MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

We learned two things for sure last week.

First, we learned that upsets were close to nonexistent in the Southern Section brackets. That's why you won't see any new teams in this week's Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings.

And second, we finally saw the Central and San Diego section brackets.

If you put it all together, it is sure to equal some big changes for next week, as Southern Section heavyweights will finally start meeting, especially in the Division I-AA bracket. Those San Diego and Central teams may move up slightly, but it's hard to move them too high considering the relative quality of CIFSS brackets.

And in the LA City Section, a Westchester vs. El Camino Real final in Division I is a very real possibility and would be a spectacular matchup.

There is one change in the rankings this week, though: El Toro drops one spot to 21st after needing a fourth-quarter comeback to win in the first round of the playoffs despite being the top seed.

Section finals will take place next weekend.

Click here to visit our California boys basketball playoff brackets (All sections)

MaxPreps Southern California Boys Basketball Rankings

1. (1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 27-1
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 1 state, 6 national

The top seed in the I-AA bracket had no trouble with Roosevelt, winning 83-48 in the first round. Five players scored in double digits, and the Monarchs had 13 players grab rebounds. Next is a round of 16 game at Warren (Downey), a team the Monarchs pasted 83-38 earlier this season. Warren is 22-5. A win there would mean a Friday quarterfinal against Rancho Verde or Chino Hills.

2. (2) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 28-0
Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 3 state, 16 national

The IV-AA bracket is ahead of Division I, so the top-seeded Knights are already in the quarterfinals. Whitter Christian was no obstacle in the opener (101-36) and neither was Twentynine Palms (86-45). Now comes an interesting Tuesday matchup against No. 8 Harvard-Westlake, which battled in the tough Mission League all season. A win Tuesday would earn a semifinal berth against either No. 5 La Verne Lutheran or No. 6 Windward. The Knights also moved up to No. 2 in the most recent Xcellent 25.

3. (3) Long Beach Poly, 25-2
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 2 state, 10 national

The Jackrabbits waxed Palmdale in the playoff opener, 84-38, behind 24 points from Roschon Prince. Now they prepare for No. 15 seed Mayfair (22-5) in the round of 16 on Tuesday. A win in that home contest would get Poly into the quarterfinals against No. 7 Loyola or No. 10 Pasadena on Friday. If all goes according to seeds, a Poly vs. Mater Dei final would be a sweet reward for hoops fans.

4. (4) El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 26-2
Division: Los Angeles City Section I
Freeman Rankings: 11 state, 77 national

The Conquistadors breezed through No. 15 Canoga Park, 64-20, in the first round of the Los Angeles City Section playoffs, their 20th-straight victory. A Tuesday quarterfinal against No. 10 Narbonne (15-11) is next on the list, and if ECR wins there, it's a semifinal berth Saturday against either No. 3 Crenshaw or No. 6 University. This is looking like a crash-course between ECR and Westchester for the section final.

5. (5) Westchester (Los Angeles), 25-6
Division: Los Angeles City Section I
Freeman Rankings: 12 state, 85 national

The top seed in the LA City Section easily took care of Fremont, 74-42. A win in Tuesday's matchup with No. 8 Taft (13-13) could get the Comets to Saturday's semifinals against No. 4 Palisades or No. 5 Fairfax.

6. (6) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 21-6
Division: Southern Section III-A
Freeman Rankings: 8 state, 50 national

The III-A playoffs have been kind to the top-seeded Braves, who racked up two wins last week to advance to Tuesday's quarterfinals against No. 8 Cathedral (15-7). Bosco marched past Buena Park 78-35 in the opener behind a 29-7 first quarter onslaught, then beat up Burroughs (Ridgecrest) by a 91-46 count. Should the Braves beat Cathedral, No. 5 Northwood or No. 4 Ocean View would await in the semifinals on Friday.

7. (7) Centennial (Corona), 26-2
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 7 state, 47 national

The Huskies have the confidence of knowing that they whacked Tuesday's playoff opponent, 22-5 Silverado (Victorville), by an 80-46 count earlier this season. And they pulled away from Jordan (Long Beach) in the playoff opener to win 84-69. So things are looking good for the No. 3 seed. If they win Tuesday, Friday's quarterfinal would feature either No. 6 Etiwanda or Great Oak.

8. (8) Etiwanda, 23-2
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings:  4 state, 24 national

The Eagles are out to show that the loss to Rancho Cucamonga was not a sign of weakness, and they did so in a 73-39 triumph over Highland (Palmdale). Unseeded Great Oak (Temecula), which is 18-8, will be Tuesday's home opponent, and if the Eagles can surpass the Wolf Pack in that one, they would get a shot at Centennial or Silverado Friday in the quarterfinals.

