MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

Playoff basketball has definitely brought about excitement in the Southern and LA City sections. What is hasn't brought about is new teams.

It's the same 25 this week, but rest assured that with the bigger-stakes games coming up we will see some new teams and bigger movement. Add on that San Diego teams begin postseason play, and that should equal even more fun.

You can click this link for all the state's playoff brackets. 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), 28-0
Classification: Southern (1AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 1 state, 2 national, 1 Xcellent 25

We almost saw No. 1 tumble. Cantwell-Sacred Heart was more than up to the task on Friday in the Open Division first round, taking the Monarchs to overtime. But they regrouped in the extra period and won 66-59 over the No. 16 seed despite blowing an eight-point advantage entering the fourth quarter. Isaiah Juarez and Stanley Johnson each scored 17 in the win that guaranteed a state playoffs berth. Mater Dei goes to face No. 8 seed Mayfair on the road Friday (VIEW PREGAME).

2. (2) Etiwanda, 26-3
Classification: Southern (1AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 4 state, 21 national

The Eagles broke open a halftime tie as the No. 2 seed to dispatch No. 15 seed Cathedral, 55-45. They are now guaranteed a state playoff game after the home win. According to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, they held Cathedral to one field goal in a span of eight minutes in the second half. They were down by five and then used a 13-0 run to put it away. Jordan McLaughlin scored 17 points. Next up is a home game Friday against No. 7 seed Chino Hills (VIEW PREGAME). Etiwanda won a previous matchup with Chino Hills, 65-63.

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

All seemed to be going well for Loyola with a 19-point lead entering the fourth quarter. Then St. John Bosco, the 14 seed, made it a game. Loyola won 70-67, and it was actually a one-point contest with 12.4 seconds left, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Thomas Welsh and Max Hazzard led the team with 20 and 18 points, respectively. Welsh also had an impressive 20 rebounds. No. 3 seed Loyola moves on to travel to No. 6 seed Redondo Union for a Friday game, and is in the state playoffs for sure (VIEW PREGAME).

4. (4) Centennial (Corona), 25-2
Classification: Southern (1AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 3 state, 12 national

The Huskies won 81-71 over Serra, the No. 13 seed. According to the Torrance Daily Breeze, a 13-0 run in the third quarter was the key for the home victory for No. 4 Centennial. Sedrick Barefield scored 26 points and Deontae North added 21 for the Huskies, who are now in the state playoffs. They move on to face No. 12 seed JW North Friday on the road (VIEW PREGAME).

5. (5) JW North (Riverside), 24-2 (25-0 on court)
Classification: Southern (1A) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 9 state, 67 national

The Huskies showed that their undefeated record on the court was legit, as they spotted Sierra Canyon a seven-point lead after one quarter and then chipped away for a 65-56 victory over the No. 5 seed. According to the LA Daily News, Deshon Taylor scored 14 of his 27 points in a perfect night from the free throw line. The No. 12 seed will host Centennial Friday in a championship bracket game after clinching a state playoffs spot (VIEW PREGAME).

6. (6) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 23-4
Classification: Southern (2AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 7 state, 48 national

The Sea Hawks earned a solid 65-56 victory over Compton to kick off the Open Division bracket and earned themselves a spot in the state playoffs. The No. 6 seed won behind 21 points from Leland Green and Ian Fox added 13. The Sea Hawks will be the home team Friday when No. 3 seed Loyola comes to town (VIEW PREGAME).

7. (7) Westchester (Los Angeles), 26-5
Classification: Los Angeles City (I)
Ranks: 8 state, 57 national

It's not just the Southern Section Open Division out there. The LA City D-I bracket also is one to keep an eye on, though the depth is not there. The top-seeded Comets won 75-13 over 16 seed South East on Friday and will battle No. 8 Palisades Wednesday. Westchester won the teams' two meetings by 20 and 37 points this season so don't expect an upset (VIEW PREGAME).

8. (8) Mayfair (Lakewood), 23-5
Classification: Southern (1AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 29 state, 228 national

Some felt the Monsoons were a prime candidate to drop out of the Open Division, but they kept their roll going with a 72-64 win over Chaminade to gain entry into the state playoffs. Mayfair is the No. 8 seed and led by seven at the half before entering the fourth down by a point. According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Mayfair only trailed on two occasions in the win and got 22 points from Dillon Reise and 19 from Kendall Small. Now they get the biggest test of the year, a Friday home game against top seed Mater Dei (VIEW PREGAME).

9. (10) Chino Hills, 24-4
Classification: Southern (1AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 5 state, 24 national

The Huskies grabbed themselves a 69-58 victory over Bishop Montgomery to open the Open Division bracket as the 7 seed. A 13-point halftime lead got shaved down to one by the beginning of the fourth quarter but they persevered. According to the Torrance Daily Breeze, LiAngelo Ball scored 23 and Lonzo Ball added 15. Now Chino Hills will go to Etiwanda Friday to avenge a 65-63 loss during the regular season (VIEW PREGAME).

10. (11) St. Augustine (San Diego), 26-2
Classification: San Diego (Open)
Ranks: 11 state, 77 national

The Saints finished off their regular season by winning 67-43 over Cathedral Catholic and 57-32 over University City. Now they take their 16-game winning streak to the SDS Open Division playoffs, where they open Saturday against Vista, a team with a 7-20 record (VIEW PREGAME). The SDS chooses its Open Division ahead of the season, unlike the Southern Section, and that means that not every team in the bracket will have had a quality season.

