SBLive's L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings (1/5/2024): Birmingham the new No. 1; Hamilton, Palisades, El Camino Real rise

Birmingham is the new No. 1 after Westchester's overtime loss to Hamilton

Here are SBLive's L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 5.. Rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season.

(Team names are followed by record and previous ranking.)

1. Birmingham (9-4 – 2nd)

Photo by Lance Smith

For the first time ever, Birmingham is the top-ranked team in the CIFLACS during the regular season. The Patriots outscored Cimarron-Memorial (NV), Shalhevet, Desert Hills (UT), and Palisades by a combined 236-129 to win the Sapphire Division of the Tarkanian in blowout fashion; their 50-35 win over Shalhevet, in which they led by double-digits for more than half the game, was their closest call. Before that, they opened the season with four wins by 19 points or more against high-level Southern Section competition in Canyon (Canyon Hills), Campbell Hall, Alemany, and Calabasas. 

Birmingham has a combination of size, depth, athleticism, and continuity that can't be matched against City foes – but it also has at least three legitimate title contenders hot on its trail.

2. Hamilton (11-3 – 6th)

With an overtime upset to dethrone reigning champion Westchester, Hamilton is once again ranked as a top-two team in the City – where it spent a lot of time from 2019 through 2021. But the ranking is still based on a season's worth of work, not just one game, and Hamilton's overall resume is as strong as any in the section. All three of the Lady Yankees' losses were against potential CIFSS Open Division selections, and their other wins include Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Orangewood Academy, and Culver City.

3. Westchester (10-3 – 1st)

While this is the first time since the 2021-22 season that Westchester isn't the top-ranked team in our rankings, it practically goes without saying that the Comets are still in the top tier of contenders. And with at least one key transfer becoming eligible since Christmas, their best is likely yet to come. Notable results since the Hamilton loss include a dominant victory over LACES, a 3-0 performance in Las Vegas to win the HBCU Holiday Jam, and single-digit losses against Southern Section heavyweights Lynwood and St. Anthony. Westchester's home rematch against Hamilton comes on Jan. 22.

4. King/Drew (8-4 – 4th)

Despite a few hiccups against strong Southern Section competition, King/Drew still looks like a legitimate threat to the throne. Its last game, a 55-45 win against Redondo Union, might be its most impressive of the season. While the Golden Eagles are the sole favorite in the Coliseum League, they'll face serious competition from Crenshaw as usual, and have a couple other major tests this month against Rialto and St. Anthony in non-league play.

5. Palisades (11-5 – 8th)

Only a couple years removed from a dynastic three-peat as City Section champion, Palisades has fully rebuilt its roster without having a "rebuilding" year per se. Despite ongoing injury issues last year, Palisades wasn't too far from being an Open Division semifinals team. And now it's a top-five team in the section without a single remaining contributor from its last championship – or any real size on the roster. Before losing to Birmingham in the Tarkanian Classic finals, Palisades had gone on a seven-game tear that included double-digit wins over Crescenta Valley, LACES, and Atwater. Before that, Palisades also recorded a seven-point win over Crenshaw and an eight-point loss to Westchester in its league opener.

6. El Camino Real (8-5 – 15th)

The surprise team of 2023-24? Quite possibly, and if nothing else, a major wildcard heading into league play. El Camino Real hasn't tested itself against high-level LACS competition, but has held its own playing a slate of tough Southern Section teams, with a recent 19-point win as by far its best on paper.

7. Crenshaw (8-4 – 7th)

The young Cougars are off to a very good start in a reloading season. Their marquee win so far came against Granada Hills Charter on Nov. 30, and they have two close losses against other LACS foes outside their league, Palisades and Chatsworth. Crenshaw's only other losses came against St. Mary's Academy and Windward, and their last game was a statement win, 65-42 against Arleta.

8. Granada Hills Charter (7-7 – 3rd)

When the Highlanders lost Marianne Boco to a season-ending injury in July, they not only lost the reigning City Section Player of the Year. They also lost a two-way stud at the only position they were thin at – point guard. In that sense, losing her was a double whammy, and it's been understandably tough adjusting to it. Nonetheless, they'd still be in the mix for a top-five ranking if not for a close loss to Crenshaw, and they've improved markedly throughout the season. And 6-3 all-section center Brigita Bulotaite (transfer from Taft) only became eligible three games ago. So with West Valley League approaching, Granada Hills Charter is a strong bets to see a significant rise in the coming weeks.

9. Chatsworth (13-5  – 12th)

A 13-point upset loss to Kennedy is the only thing dampening what's been a brilliant start for the Chancellors. Chatsworth possesses wins over Verdugo Hills, Crenshaw, and Arleta, and has also split meetings with Oakwood, a team that beat Cleveland. While the Kennedy loss knocked them two spots down from where they would've been, it's not one that has to plague them for long in the rankings – especially if Kennedy keeps winning.

10. Van Nuys (9-1 – Unranked)

After getting blown out by Eagle Rock in its second game, Van Nuys has done nothing but cook. The key win came on Dec. 14 at Kennedy, a team that is now a major riser after its upset of Chatsworth. That means Van Nuys is not only at its highest ranking in recent history, but also in control of the Valley Mission League race.

11. Kennedy-Granada Hills (13-3 – Unranked)

The Cougars' 13-point upset of Chatsworth on Tuesday caused an enormous shakeup in the rankings, ending up with them debuting at No. 11. They've also split meetings with Cleveland on the season, and are weighed down by a Dec. 14 loss to Van Nuys. Other than a loss to Trinity Classical Academy in their season opener, the Cougars have taken care of business every other time out so far. With their current momentum, more upward movement would not be surprising. 

12. Sun Valley Poly (5-6 – 5th)

While the Parrots technically plummeted, it's worth noting that they're currently towards the bottom of an airtight seven-team cluster, and could be a few spots higher at the drop of a dime. Before going on a five-game skid against strong Southern Section competition, they started the season with impressive wins over Calabasas, Verdugo Hills, and Arleta. However, they've been without Heart Lising for six games, and they'll need her ready to go in order to make a serious push. But after cruising past Verdugo in their league opener, their league race is theirs to lose.

13. Cleveland (9-6 – 10th)

As we'll say many times in the next month, it's a wild year in the West Valley League. Aside from a widespread expectation of Birmingham emerging as the top dog, the conference could shake out any number of ways, and this could be the year that Cleveland makes the jump to the Open Division. The Cavaliers took on a tough schedule and started 1-5, with a 38-36 loss to Kennedy as their only in-section game during that stretch. Since then, they're 8-1 with wins against Verdugo Hills, Eagle Rock, and the same Kennedy squad that knocked them off a month prior. There is a case to be made for Cleveland to be as much as seven spots higher, and they'll get a chance to prove they deserve it.

14. San Pedro (7-8 – 9th)

Like many other teams on this list, San Pedro has slid since the preseason rankings, but not in a damning way. A lot of the Pirates' best tests are still left on the schedule, and if their blowout of Banning in their first league matchup is any indication, they can move up quickly. Especially with some teams ahead of them likely to drop in league play.

15. Verdugo Hills (7-8 – Unranked)

Verdugo's losing record is the result of a challenging non-league slate, although the Dons really only have one signature win, 46-29 over Eagle Rock on Dec. 16. As it stands, they're on track for a couple potentially epic battles against Arleta for second place in the East Valley League – unless someone upsets Sun Valley Poly.

ON THE BUBBLE:

Eagle Rock, Los Angeles CES, Harbor Teacher, Arleta, Franklin

– Lance Smith | lance@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca