MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

First things first: The top SoCal team is also the nation's top Xcellent 25 team, as Mater Dei made the move to the top.

Second, we saw a three-game losing streak push a team nearly out of the rankings - but not quite. One of the teams that registered a win in that streak was very difficult to place. Be sure to read on to see which teams we're talking about.

And third, JW North made a huge leap from 16th to eighth.

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), 19-0
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 1 state, 2 national, 1 Xcellent 25

Say hello to the best team in the Xcellent 25, as the Monarchs won three times and Montverde Academy (Fla.) lost. Mater Dei won 71-62 over St. John Bosco and 62-47 over Servite. Then they hit the road and beat Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) 79-67 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic Monday in Springfield, Mass. The Monarchs host JSerra Catholic Friday.

2. (2) Loyola (Los Angeles), 17-1
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 2 state, 3 national, 17 Xcellent 25

The Cubs also moved up in the Xcellent 25, and we're looking a lot more confident after keeping them No. 2 despite losing the previous week. Loyola blasted St. Francis and Crespi (65-47 and 75-55, respectively) in Mission League play to get back on the winning track. They led 34-8 at halftime against St. Francis and Max Hazzard scored 15 points, while in the Crespi win they led by one entering the fourth before blitzing the Celts in the final quarter. Next up is three tough ones: at Harvard-Westlake Friday, vs. El Camino Real at Fairfax on Saturday and home against Alemany Monday.

3. (4) Centennial (Corona), 14-2
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 4 state, 16 national

The Huskies took 15 days off, then got into Big VIII play on a roll. They got past Norco 78-45 in a blowout that started right from the beginning, then won 68-60 over King (Riverside), which is a good team. The Huskies go to Roosevelt Wednesday and host Santiago Friday.

4. (5) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 14-3
Classification: Southern (2AA)
Ranks: 9 state, 46 national

The Sea Hawks kicked off league play with a pair of wins, downing Palos Verdes Peninsula 62-54 with Leland Green going off for 25 points and Terrell Carter grabbing 10 rebounds. In a 64-44 win over Mira Costa, they pulled away in the second half and it was Cameron High leading the way with 15 points. They face Torrance West tonight and go to Palos Verdes Friday.

5. (7) Etiwanda, 17-3
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 8 state, 28 national

The Eagles are happy to be in the Baseline League portion of their schedule, winning three games (70-38 over Alta Loma, 61-56 at Rancho Cucamonga), then tacked on a nonleague 66-36 win over King (Riverside). Jordan McLaughlin is back and he's one of the biggest difference-makers in the state. They host Glendora Friday.

6. (8) Westchester (Los Angeles), 15-4
Classification: Los Angeles City (I)
Ranks: 5 state, 17 national

The Comets settled into league play and did what they usually do: Create blowouts. They spanked Venice with a season-high points total in a 101-63 win and downed Palisades 87-50. Hamilton visits the Comets Wednesday and Fairfax comes to town Friday.

7. (3) Chaminade (West Hills), 14-2
Classification: Southern (3A)
Ranks: 7 state, 25 national

Maybe we moved this team up too fast too quick, as the Eagles dropped a 65-61 overtime contest to Crespi Michael Oguine led the team with 13 points. They did beat Harvard-Westlake 67-50 before that with 20 points and nine rebounds from Jack Williams. They host Notre Dame Wednesday, host Alemany Friday and then go to St. Francis Monday.

8. (16) JW North (Riverside), 19-1
Classification: Southern (1A)
Ranks: 23 state, 131 national

The Huskies are this week's big jumper, thanks to a 64-54 win over Bishop Montgomery. According to the Torrance Daily Breeze, Dikymbe Martin scored 23 points and Deshon Taylor scored 22 with six steals. The team also beat Rancho Verde (60-44) and Arlington (70-43). The Huskies' next game is next Tuesday at home against Vista del Lago. This team still has not lost on the court.

9. (6) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 16-2
Classification: Southern (4AA)
Ranks: 6 state, 21 national

The Knights dropped a 64-54 contest to JW North, and that speaks more to North's prowess than Bishop Montgomery's weakness. The Knights battled back from a halftime deficit but were overpowered in the final quarter. Del Rey League games with Serra and La Salle are on the slate this week before a key Saturday game with Compton at Fairfax.

10. (10) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 12-6
Classification: Southern (2AA)
Ranks: 12 state, 63 national

The Braves lost to Mater Dei 71-62, hardly a problem. Then they went to the Spalding Hoophall Classic and won 63-60 over St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), a 17-7 team. Now that Bosco is back in town, the Braves host Orange Lutheran Wednesday and go to Santa Margarita for a Friday game.

11. (11) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 12-4
Classification: Los Angeles City (I)
Ranks: 22 state, 129 national

The Conquistadors won 61-36 at Chatsworth in league play, controlling the game pretty much the whole way. They better rest up, because they host Taft Wednesday, Granada Hills Friday and face Loyola Saturday at Fairfax High.

12. (12) Mayfair (Lakewood), 15-5
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 38 state, 288 national

The Monsoons throttled three Suburban League teams last week: Glenn (90-35), Bellflower (65-29) and Cerritos (75-46). Kendall Small scored 19 against Cerritos and poured in 35 against Glenn. A Friday home game with Artesia is all that's on the schedule this week.