11. (9) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 25-3
Classification: Southern (4A) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 18 state, 156 national

The Trailblazers lost 65-56 to JW North in a contest that saw them shoot 13-for-30 from the free throw line, according to the LA Daily News. Ira Lee scored 14 points and Jamani Spencer added 10. Now the Trailblazers must win Friday at Serra in the Open Division consolation bracket to reach the state playoffs (VIEW PREGAME).

12. (12) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 22-5
Classification: Southern (4AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 14 state, 109 national

The Knights begin a stretch of teams in the rankings that lost games in the Open Division first round in the Southern Section to teams ranked higher than them. Chino Hills beat the No. 10 seed Knights 69-58. Justin Bibbins scored 21 points and Ethan Thompson had 16. Bishop Montgomery will go to No. 15 seed Cathedral Friday (VIEW PREGAME).

13. (13) Chaminade (West Hills), 21-5
Classification: Southern (3A) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 13 state, 103 national

The Eagles took a tumble in the computer rankings after their 72-64 loss to Mayfair. Jack Williams scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the defeat. Now the Eagles will go to No. 16 seed Cantwell-Sacred Heart Friday in the consolation bracket (VIEW PREGAME).

14. (14) Compton, 22-6
Classification: Southern (2A) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 17 state, 138 national

The Tarbabes lost 65-56 to Redondo Union on the road to open the Open Division bracket. Isaiah Bailey led all scorers with 26 points, but it wasn't enough to advance. Now the Tarbabes must beat St. John Bosco Friday in the consolation bracket to guarantee a state playoffs berth (VIEW PREGAME).

15. (15) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 17-10
Classification: Southern (2AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 10 state, 71 national

The Braves nearly pulled off the biggest win in the Open Division when they came back from 19 down to make it a one-point game, but they succumbed in a 70-67 loss to Loyola. Tyler Dorsey did score 28 points, but his game-tying attempt from 3-point range missed. Now the Braves face Compton Friday in the consolation bracket (VIEW PREGAME).

16. (16) Long Beach Poly, 22-7
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 23 state, 184 national

The Jackrabbits have won twice in the 1AA bracket, but we're not ready to bump them up just yet. But this is one of the best teams in the region, so it's very likely as more Open Division teams fall. Poly whacked Knight 54-32 to open things and then took a 49-37 triumph over Orange Lutheran in a game that definitely was anything but high-flying. Jordan Dallas tallied 12 points in that win. The top seed plays Friday against Roosevelt (VIEW PREGAME).

17. (18) El Toro (Lake Forest), 26-2
Classification: Southern (1A)
Ranks: 20 state, 164 national

The Chargers are romping in the 1A bracket, winning 63-42 over Chaparral and 70-51 over California. They will face Perris Friday in yet another playoff contest (VIEW PREGAME).

18. (17) Serra (Gardena), 20-8
Classification: Southern (4AA) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 25 state, 215 national

The Cavaliers dropped an 81-71 contest at Centennial in the Open Division first round. The Torrance Daily Breeze reported that the Cavaliers turned the ball over 21 times. Jason Richardson led the team with 21 points. Next up is a consolation contest at home against Sierra Canyon (VIEW PREGAME).

19. (19) Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista), 24-2
Classification: San Diego (II)
Ranks: 40 state, 366 national

The Crusaders moved their winning streak to 17 by winning 76-43 against Otay Ranch in the season finale. They open the playoffs Wednesday night against Rancho Bernardo (VIEW PREGAME).

20. (20) Rancho Cucamonga, 23-4
Classification: Southern (1AA)
Ranks: 27 state, 209 national

The Cougars are looking great and we see a climb coming soon. They won 108-62 over Montclair to open the playoffs and followed that up by taking down Santa Monica 74-56. Friday's opponent is Millikan (Long Beach), which is a very dangerous team that can score with a team like Rancho Cucamonga (VIEW PREGAME).

21. (21) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 22-6
Classification: Los Angeles City (I)
Ranks: 26 state, 219 national

The Conquistadors had little trouble in a 90-37 victory over Arleta to open the City Section playoffs, and No. 7 seed Washington could very well be the next victim in Wednesday's contest (VIEW PREGAME).

22. (22) Sonora (La Habra), 26-3
Classification: Southern (2A)
Ranks: 44 state, 396 national

The Raiders have kicked off the playoffs with two big wins as the top seed. They blasted Nogales 72-43 and Righetti 67-48. Arlington is the next challenge, and that will be Friday (VIEW PREGAME).

23. (24) Sweetwater (National City), 23-0
Classification: San Diego (III)
Ranks: 55 state, 459 national

The Red Devils capped off their undefeated regular season with a 83-52 win over Hilltop and 79-33 viictory over Castle Park. They haven't exactly been pushed in a while, so maybe the SDS Division III bracket will provide some adversity. They kick off postseason play Wednesday against Montgomery, a team they whacked by 32 earlier (VIEW PREGAME).

24. (23) Cathedral (Los Angeles), 22-4
Classification: Southern (3A) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 41 state, 382 national

The Phantoms were stifled in a 55-45 loss at Etiwanda though they played even for the first half. Jerome Bryant scored 13 points, the only Phantom in double figures. They host Bishop Montgomery Friday trying to extend their season (VIEW PREGAME).

25. (25) Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello), 20-7
Classification: Southern (4A) - OPEN DIVISION
Ranks: 22 state, 181 national

The Cardinals almost picked up a win that may have been one of the biggest upsets in the nation when they took Mater Dei to overtime. Things went sour in the extra period, though, and the Cardinals lost 66-59. Still, with an effort like that, we can't take Cantwell-Sacred Heart out of the rankings. Emiliano Mejia was great with 18 points and Joey Covarrubias added 13 points. In a fight for their playoff lives, the Cardinals will host Chaminade Friday (VIEW PREGAME).