-40 as well. After going to Los Osos on Friday they battle Gahr at the Azusa Pacific Showcase Saturday and then go to Damien on Tuesday for a huge league game.
13. (10) Price (Los Angeles), 18-4Section and Division: Southern 6
Rankings: 14 state, 105 national
The
Knights were certainly disappointed about losing 72-56 to Cantwell-Sacred Heart, a team they had defeated earlier this year. So they will regroup, starting at the Fairfax State Preview Saturday against Lawndale. They also face Renaissance Academy on Wednesday.
14. (14) JW North (Riverside), 19-1Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 40 state, 331 national
The Huskies are looking at another long win streak, as they downed Rancho Verde 61-52 and Poly (Riverside) 71-58 in league play. Canyon Springs on Friday and Arlington on Wednesday are the next tests.
15. (19) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 20-2Section and Division: San Diego I
Rankings: 22
state, 195 national
The
Falcons are now the top-ranked team in the San Diego Section and for good reason. They took down Mt. Carmel 64-31 and then won at Poway 69-40. They go to Canyon Crest Academy Friday and then Rancho Bernardo on Wednesday.
16. (17) Foothills Christian (El Cajon), 14-7 (2 forfeit losses)Section and Division: San Diego II
Rankings: 16
state, 116 national
The
Knights won twice on the court, beating Horizon Christian Academy 59-43 and Army-Navy 76-59. And they also lost a loss, since Chino Hills had to forfeit a previous win over the Knights. So a good week, especially since T.J. Leaf is back from injury. They battle Santa Fe Christian Saturday and Parker on Wednesday.
17. (16) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 13-7Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 30
state, 243 national
The Braves solved the whole Santa Margarita vs. Bosco debate by thumping the Eagles 67-42. So what if they lost 64-51 to Orange Lutheran? They deserve a small bump. Next up are Servite Friday, San Bernardino Saturday and JSerra Wednesday.
18. (15) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 13-4Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 59
state, 512 national
The
Eagles don't get much respect in the computer rankings but they only have four losses, and three are to teams ranked higher than them. They got blown out by St. John Bosco 67-42 after beating JSerra Catholic 63-57. They go to Mater Dei Friday for a big game, battle Firebaugh (Lynwood) Saturday and go to Servite Wednesday.
19. (20) Sonora (La Habra), 18-3Section and Division: Southern 3AA
Rankings: 34
state, 300 national
The
Raiders earned another two victories, besting Buena Park 84-70 and La Habra 72-37 to move their winning streak to 10 games. They have Sunny Hills and Troy on the schedule this week.
20. (21) Foothill (Santa Ana), 18-3Section and Division: Southern 1A
Rankings: 31
state, 247 national
Neither El Dorado (Placentia) nor Brea Olinda were able to put up much resistance against the Knights, as they won 60-41 and 63-43, respectively. They have Esperanza and Villa Park on the schedule this week.
21. (22) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 14-6Section and Division: San Diego 1
Rankings: 25
state, 212 national
The
Mavericks got back to winning by taking down El Camino (Oceanside) 64-52 and Rancho Buena Vista 68-49. Their opponents for this week will be Carlsbad and Vista.
22. (23) Alemany (Mission Hills), 16-6Section and Division: Southern 3A
Rankings: 19
state, 154 national
The Warriors weer another team that changed a loss to a win thanks to the Chino Hills situation, so their record is even better now. The big story, though, is their tight 59-58 triumph over Crespi. They were down 11 points entering the final quarter and then stormed back for the win to grab sole possession of first place in the Mission League. And they beat Chaminade earlier in the week, 71-44. Look out for Alemany, folks.
23. (24) Loyola (Los Angeles), 13-7Section and Division: Southern 1A
Rankings: 26
state, 222 national
The
Cubs bounced Chaminade from the rankings with a 64-61 victory that followed a 58-55 win over Harvard-Westlake. They are hanging in there at second place in the Mission League. After a Friday contest against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) they will battle Bishop Montgomery Saturday in the Fairfax State Preview. And to top it off, they go to Alemany Monday. It's going to be a busy week for Loyola.
24. (25) Campbell Hall (North Hollywood), 15-6Section and Division: Southern 4A
Rankings: 38
state, 320 national
The
Vikings were in danger of losing this spot to Tustin, but we like the strength of schedule and will look past last week's 47-46 loss to a good Windward squad. They beat Viewpoint before that, 69-57. Brentwood School and McAuliffe are on the schedule this week.
25. (NR) Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 12-9Section and Division: Southern 3A
Rankings: 47 state, 375 national
Once again with apologies to Tustin, we can't deny a team that went out and beat Price 72-56, the night after losing 63-50 to Bishop Montgomery. Cantwell-Sacred Heart will never be accused of dodging anybody, as their last three games have come against ranked teams. They face Serra (Gardena) Friday, Damien Saturday and St. Bernard Wednesday.
Dropped out: 18. Chaminade