13. (14) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 17-2
Classification: Southern (4A)
Ranks: 18 state, 93 national

The Trailblazers' 75-68 win at Campbell Hall was nice. The 45-42 triumph over Cantwell-Sacred Heart was much nicer. They slowed the game down considerably and got the win behind 17 points and seven points from Devearl Ramsey. Ira Lee scored nine and pulled down 10 rebounds. Brentwood School is on the slate for Thursday and then a Saturday game at Fairfax against Harvard-Westlake awaits as well.

14. (17) St. Augustine (San Diego), 17-2
Classification: San Diego (Open)
Ranks: 10 state, 53 national

The Saints thwarted La Jolla 85-47 and Lincoln 70-45. But the biggest one was undoubtedly a 79-74 triumph over La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) that grabbed every single first-place vote in the U-T San Diego poll. They jumped out ahead by 10 after the first quarter and from there the Saints showed that they are the San Diego Section's best team. They face Cathedral Catholic and Mission Bay this week.

15. (15) Chino Hills, 13-4
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 16 state, 83 national

The Huskies romped 104-63 over South Hills and 84-59 over Charter Oak in league games that weren't close. That makes it twice now that Chino Hills has scored in triple digits this season. Up next is a Wednesday home game with Ayala, a Friday road trip to Claremont and a Saturday game with Westwind at Fairfax.

16. (18) Long Beach Poly, 13-6
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 17 state, 92 national

Remember how the Jackrabbits had a rough stretch where they were losing close games? Well they learned something. They beat Compton 70-68 to keep their Moore League winning streak alive and then went to the Bay Area to defeat De La Salle (Concord) 44-42 in overtime. Poly was up six with less than 15 seconds left against Compton and only survived after the possible game-tying shot went off the rim. Against De La Salle, they played the Spartans' style of grind-it-out ball and won in a hostile environment. They host Lakewood Wednesday and go to Woodrow Wilson Friday.

17. (13) Compton, 14-4
Classification: Southern (2A)
Ranks: 20 state, 110 national

The Tarbabes lost to Poly 70-68 (click here to see a story) but did beat Millikan 98-87 and Woodrow Wilson 93-51. They go to Cabrillo Wednesday, Jordan Friday and then face Bishop Montgomery Saturday at Fairfax.

18. (19) El Toro (Lake Forest), 17-2
Classification: Southern (1A)
Ranks: 28 state, 182 national

The Chargers registered a quality win at Mission Viejo, 61-57, and won 55-47 over Dana Hills as well. A road game at Aliso Niguel and a home game with Capistrano Valley Friday await for this team, which has only lost one game this season to a California team (Compton).

19. (21) Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista), 15-2
Classification: San Diego (II)
Ranks: 50 state, 351 national

The Crusaders are still No. 2 in the U-T San Diego poll and lost ground to St. Augustine. But they did win 49-35 against Mission Bay with a big second half. This week will be a little more of a challenge, with Wednesday's home game against a good Eastlake team, a Friday date at Bonita Vista and a Saturday game against Serra (San Diego).

20. (23) Central (Fresno), 13-3
Classification: Central (I)
Ranks: 34 state, 262 national

The Grizzlies won 70-66 at Bullard (Fresno) last week to prove they are the top team in the Central Section and they followed that up with a 78-59 win over Sheldon (Sacramento) and a 92-63 triumph over Buchanan (Clovis). They have played almost exclusively out of the section, so we'll see how the local teams stack up against Central when Clovis West is the opponent for Friday.

21. (20) Rancho Cucamonga, 17-3
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 31 state, 223 national

The Cougars lost to Etiwanda 61-56 but bounced back to trounce Citrus Valley, 69-39. They proved last season that they can knock off Etiwanda late in the season so the rematch should be fun. A Friday trip to Alta Loma is all that is on the schedule this week.

22. (NR) Cathedral (Los Angeles),12-1
Classification: Southern (3A)
Ranks: 19 state, 103 national

What do we do with this Phantoms squad? Their computer ranking number is very good. Their record is very good. Their 54-47 win over Cantwell-Sacred Heart was a very good one too. But then you look at some other things and it's not as glossy. The strength of schedule pales when you consider that was their first win over a ranked team. Cantwell-Sacred Heart is in a bit of a free-fall this week. But Cathedral also has loads of wins over very good teams with winning records that play in lower divisions. In all, it's a tough call where to put them. But they do belong somewhere, and 22 is that spot now.

23. (22) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 16-3
Classification: San Diego (Open)
Ranks: 24 state, 134 national

The Mavericks stay right around where they should, as a 79-74 loss to St. Augustine is not a big blemish by any means. Brady Twombly scored 20 points and pulled in nine rebounds against the Saints. They also gutted out a 54-52 win over Torrey Pines before that, a quality win against a good team. They go to Vista Wednesday and Rancho Buena Vista Friday.

24. (25) Sonora (La Habra), 16-3
Classification: Southern (2A)
Ranks: 39 state, 290 national

The Raiders won 63-54 over Troy and 83-52 over Fullerton, which makes it five in a row. Sonora has been especially tough at home, posting a 9-0 record.

25. (9) Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 13-5
Classification: Southern (4A)
Ranks: 11 state, 61 national

We're taking a team on a three-game losing streak for the final spot. Sounds strange. It all started with a 74-27 win over St. Paul, then got ugly with losses to Cathedral (54-47), Serra (55-52) and Sierra Canyon (45-42). It was four games in six days against three very good teams, and they were close for the most part. So we're giving the Cardinals another shot.

Dropped out: No. 24 Damien.