MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

League play is done, put to bed. The next season is here: the playoffs.

And so it begins for the North Coast Section, the Central Coast Section and the Sac-Joaquin Section, with teams in five divisions ranked here. Meet you at the finish line.

See the Northern California boys basketball playoff brackets


1. (Last week 1) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) (22-4)
The top-ranked team in Northern California for most of the season, the Dragons are the top seed in the North Coast Section Division III field, and they seek a third successive title. O'Dowd has no NorCal losses and one close loss to national No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana). Ivan Rabb is the top player in the North.

2. (2) Capital Christian (Sacramento) (24-3)
The Sacramento Bee No. 1-ranked Cougars have one NorCal loss — to No.1 O'Dowd — and loom as heavy favorites to three-peat as Sac-Joaquin Section D-V champions before entertaining the NorCal Open field. D.J. Wilson and Nifae Lealao make for a big front line. There is depth, quickness and a sense of urgency to finish strong.

3. (3) Monte Vista (Danville) (25-1)
The Mustangs won the competitive East Bay Athletic League that included ranked San Ramon Valley and De La Salle to earn the top seed in the North Coast Section D-I field. Trevor John and Spencer Rust lead the way. The loss was avenged — to No. 13 San Ramon Valley.

4. (5) Folsom (25-2)
The Bulldogs beat No. 6 Jesuit twice in thrillers to win the Delta River League championship, thus earning the No. 1 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs. Jared Wall, Josiah Deguara, Colin Russell, Alec Andrews and Jordan Ford play as well together as any lineup in all of NorCal.

5. (6) Newark Memorial (19-7)
Once sitting at 2-7 after enduring a brutal early schedule with close losses, the Cougars have won 17 straight and are the No. 2 seed in the North Coast Section D-II playoffs. Montgomery (Santa Rosa) is the top seed, but hasn't played near the schedule as Newark, again superbly coached by Craig Ashmore with skill players and defense the key.

6. (7) Jesuit (Carmichael) (25-3)
The Marauders have losses to No. 5 Newark Memorial and to No. 4 Folsom (twice) and earned the No. 1 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I playoffs. Jesuit is guard strong with Nick Hilton and Isaiah Bailey, with plenty off the bench, too. An earlier win was over No. 11 St. Mary's (Stockton). A loss was to No. 5 Newark Memorial.

7. (8) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (23-4)
The Monarchs backed up their West Catholic Athletic League regular-season championship with the WCAL postseason title and emerged as the top seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division. Emerging: sophomore Ben Kone.

8. (11) St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) (24-5)
The Pilots won the Tri-County Athletic League postseason tournament, topping longtime power Salesian (Richmond), which beat El Cerrito in the same event. St. Joseph also has a win over No. 9 El Cerrito, and it has a proven championship coach in Don Lippi.

9. (4) El Cerrito (25-3)
The Gauchos have three tough losses, to No. 14 Modesto Christian, No. 8 St. Joseph and to always tough Salesian (Richmond), the last of which came in the Tri-County Athletic League postseason tournament. El Cerrito is the No. 2 seed in the North Coast Section D-III playoffs, opposite No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd.

10. (9) Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (11-16)
This was the toughest team to seed in the brutally tough Sac-Joaquin Section D-II field. The Wolfpack are 26-1 on the floor but had to forfeit 15 victories for using a player that was deemed an "athletically motivated transfer." So, CO lands the 6-seed and could draw No. 11 St. Mary's in the second round. Alex Van Dyke, a football star headed to UCLA, is the leading scorer for CO. Role players include Eric Toles, Jr. and Matt Muldavin.

11. (11) St. Mary's (Stockton) (26-1)
The Rams are led by Gabriel Vincent, who crushes teams with his versatility. A year after losing in the first round, St. Mary's is a 3-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs, and could face the last team to beat them in No. 10 Cosumnes Oaks (later forfeited).