9. (9) Bullard (Fresno), 24-2, 10-0
Division: Central Section I
Freeman Rankings: 16 state, 101 national

The Knights closed out the regular season in yawn-worthy fashion, thrashing two more local teams. They blasted Madera 102-40 and then took down Edison (Fresno) 73-63 to wrap up an undefeated league season. They led Madera 33-1 after one quarter. The Central Section brackets were just released and it's no surprise that Bullard is the top seed. Don't be surprised when the Knights win it all, either, as they beat the No. 2 seed (Central of Fresno) by 24 points earlier this season. Bullard gets a bye in the first round and in the quarterfinals will face No. 8 Liberty or No. 9 Clovis on Friday at home.

10. (10) Tustin, 27-2
Division: Southern Section III-AAA
Freeman Rankings: 42 state, 310 national

The Tillers are looking good as the top seed in III-AAA, dispatching Cerritos 69-45 and San Bernardino 60-43. On Tuesday they will host Bonita (La Verne), which is 25-5 with a No. 9 seed, and if they can pull off the win there, they would face either No. 5 Calabasas or No. 4 Compton in the semifinals.

11. (11) JW North (Riverside), 24-3
Division: Southern Section II-AA
Freeman Rankings: 31 state, 242 national

The top seed in II-AA walked all over University (Irvine), 81-50, in the opening round with 22 points from Deshon Taylor and 21 from Dorian Butler. Next up in the round of 16 is a trip to Lancaster to face the 16-9 Eagles, who weren't seeded. A victory at Lancaster would give JW North a Friday matchup with either No. 9 Perris or No. 8 Lawndale in the quarterfinals.

12. (12) Brentwood School (Los Angeles), 25-3
Division: Southern Section IV-A
Freeman Rankings: 32 state, 245 national

The Eagles had little trouble eliminating Malibu (72-45) and St. Monica (70-31). Leland King went off against St. Monica with 31 points and 14 rebounds, while Tra Holder had 24 against Malibu. Things may get tougher, but it's hard to see the No. 2 seed bowing out any time quickly. They face No. 8 seed St. Margaret's (San Juan Capistrano), which is 20-8, for a Tuesday tilt and if they can win that, they would face either No. 3 St. Joseph or No. 7 Campbell Hall in the semifinals on Friday.

13. (13) Pacific Hills (Los Angeles), 21-4
Division: Southern Section IV-A
Freeman Rankings: 17 state, 121 national

The Bruins enjoyed a first-round bye as the top seed and then blasted No. 15 Marshall (Pasadena), 104-41. Now comes a Tuesday trip to ninth-seeded St. Bonaventure (Ventura), which is 14-13. A victory there would get Pacific Hills to the semifinals against No. 4 Cantwell Sacred Heart or No. 5 St. Anthony.

14. (14) Price (Los Angeles), 25-3
Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 21 state, 159 national

The second-seeded Knights rolled in their first two playoff games, whacking Morningside 75-45 and St. Genevieve 75-49. Tuesday will feature a supreme road test against a gritty and battle-tested Crespi team, seeded No. 7 with a 21-8 record. Price has won 11 in a row (that does include one forfeit).

15. (15) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 24-4, 10-0
Division: San Diego Section II
Freeman Rankings: 29 state, 232 national

The Mavericks earned the top seed in the D-II bracket and open Wednesday against 7-21 Rancho Bernardo at home. If they win, it would mean a Saturday quarterfinal against either No. 8 Westview (19-8) or No. 9 Point Loma (18-7). To close out the regular season, LCC bested El Camino 60-45 and Carlsbad 57-50 behind 18 points from Jeff Van Dyke and 16 from Fritz Eibel.

16. (16) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 24-3, 12-0
Division: San Diego Section III
Freeman Rankings: 20 state, 144 national

The Dons earned the top seed in their bracket and open Wednesday against 11-7 High Tech. Should they win, No. 8 Olympian or No. 9 Mission Bay would be the next opponent in the quarterfinals. In their final two games of the regular season, the Dons bested Lincoln 71-58 behind 22 points from Brandon Michel and then took down La Jolla 66-36 featuring 17 points from Niksha Federico.

