SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: Sierra Canyon still No. 1

The winter 2021-22 California high school boys basketball season started on Nov. 15. Here’s a look at the top teams in the Southern Section two weeks into the year.

The winter 2021-22 California high school boys basketball season started on Nov. 15. Here’s a look at the top teams in the Southern Section two weeks into the year. SBLive’s Southern Section high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and will be released every Monday throughout the spring 2021 season.

SBLIVE SOUTHERN SECTION TOP 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

November 29, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 1

Without their top two players (Amari Bailey and Isaiah Elohim), Sierra Canyon dropped their first game of the season to Texas power Duncanville 80-73 at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest showcase at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday. A day prior, No. 2 Corona Centennial lost to Duncanville as well, so the Trailblazers stay at No. 1 this week.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 2

Donovan Dent scored 30 points in an 85-59 win over No. 11 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame two weeks ago, but the Huskies lost to Texas power Duncanville 75-70 at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest showcase at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, which keeps them at No. 2.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 3

The Wolverines beat No. 17 Crossroads 61-53 two weeks ago. Landon Lewis, one of the top big men in the state, scored 14 points in the victory.

4. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (1-0)

Last week: 4

Etiwanda beat Santiago 64-36 in the first game of their season. Junior Curtis Williams scored 19 points.

5. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (6-0)

Last week: 5

Damien beat No. 15 Riverside Poly 55-52 to win the Rumble for Rosecrans two weeks ago. Kaleb Smith scored 15 points to lead the Spartans.

6. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (2-0)

Last week: 6

Mater Dei is off to a 2-0 start with two blowout wins. Junior Zack Davidson is averaging 19.5 points per game in the two victories.

7. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (2-0)

Last week: 7

The Braves dropped their first game of the season on the road against Lanphier (Springfield, Ill.) 55-50 last week, but St. John Bosco is undefeated against California opposition.

8. St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 8

Tyler Rolison and Darius Carr are two excellent guards. They’ve led the Vikings to a 4-0 start. Rolison scored 37 points in St. Bernard’s 83-75 win over No. 20 Fairmont Prep on Nov. 19.

9. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (1-0)

Last week: 9

Crean Lutheran showed why they’re going to be considered for the Southern Section Open Division playoffs this year in their 69-63 season-opening win over Eastvale Roosevelt. Sophomore Vyctorius Miller scored 28 points in the victory. Koat Keat added 18 points.

10. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 10

West Ranch will go as far as junior Andrew Meadow and sophomore James Evans take them. The Wildcats play No. 1 Sierra Canyon on Wednesday.

11. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (7-1)

Last week: 11

Star junior Dusty Stromer is back for Notre Dame after playing as a freshman. He joins senior Creighton commit Ben Shtolzberg to make up a Knights team with Southern Section Open Division aspirations. The duo led the Knights to a 61-53 win over No. 12 Heritage Christian last week, but then lost on the road 85-59 to No. 2 Corona Centennial. Since the Corona Centennial defeat, the Knights have won five games in a row.

12. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (2-1)

Last week: 12

In their first marquee game of the season, Heritage Christian fell to No. 11 Notre Dame 61-53 two weeks ago. Senior Barrington Hargress scored 20 points in the loss. The Warriors followed up the defeat with a nice win over San Diego’s No. 2 team, San Marcos, 61-40.

13. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (3-0)

Last week: 13

Senior guard Benny Gealer, a Stanford commit, and junior forward Kenny Manzi make up one of the state’s best duos. The Huskies won the 2AA Southern Section title last season and have picked up right from where they left off a year ago.

14. Fountain Valley (Fountain Valley, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 14

Senior guard Roddie Anderson and sophomore Carter Bryant are special talents.

15. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 15

Poly narrowly lost to No. 5 Damien 55-52 two weeks ago. If a 50/50 call had gone their way, they could have won.

16. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 16

Bishop Montgomery rolled to the Ryse Williams Pac Shores title at Redondo Union High School with four big wins.

17. Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.) (2-1)

Last week: 17

Crossroads beat a good St. Anthony team 69-57 and then fell to No. 3 Harvard-Westlake 61-53 two weeks ago.

18. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (2-0)

Last week 18

Colony returns four of five starters from a team that went 19-2 last season. Senior Jaden Henley received a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota last week.

19. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (6-0)

Last week: 19

Santa Margarita has won all six of its games in blowout fashion to begin the year.

20. Fairmont Prep (Anaheim, Calif.) (0-1)

Last week: 20

Chol Deng averaged 17.6 ppg for Fairmont Prep a year ago as a junior. The Huskies are 0-1 this season, but lost 83-75 to No. 8 St. Bernard in their lone game.

21. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 21

The Saints have beaten St. Monica, Campbell Hall, Inglewood and Beckman so far this season and lost to No. 17 Crossroads 69-57.

22. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 22

Senior guard Christian Watson and freshman guard Jovani Ruff are both top players in their respective classes.

23. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (3-0)

Last week: 23

The Lions rolled to two big wins against Northern California opponents two weeks ago to open their season.

24. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) (4-1)

Last week: 24

The Lancers one loss so far this season came against No. 5 Damien 74-61.

25. Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) (5-1)

Last week: 25

The Comanches are 5-1 with their lone loss coming against No. 15 Riverside Poly 52-51 in overtime.