12. (12) Sacramento (22-5)
The Dragons have two losses to No. 2 Capital Christian, one to top-ranked Bishop O'Dowd and one major loss on the roster with standout center Solomon Young out for the postseason with a knee injury. Christian Terrell has led the way as a scorer and defender for the No. 4-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs.

13. (15) San Ramon Valley (Danville) (22-4)
The Wolves split with No. 2 Monte Vista and No. 18 De La Salle in the East Bay Athletic League and garnered a 2-seed in the North Coast Section D-I playoffs behind Monte Vista. Shooting, passing and teamwork have been the foundation.

14. (16) Modesto Christian (19-8)
The Crusaders are the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III playoffs, seeking an ongoing record 15th title in various divisions. MC is unbeaten in section play this season and has a win over then-No. 2 El Cerrito. Coaches Gary Porter and Richard Midgley form a terrific 1-2 punch.

15. (17) Del Oro (Loomis) (26-1)
The Golden Eagles are the No. 2 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs that includes NorCal ranked Folsom, Cosumnes Oaks, St. Mary's and Sacramento — making for the toughest bracket in NorCal. Michael Moore, the QB who led Del Oro to the CIF State D-I bowl, is a key starter in hoops, too. Danny Becker is the floor leader.

16. (24) Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) (17-10)
A slow finish in the West Catholic Athletic League regular season inspired the Fightin' Irish to start fresh, and they beat Riordon (San Francisco) and previous No. 13 Serra in WCAL postseason tournament play before falling to No. 7 Mitty in the finals, 61-56. Sacred Heart is in the Central Coast Section Open Division.

17. (13) Serra (San Mateo) (19-7)
The Padres lost to new No. 16 Sacred Heart Cathedral in the West Catholic League postseason semifinals to end a five-game winning streak. Serra is the No. 3 seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division tournament.

18. (19) De La Salle (Concord) (19-7)
Losses in East Bay Athletic League play to No. 2 Monte Vista and No. 13 San Ramon Valley were close, and this suddenly is your darkhorse No. 4 seed in the North Coast Section D-I field that includes Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley as the top two seeds. Spartans are young but skilled.

19. (20) Campolindo (Moraga) (20-6)
The Cougars won the Diablo Foothill League and earned the No. 3 seed in the North Coast Section D-III field that includes O'Dowd and El Cerrito.

20. (22) Burlingame (23-3)
The Panthers have won 14 consecutive games and are the No. 2 seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division that includes Mitty, Serra, Sacred Heart Cathedral and Half Moon Bay. Twenty players are on the roster, and practices are active and spirited.

21. (23) Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (20-6)
The Mariners bound into the North Coast Section D-IV playoffs as the top seed and favorite. An early win includes No. 4 Folsom with losses to No. 2 Monte Vista, No. 5 Newark Memorial and No. 7 Mitty.

22. (14) St. Ignatius (San Francisco) (19-5)
The Wildcats lost to St. Francis (Mountain View) 63-58 in a West Catholic Athletic League tournament opener. They are the Central Coast Section D-II No. 1 seed.

23. (NR) Del Campo (Fair Oaks) (24-3)
The Cougars rolled through the Capital Valley Conference unbeaten and are a dangerous seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs, opening with equally dangerous Burbank (Sacramento). Del Campo is the home to Dusty Baker and NBA ironman Matt Barnes.

24. (18) Half Moon Bay (23-3)
A year after making a good run in the NorCal D-IV playoffs, the Cougars are a No. 4 seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division. How's that for progress? The opener is No. 16 Sacred Heart Cathedral.

25. (25) Leigh (San Jose) (23-2)
The Longhorns are in the Central Coast Section Open Division field and find out in a hurry what they're up against in facing powerhouse Serra in an opener.

The Sacramento Bee breaks down storylines for the playoffs

The Sacramento Bee previews the Sac-Joaquin Section brackets

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD and on www.sacbee.com.