17. (17) Loyola (Los Angeles), 21-6
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 13 state, 87 national

The seventh-seeded Cubs had no trouble with Montebello in the first round of the playoffs, winning 68-38. They're getting healthier, and that will bode well as the opponents get much tougher. Tuesday's round of 16 opponent will be No. 10 Pasadena (21-5), and if Loyola can win that one, it would set up a Friday matchup with either Long Beach Poly or Mayfair.

18. (18) Mission Viejo, 25-3
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 15 state, 96 national

The No. 4 seed beat up on Knight (Palmdale) in a 75-42 triumph to open the playoffs. It was a balanced effort, with four players scoring in double figures. On Tuesday, the Diablos travel to a battle-tested Orange Lutheran team that is seeded 13th at 18-9. If they can win at Orange Lutheran, the Diablos will match up with No. 12 Inglewood or No. 5 Rancho Cucamonga. Either is sure to be tough.

19. (19) Rancho Cucamonga, 24-4
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 26 state, 215 national

The No. 5 seed Cougars got by King (Riverside) 77-62 thanks to a 20-6 advantage in the second quarter, and now they will go to No. 12 Inglewood Tuesday in the round of 16. If they beat the Sentinels Tuesday, the Cougars could face No. 4 Mission Viejo or No. 13 Orange Lutheran.

20. (21) Chino Hills, 24-4
Division: Southern Section I-AA
Freeman Rankings: 25 state, 212 national

The No. 8 seed Huskies left Montclair in the dust, 68-40, and that sets up Tuesday's contest against No. 9 Rancho Verde (22-5), a team that was in these rankings for a few weeks earlier this season. If Chino Hills advances past Rancho Verde, it means a Friday night matchup with top-seeded Mater Dei or Warren.

21. (20) El Toro (Lake Forest), 24-5
Division: Southern Section I-A
Freeman Rankings: 44 state, 319 national

No. 1 seeds aren't supposed to struggle in the first game of a 32-team bracket. And they aren't supposed to need fourth-quarter rallies to advance in the first game. But it happened in a 65-62 win over Cabrillo (Long Beach). The Chargers trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter before emerging, thanks in large part to 20 points from Tanner Aguera. Now comes a Tuesday trip to face unseeded Diamond Bar, which brings a 13-14 record. If El Toro wins there, it means a Friday game against either No. 8 Cypress or No. 9 Santiago (Corona).

22. (22) Serra (Gardena), 22-6
Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 48 state, 378 national

The Cavaliers, seeded fourth, are hurt a little by seeding rules and instead of facing the No. 5 team in the quarterfinals per normal bracket standards, they get No. 3 JSerra Catholic (17-8) on Tuesday at home. A win there would get Serra to the semifinals and a matchup with either No. 7 Crespi or No. 2 Price. Last week, the Cavaliers got by Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 56-44 and followed that up with a 60-55 triumph over No. 12 Sierra Canyon. It hasn't been total domination, but Serra has plenty good enough to make to the quarterfinals.

23. (23) Westlake (Westlake Village), 23-4
Division: Southern Section II-A
Freeman Rankings: 30 state, 238 national

The Warriors lived up to their No. 1 seed and blasted La Habra 88-44 after a great finish to the regular season. Thirteen players scored, led by junior Larry Bush and his 18 points. Tuesday's round of 16 game will be at No. 16 Newport Harbor (14-13) and if they can win there, it's a Friday date with unseeded Woodbridge or No. 8 Beaumont.

24. (24) Lutheran (La Verne), 23-6
Division: Southern Section IV-AA
Freeman Rankings: 50 state, 384 national

The Trojans are No. 5 but got a little scare when No. 13 Muir (Pasadena) converted a three-point play in the final second to make it 54-53. Still, they won by that score, and will face No. 6 Windward Tuesday at home in the quarterfinals. If they can win against a Windward team that played in the tough Alpha League, they would get either No. 1 Bishop Montgomery or No. 8 Harvard-Westlake Friday in the semifinals.

25. (25) Army-Navy (Carlsbad), 23-4, 9-1
Division: San Diego Section IV
Freeman Rankings: 19 state, 143 national

The Warriors wrapped up the Coastal League with a 61-40 victory over Santa Fe Christian and a 74-59 win over Bishop's. Brad Nowakowski scored 18 against Santa Fe Christian and Devin Watson tallied 24 against Bishop's. Now comes the SDS playoffs, and Army-Navy is the top seed. The Warriors host No. 16 Preuss School (5-12) Wednesday, then could meet either No. 8 Bishop's (11-14) or No. 9 Madison (12-16) Saturday.