It was a spectacular holiday weekend when you look at all the top-notch basketball matchups that occurred in California. From north to south it was pretty much the final chance to see loads of marquee games before the postseason begins.
One new team enters this week and it's Alemany, taking the place of Cantwell-Sacred Heart. Don't expect a ton of new teams until the playoffs begin - but you never know.
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MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 Basketball Rankings
1. (1 last week) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 13-1 Section and Division: Southern 5AA
Rankings: 1 state, 3 national, 6 Xcellent 25
The
Trailblazers moved up to sixth in the Xcellent 25 thanks to an 80-49 victory over Crossroads and then a 80-77 tight win against Campbell Hall at home. Thursday night features a battle with Brentwood School, then a home game against Paraclete on Tuesday.
2. (2) Fairfax (Los Angeles), 19-0Section and Division: Los Angeles City I
Rankings: 2 state, 9 national, 18 Xcellent 25
The
Lions are still perfect and climbed in the computer and Xcellent 25 rankings. Their trip to Canada was a fruitful one, as usual, with three wins over Canadian teams by scores of 138-50, 134-60 and 80-61. Then they came home and waxed University (Los Angeles) 90-40. Westchester and Palisades are on the schedule for this week. Is Westchester going to be the first team to take down the Lions?
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 16-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 4 state, 20 national
The
Monarchs ended up making the Orange Lutheran matchup a boring one, winning 70-51, then trounced Palm Desert in a nonleague game. The Trinity League leaders go to Servite Friday and then go to JSerra Catholic on Wednesday.
4. (4) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 19-1Section and Division: Southern 4AA
Rankings: 3 state, 13 national
The
Knights earned a tough win at Cathedral, coming out on top 80-76 in their only game of the week. They were up 18 at the half. They will host Cantwell-Sacred Heart and go to Serra this week.
5. (6) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 15-4Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 8 state, 36 national
The
Sea Hawks downed Foothills Christian (El Cajon) 58-57 behind a huge comeback, erasing a 38-25 halftime deficit. They outscored the Knights 22-12 in the final quarter. They also beat Morningside 68-41 and Palos Verdes Peninsula 70-61 in league play. They will face Palos Verdes Friday and Mira Costa Tuesday.
6. (7) Centennial (Corona), 13-4Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 5 state, 23 national
The
Huskies kept up their great play by taking down Roosevelt (Eastvale) in a league game, 69-51, and doing the same to Santiago (Corona) in a league game, 88-64. In between those, they blasted Maranatha 103-68. They will head to Corona High on Thursday then host Norco on Tuesday.
7. (12) Cathedral (Los Angeles), 15-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 11 state, 74 national
The
award for best week undoubtedly goes to the Phantoms, even though that week did include a loss - a "good" one. They fell 80-76 to Bishop Montgomery but then defeated three ranked teams in a row: Price (79-69), Long Beach Poly (68-64) and Cantwell-Sacred Heart (57-50). The scheduling is just nuts, and the Phantoms were just crazy enough to take three of four and make a big jump. Things settle down with a Friday game against Serra and a trip to St. Bernard on Wednesday.
8. (11) Damien (La Verne), 16-2Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 7
state, 27 national
The
Spartans downed Rancho Verde 69-50, but the big one was a 94-78 whacking of Chino Hills. Now that means the Spartans are all alone in first place in the Baseline League. They have Los Osos and Rancho Cucamonga on the schedule this week.
9. (5) Long Beach Poly, 15-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 9 state, 59 national
The
Jackrabbits won 68-45 over Compton in Moore League play but the fun ended with a 68-64 loss to Cathedral at the MLK Showcase. League games with Lakewood and Woodrow Wilson should help them get back on track quickly.
10. (8) Price (Los Angeles), 18-3Section and Division: Southern 6
Rankings: 15 state, 108 national
The
Knights ran into the Cathedral buzzsaw and dropped a 76-69 decision at their MLK Showcase. It appears to be a blip on the radar, as they went out and beat Taft (Woodland Hills) 77-55 and went to Oaks Christian and won 64-45. Another ranked opponent, Cantwell-Sacred Heart, is the only opponent scheduled this week.
11. (9) Chino Hills, 10-6 (2 forfeit losses)Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 10
state, 63 national
Kameron Edwards, Etiwanda
Photo by David Hood
A bombshell broke as of the writing of these rankings. According to Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times, the Huskies must forfeit 11 wins, which would make them 3-13. The team's schedule was altered Thursday to show two forfeits, so we're not exactly sure what the fallout is. More to come on that. On the court, they lost to national power Oak Hill Academy 86-77 in the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Missouri but then beat Parkview (Springfield, Mo.) 61-45 and Bentonville (Ark.) 86-73. Then they came home and lost 94-78 to Damien in a huge league game. Etiwanda and Los Osos are on the schedule this week. Stay tuned.
