SBLive’s California Boys Basketball Top 25: Etiwanda moves up to No. 8

With league play in full swing, here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in California on Jan. 24.

With league play in full swing, here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in California on Jan. 24.

SBLive’s statewide high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and are released every Monday throughout the 2021-22 season.

SBLIVE CALIFORNIA TOP 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Jan. 24, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 1

Sierra Canyon’s two losses have come against out of state opponents. In the last month, the Trailblazers have added two mid year sophomore transfers: seven-footer Majok Chuol and Trentyn Flowers. Sierra Canyon will stay No. 1 until a team from California knocks them off.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (20-1)

Last week: 2

The Huskies lost to Texas power Duncanville 75-70 at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest showcase at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, Texas in November, which is their only loss on the year. Centennial’s best wins against California opponents have come against No. 6 Crean Lutheran twice and No. 13 Notre Dame.

3. Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.) (15-1)

Last week: 3

Campolindo is the clear top team in Northern California. The Cougars only loss on the season came against Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Dallas, Texas) at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.

4. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (21-1)

Last week: 4

The Bears have beaten No. 23 West Ranch and No. 12 Damien this season. Poly plays No. 2 Corona Centennial on Monday night.

5. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 8

Harvard-Westlake fell to No. 13 Notre Dame 71-61 on Jan. 7, but have bounced back to win four in a row. The Wolverines best wins are against No. 23 West Ranch, No. 19 St. Anthony and No. 14 St. Francis.

6. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (17-2)

Last week: 5

Crean Lutheran drops a spot after losing to No. 2 Corona Centennial 72-57 at last weekend's State Preview Classic.

7. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 9

Mater Dei has two out of state losses on the season — they’re undefeated against California opponents.

8. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (16-4)

Last week: 14

Etiwanda picked up two marquee wins last weekend to move into the top ten. The Eagles took down No. 12 Damien 45-39 on Friday and then No. 15 Colony 53-52 on Saturday.

9. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (16-1)

Last week: 10

Rolling Hills Prep's best wins this season have come against No. 15 Colony and No. 22 San Joaquin Memorial. Their loss was against No. 6 Crean Lutheran.

10. Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) (16-3)

Last week: 11

Modesto Christian dropped two games to out of state opponents, but they get into the top ten thanks to winning 11 in a row against teams from California.

11. Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.) (22-1)

Last week: 12

Clovis West fell to unranked Pleasant Valley on Dec. 28, but wins over No. 22 San Joaquin Memorial and Clovis North as well as an overall record of 22-1 makes for a great resume.

12. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (20-2)

Last week: 6

Damien fell to No. 4 Riverside Poly in the Classic at Damien 64-56, which was the Spartans first loss of the year. Last week, they fell to No. 8 Etiwanda 45-39, which drops them to No. 12. Damien's best win this season came against No. 4 Riverside Poly the first time the two teams met on Nov. 20.

13. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (17-4)

Last week: 7

Notre Dame beat No. 8 Harvard-Westlake for the first time in the Matt Sargeant era on Jan. 7, but the Knights will most likely not capture the Mission League title outright this season after falling to No. 14 St. Francis 62-59 in overtime last week.

14. St. Francis (La Cañada, Calif.) (18-4)

Last week: NR

St. Francis debuts at No. 14 this week after beating No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 20 Long Beach Poly last week.

15. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (18-2)

Last week: 23

The Titans are improving week by week. Their two losses on the season came against No. 9 Rolling Hills Prep 50-43 at the Classic at Damien and No. 8 Etiwanda 53-52 at the State Preview Classic.

16. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (16-1)

Last week: 13

Following a frustrating defeat against No. 9 Mater Dei on Jan. 12, Santa Margarita has responded with wins over St. John Bosco, Orange Lutheran and JSerra.

17. St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) (11-4)

Last week: NR

St. Bernard has been inconsistent this season but wins over No. 18 Bishop Montgomery and No. 19 St. Anthony (last week) move the Vikings back into the top 20.

18. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (12-1)

Last week: 15

Bishop Montgomery’s lone loss of the season came against No. 17 St. Bernard, 54-44 on Dec. 4. The Knights’ best wins have come against Heritage Christian 68-49 on Dec. 22 and Gardena Serra 68-59 on Jan. 19.

19. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (11-4)

Last week: 19

St. Anthony beat a good Capistrano Valley Christian team 60-59 at the State Preview Classic to stay at No. 19 this week despite losing to No. 17 St. Bernard 50-48 last Wednesday.

20. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (10-5)

Last week: 20

Long Beach Poly's best win came against No. 22 San Joaquin Memorial in the Classic at Damien. They've also played No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 14 St. Francis tough in defeats this season.

21. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) (13-4)

Last week: NR

After losing multiple players due to COVID-19, De La Salle is healthy again and returns to the top 25 this week following a three game win streak which included a victory over Dublin.

22. San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) (14-6)

Last week: 22

San Joaquin Memorial has lost to No. 9 Rolling Hills Prep, No. 10 Modesto Christian, No. 11 Clovis West and No. 20 Long Beach Poly this season, but every game besides the Modesto Christian one was a single digit defeat. San Joaquin Memorial's best win came against JSerra 59-56 on Dec. 18.

23. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (13-6)

Last week: 16

Fairmont Prep, a team West Ranch beat 76-74 on Jan. 8, dropping a game against Orange Lutheran means West Ranch falls in the rankings this week. When James Evans and Andrew Meadow are playing well, West Ranch can hang with just about anyone. The Wildcats best win this season outside of Fairmont Prep came against St. Augustine.

24. St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 24

The Knights lone in state loss came against Heritage Christian 54-52. St. Joseph’s best win so far this year was against Clovis North, 79-69 on Dec. 20th.

25. Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) (20-1)

Last week: 25

Foothill debuted last week after picking up a key 49-46 Crestview League win over rival Canyon. The Knights’ best wins this season have come against JSerra and Canyon. Their lone loss was to Edison.