SBLive's L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings (1/17/2024): No. 8 Granada Hills Charter gaining steam

The Highlanders have a chance to win their fifth game in a row on Wednesday facing Cleveland

Here are SBLive's L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 15-21. Rankings will be released every week throughout the season.

(Team names are followed by record and previous ranking. Rankings do not include results of games on Wednesday, Jan. 17.)

1. Birmingham (12-6 – 1st)

Despite getting routed by Sierra Canyon on Monday, last week was one of the best yet for the Patriots. They responded by crushing Chatsworth, beating El Camino Real by 15 points, and defeating high-powered South Pasadena 72-69.

2. Hamilton (16-4 – 2nd)

Like Birmingham, Hamilton took a stinging loss to a Mission League team last week but isn't much worse for wear. While the Lady Yankees' 52-37 loss to Harvard-Westlake was an upset, their No. 2 ranking is safe as long as they're unbeaten against in-section competition.

3. Westchester (13-4 – 3rd)

The Lady Comets' defense shined on Saturday in a 42-29 non-league win against Long Beach Poly. Wednesday brings a huge league game at Palisades, and Saturday is their highly-anticipated rematch with Hamilton.

4. King/Drew (11-5 – 4th)

King/Drew came up big in its biggest game of the year so far, defeating Crenshaw 54-39 on Friday to unofficially clinch at least half of the Coliseum League title. They ran out of gas the next day against Southern Section heavyweight Rialto, but rebounded two days later to hold off Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary. The Golden Eagles will be the overwhelming favorite on Wednesday in league play against Washington Prep, but can't sleepwalk against a solid team that's nearly pulled off some big upsets this season.

5. Palisades (13-7 – 5th)

It was a bit tenuous of a week for the Dolphins, but they took care of business enough to hold their ranking. They held off upset-minded LACES and Fairfax in Western League play to close last week before getting blown out by CIFSS heavyweight Redondo Union in non-league play. Wednesday brings a chance to move up hosting Hamilton.

6. Crenshaw (12-6 – 6th)

After the loss to King/Drew, Crenshaw was upset by San Marcos of the San Diego Section in showcase play on the tail-end of a back-to-back. However, the Cougars bounced back on Monday for an impressive 44-40 win against Crossroads.

7. El Camino Real (10-6 – 7th)

Facing Chatsworth on Wednesday and Granada Hills Charter on Friday, Elco has a chance to make serious noise this week. It came to play last Friday against Birmingham, falling by double-digits but offering resistance in a 68-53 road defeat.

8. Granada Hills Charter (11-8 – 8th)

On a four-game winning streak and counting. After falling by one point to Saugus last Wednesday, the Highlanders blew out Taft, registered a 72-50 statement win over Chatsworth, beat Shalhevet by double-digits as well, and outlasted Washington Prep for a surprisingly-close 57-53 victory. They have a chance to make it five in a row on Wednesday against Cleveland.

9. Sun Valley Poly (8-6 – 9th)

Currently cleaning up in East Valley League play, Poly held Grant (Van Nuys), Chavez (San Fernando), and North Hollywood to an average of 25 points per game in three blowout wins.

10. Chatsworth (13-7 – 10th)

Now more than a month removed from the Crenshaw upset, things are getting hairy for Chatsworth after losing 47-34 to Kennedy (Los Angeles), 92-38 to Birmingham, and 72-50 to Granada Hills Charter. Wednesday is another challenge facing ECR, but if that doesn't go well for them, the Chancellors have potential bounce-back games against Taft and Cleveland before restarting the gauntlet.

11. San Pedro (9-8 – 11th)

In its only game, San Pedro thrashed Gardena 62-30 in what may prove to have been a league title match.

12. Los Angeles CES (6-9 – 12th)

After nearly upsetting Palisades, the Unicorns took their frustrations out in 71-6 non-league win over Mary Star of the Sea. Do they have a breakthrough win in them?

13. Van Nuys (11-1 – 14th)

10 wins in a row and counting. Van Nuys cruised past Sylmar and blew out Panorama to enter Wednesday's matchup at San Fernando with a full head of steam.

14. Kennedy-Granada Hills (17-4 – 15th)

Bouncing back in a big way. After falling to San Fernando in showcase play at a neutral site, Kennedy got revenge at San Fernando in their first of two league meetings, winning 44-33.

15. Cleveland (10-8 – 13th)

Still around after giving Taft just its third win of the season in league play? Cleveland was missing its most productive player, forward Valerie Anzora, and that grants some leeway – for now.

ON THE BUBBLE:

Eagle Rock, Arleta, Verdugo Hills, Franklin, Sylmar, San Fernando, Harbor Teacher