12. (15) Etiwanda, 13-5Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 20
state, 150 national
The
Eagles are climbing, as we expected. They took down Rancho Cucamonga 68-45 and then did the same thing to Calabasas by the same exact count. The next week will feature a Friday matchup at Chino Hills then a trip to Upland.
13. (14) Orange Lutheran, 16-3Section and Division: Southern 4AA
Rankings: 13
state, 98 national
The
Lancers had a chance to make a huge statement at Mater Dei and it blew up in their faces, losing 70-51. But we like the rebound, as they easily beat California (Whittier) 75-46 before cutting down Santa Margarita 67-49. They go to St. John Bosco Friday and go to Servite as well.
14. (10) JW North (Riverside), 17-1Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 44 state, 371 national
The Huskies finally lost, as Morse (San Diego) tripped them up 96-88. Morse (17-4) is an above-average team but nonetheless is not highly ranked in the San Diego Section. They did beat Arlington 66-53 and Valley View 85-74 in their other action, so the wheels definitely have not fallen off. Rancho Verde and Poly (Riverside) are up this week.
15. (16) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 12-3Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 62
state, 566 national
The
Eagles beat Servite 64-55 and Trabuco Hills 74-45 to get a nice mojo going. Then they lost 67-49 to Orange Lutheran. They'll look to bounce back at home against JSerra Catholic and at St. John Bosco.
16. (18) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 12-6Section and Division: Southern 1AA
Rankings: 26
state, 236 national
We wanted to move the Braves to 15th but couldn't because they lost to Santa Margarita earlier this season. But take notice, because their 80-67 victory over Windward was a very good one. They also beat JSerra Catholic 77-64. This week will be very telling, as they face Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita.
17. (17) Foothills Christian (El Cajon), 12-8 (2 forfeit losses)Section and Division: San Diego II
Rankings: 22
state, 200 national
The
Knights lost again - but this one was to Redondo Union, 58-57, in a game they dominated in the first half. They did bounce back and defeated Horizon Christian Academy 59-43 after that, and before the Redondo game they won 76-52 over La Jolla Country Day. Army-Navy is their only opponent this week.
18. (13) Chaminade (West Hills), 16-4Section and Division: Southern 4AA
Rankings: 24
state, 219 national
The
Eagles dropped a disappointing 75-72 contest to Harvard-Westlake and then had to hit the road to Berkeley to face De La Salle (Concord) and lost that one 57-44 to the NorCal power. Once they got home they did defeat Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 72-57 to retain their spot in the rankings. Road games at Alemany and Loyola await.
19. (23) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 16-2Section and Division: San Diego I
Rankings: 23
state, 211 national
The
Falcons have now won eight in a row and their jump comes courtesy of a 68-42 shellacking of La Costa Canyon. Looks like Torrey Pines is now No. 2 in the SDS. They also beat Westview 83-55. Torrey Pines will head to Mt. Carmel and Poway this week.
20. (21) Sonora (La Habra), 16-3Section and Division: Southern 3AA
Rankings: 40
state, 336 national
The
Raiders edged Troy 72-69, then took an 81-59 victory at the expense of Fullerton. That makes eight wins in a row. It's hard to see Sonora going too much higher, as the schedule is not too tough for the rest of the season.
21. (22) Foothill (Santa Ana), 16-3Section and Division: Southern 1A
Rankings: 29
state, 260 national
The
Knights took down El Modena 56-38, which was nice, and then won 67-63 at Canyon (Anaheim), a very good victory. El Dorado (Placentia) and Brea Olinda are on the schedule for this week.
22. (19) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 12-6Section and Division: San Diego 1
Rankings: 27
state, 245 national
The
Mavericks stumbled against Torrey Pines in a 68-42 loss and now their chances of becoming the top team in the SDS went down a lot. They will fight back with games at El Camino (Oceanside) and Rancho Buena Vista this week.
23. (NR) Alemany (Mission Hills), 13-7Section and Division: Southern 3A
Rankings: 30
state, 261 national
We welcome the Warriors to the rankings thanks to five straight victories and a tie for first place in the Mission League. It is problematic that they lost to Cantwell-Sacred Heart in the second game of the year (the team they replace) but that was a long time ago, and this squad owns a win over Loyola recently. Alemany faces Chaminade and Crespi this week.
24. (20) Loyola (Los Angeles), 10-6Section and Division: Southern 1A
Rankings: 22
state, 161 national
The
Cubs won 48-34 at home against St. Francis but dropped a 68-57 contest to Crespi in the Mission League. They have Harvard-Westlake on the schedule this week along with Chaminade. Just like in football, it's a brutal league most nights.
25. (25) Campbell Hall (North Hollywood), 13-5Section and Division: Southern 4A
Rankings: 34
state, 287 national
The
Vikings took care of business against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), winning 55-52, and then gave Sierra Canyon a great challenge before succumbing 80-77. Paraclete and Viewpoint are on the schedule for this coming week.
