Top 25 California High School boys basketball rankings (2/05/2024)

With playoffs on the brink, there's still no clear top team in the state as Harvard-Westlake is latest No. 1 team in the Golden State after taking Mission League title

For the fifth straight week there's a different team at the top of California's boys basketball rankings. But it's not a new team. 

Harvard-Westlake, coming off the Mission League playoff championship, returns to the No. 1 spot heading into the CIF Southern Section playoffs. 

The Wolverines (26-3) recorded three wins last week, the middle one the hardest fought with a 60-56 triumph over Notre Dame Sherman Oaks. That vaulted Harvard-Westlake into the Mission League title game where it clipped upset-minded Crespi, 72-54. 

Crespi, led by first-year coach Derek Fisher, had shocked host Sierra Canyon (64-61) in the other semifinal game. 

CIF Southern Section boys basketball playoffs brackets, all 2024 divisions, matchups

The Southern Section, which boasts 17 of the teams in the SBLive Top 25, opens its playoffs Wednesday throughout the Southland. Eight of those teams open round-robin Open Division action on Friday. 

One of those who didn't make the Open field is Notre Dame, whiich is ranked No. 6 in the state and earned the top seed in Southern Section Division I playoffs. The Knights are the defending state D1 champion. 

There was little to no movement among the non-Southern Section teams ranked as No. 3 Salesian, No. 7 Riordan, No. 8 St. Joseph, No. 9 Carlsbad, No. 16 Montgomery, No. 17 De La Salle, No. 21 Branson and No. 25 Clovis North went a combined 15-0. 

Of those, St. Joseph put on the biggest offensive show, scoring 301 points in three victories. Clovis North also averaged more than 90 points in a pair of wins. 

1. Harvard-Westlake (26-3)

Last week rank: 4

Last week wins: Alemany (70-33), Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (60-56), Crespi (72-54)

Next: Friday vs. Centennial

2. Roosevelt (27-2)

Last week rank: 6

Last week wins: Santiago (86-37), Corona Centennial (63-50)

Next: Friday vs. JSerra Catholic 

3. Salesian (25-1)

Last week rank: 3

Last week wins: St. Patrick-St. Vincent (69-36), De Anza (80-61)

Next: Thursday in TCAL playoffs

4. Mater Dei (26-2)

Last week rank: 5

Last week wins: Los Alamitos (66-65), St. John Bosco (72-66), Santa Margarita (73-59)

Next: Friday vs. St. Pius X

5. Sierra Canyon (24-2)

Last week rank: 1

Last week wins: Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (81-75)

Last week loss: Crespi (64-61, OT)

Next: Friday vs. St. John Bosco

6. Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (24-3)

Last week rank: 2

Last week losses: Harvard-Westlake (60-56)

Next: Wednesday vs. Crean Lutheran

7. Riordan (17-4)

Last week rank: 7

Last week wins: Serra (74-48), Valley Christian (88-59)

Next: Tuesday vs. Mitty, Friday at Bellarmine

8. St. Joseph Santa Maria (24-2)

Last week rank: 8

Last week wins: Santa Ynez (103-41), San Luis Obispo (95-54), Atascadero (103-44)

Next: Tuesday vs. San Luis Obispo, Wednesday vs. Templeton, Friday at Arroyo Grande

9. Carlsbad (24-2)

Last week rank: 9

Last week wins: La Costa Canyon (78-57), San Dieguito Academy (84-48)

Next: Tuesday vs. Sage Creek, Friday at El Camino

10. St. John Bosco (23-5)

Last week rank: 11

Last week wins: Orange Lutheran 87-59

Last week loss: Mater Dei 72-66

Next: Friday vs. Sierra Canyon

11. Corona Centennial (20-10)

Last week rank: 10

Last week wins: King (92-72)

Last week loss: Roosevelt (63-50)

Next: Friday at Harvard-Westlake

12. St. Pius X (22-5)

Last week rank: 12

Last week wins: Bishop Montgomery (81-76), Serra (72-62)

Next: Friday at Mater Dei

13. JSerra Catholic (24-4)

Last week rank: 13

Last week wins: Santa Margarita (49-32), Servite (76-47)

Next: Friday at Roosevelt

14. Windward (25-3)

Last week rank: 14

Last week wins: Campbell Hall (72-67-OT), Brentwood School (77-66)

Next: Friday vs. Pacifica Christian-St. Francis winner (Southern Section D1 playoffs)

15. Crespi (24-7)

Last week rank: 20

Last week wins: St. Francis (68-54), Sierra Canyon (64-61-OT)

Last week losses: Harvard-Westlake (72-54)

Next: Wednesday vs. Maranatha

16. Montgomery (24-2)

Last week rank: 16

Last week wins: Bonita Vista (72-29), Torrey Pines (48-19)

Next: Monday vs. Hilltop, Wednesday at Mater Dei Catholic, Friday vs. San Ysidro

17. De La Salle (23-3)

Last week rank: 17

Last week wins: San Ramon Valley (60-58), California (59-47)

Next: EBAL playoffs, opponent TBD

18. La Mirada (21-7)

Last week rank: HM

Last week wins: Downey (61-56)

Next: Friday vs. St. Bernard-Mira Costa winner (D1 SS playoffs)

19. Los Alamitos (23-5)

Last week rank: 15

Last week wins: Fountain Valley (77-64), Edison (80-59)

Next: Friday vs. Canyon-Rancho Cucamonga winner (D1 SS playoffs)

20. Redondo Union (22-4)

Last week rank: 19

Last week wins: Peninsula (89-30), Mira Costa (64-50)

Next: Friday vs. Foothill-Brentwood School winner (D1 SS playoffs)

21. Branson (19-6)

Last week rank: 22

Last week wins: Terra Linda (69-29)

Next: Wednesday vs. Marin Catholic

22. Santa Margarita (17-10)

Last week rank: 18

Last week losses: JSerra Catholic (49-32), Mater Dei (73-59)

Next: Wednesday vs. Oxnard

23. Damien (24-4)

Last week rank: 24

Last week wins: Rancho Cucamonga (62-38), Etiwanda (61-49)

Next: Friday vs. Rancho Christian-Crossroads winner (D1 SS playoffs)

24. Clovis North (22-5)

Last week rank: 25

Last week wins: Clovis (93-65), Central (91-53)

Next: Tuesday at Buchanan, Friday at Clovis West

25. Heritage Christian (20-8)

Last week rank: 21

Last week wins: Maranatha (63-48), Village Christian (69-60)

Next: Friday vs. Shalhevet-Calabasas winner (D2 SS playoffs)

Honorable mentions: Clovis West (22-5), Etiwanda (23-5), Foothill (20-8), Granada (22-2), Long Beach Poly (20-8), Mitty (16-5), Modesto Christian (22-3), Monterey Trail (23-2), Pacifica Christian/OC (18-10), Pasadena (24-3), Rancho Verde (23-5), Rocklin (24-2), Rolling Hills Prep (22-5), San Ramon Valley (21-5), St. Anthony (20-7).

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