SBLive's California Girls Basketball Top 25: No. 1 Sierra Canyon still undefeated heading into regionals
It's time for the regional/state playoffs, and that's a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's one of the most exciting times of the sports year, but it also means California high school basketball is down to its last two weeks.
With that said, here are SBLive's statewide girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 27 - March 5. The rankings are released every Monday throughout the season.
1. Sierra Canyon (30-0 – 1st)
Photo by Nick Koza
Southern Section Open Division champions at last. The Trailblazers defeated Etiwanda 70-57 in a rematch of last year's title game.
2. La Jolla Country Day (29-3 – 2nd)
Photo by Justin Fine
The gap between the best team in the San Diego Section and the rest was much bigger than usual this season, and that was never in doubt. But an 86-27 beatdown of Del Norte in the Torrey's second straight Open Division championship? Sheesh.
3. Etiwanda (29-3 – 3rd)
No longer the reigning CIFSS champion, Etiwanda pushed Sierra Canyon hard on Saturday but ultimately struck out in its first crack at revenge. Speaking of revenge, it looks to avenge a regular season loss against La Jolla Country Day on Saturday for the right to play SC, Mater Dei, or Sage Hill for a regional title.
4. Archbishop Mitty (26-2 – 4th)
File photo by Darren Yamashita
With a 74-51 Open Division championship over Pinewood, it's official: no CIFCCS team played Mitty to under 20 points this season. Now it's time for a bigger test against Clovis West.
5. Mater Dei (28-3 – 5th)
For the second time in about six weeks and third time in the past two seasons, Mater Dei will host Sage Hill in a battle of Orange County's two top teams. This time, however, a playoff victory is on the line.
6. Piedmont (25-0 – 6th)
Not only the CIFNCS Division 4 champion but also the top overall seed in the Northern Region Open Division. To think the Highlanders have done this all with their best player sidelined for weeks on end now is remarkable and then some.
7. Clovis West (29-1 – 7th)
Photo by Jim Malone
Count 'em: a whopping 11 Central Section D1 titles in a row now for Clovis West. It also got a second helping of revenge against Clovis since the upset in league play. Now Clovis West heads to Archbishop Mitty looking to keep its season alive with a chance to make some major noise.
8. Folsom (26-2 – 8th)
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Your new Sac-Joaquin Section D1 champion. Folsom had to outlast St. Mary's for the second time this season to take the throne, and won 58-53.
9. St. Mary's Stockton (23-9 – 9th)
For St. Mary's to go a second year without sitting atop the CIFSJS feels like a big deal. But the Rams will be competing for hardware at the highest level for years to come. And they might not have to wait years, as they've been awarded the top seed in Northern Region Division I.
10. Salesian (25-4 – 10th)
Photo by Greg Jungerman
Ring season for the second year straight. Now, the reigning Division I state champions will be the underdog for the first time in a while on Tuesday heading to Folsom for the Open Division regional quarterfinals.
11. Oakland Tech (25-5 – 11th)
Like Salesian, the Bulldogs won a state title last year and a section title this year. They'll have to like their chances of keeping the run going as the second seed in Northern Region Division I.
12. Sage Hill (21-9 – 12th)
It's been a breakthrough season of breakthrough seasons for the Lightning for the third season in a row. But if they can upset Mater Dei on Wednesday, which they nearly did in January, it would take things to yet another level.
13. Ontario Christian (27-4 – 13th)
Ontario Christian is the top seed and quite arguably the team to beat in Southern Region Division I. It'll be tested from the start, however, with Chaminade coming to town first.
14. San Ramon Valley (26-4 – 15th)
Raise your hand if you had the Wolves coming even closer to an NCS Open Division title this season than last year after everyone they graduated. Some people did like their chances from the get-go, but not many. After losing to Carondelet by 20 points in last year's finals, they came just a couple buckets away from taking down Salesian.
15. Cardinal Newman (24-7 – 16th)
Like SRV, Cardinal Newman graduated its best player last season but by some measures came back even stronger. After falling narrowly to SRV in the semifinals, Newman smoked Carondelet 71-50 to officially claim third place in the Open Division.
16. Santiago-Corona (22-9 – 17th)
As being the second seed would suggest, Santiago is one of the scariest teams in the Southern Region Division I field. It can't afford to overlook San Diego powerhouse Westview in round one, however.
17. Mission Hills (20-10 – 21st)
Despite going down in the semifinals, Mission Hills reaffirmed that it's the second-best team in the San Diego Section by beating Bonita Vista in the quarterfinals and managing to not get utterly dismantled by LJCD. As the fourth seed in Division I for regionals, it's the highest-seeded CIFSDS team in any state playoffs besides LJCD.
18. Clovis (25-6 – 20th)
For making the CIFCS D1 finals, Clovis earned the right to open the regional playoffs at home, where it'll face Vanden in what should be a good one.
19. St. Joseph-Santa Maria (26-4 – 22nd)
Get ready for what should be one of the best games of the Southern Region Division I playoffs. St. Joseph heads to Brentwood School on Tuesday.
20. Windward (18-9 – 21st)
The Wildcats are the No. 3 seed in Southern Region Division I, and it would be no surprise to see them win that bracket for the second year in a row. They open up against Mount Miguel.
21. Carondelet (22-7 – 15th)
After coming up just short against Salesian in the NCS semifinals, Carondelet got borderline-blown out by Cardinal Newman in the third place game. Nonetheless, there's plenty of opportunity left to rise as the Cougars could make some major noise in Northern Region Division I.
22. San Joaquin Memorial (18-8 – 23rd)
San Joaquin Memorial is placed all the way down at No. 11 in Northern Region Division II. But make no mistake – SJM has a serious chance at going back-to-back as Regional Division II champions.
23. Brentwood School (27-6 – 24th)
This season had championship written all over it for the Eagles, and they delivered. They won their five playoff games by an average of 25 PPG en-route to a CIFSS 2-A title, capped off with a 13-point win against Leuzinger. Now they host St. Joseph (Santa Maria), a team that has the combination of size and quickness to give them problems but a disadvantage in balance and depth.
24. Antelope (26-4 – 25th)
While it will be the road team and slight underdog, Antelope has a decent chance at pulling an upset against Carondelet in its regional opener.
25. Orange Lutheran (24-7 – Bubble)
Photo by Lance Smith
One of only two Southern Section teams to repeat as champions this season, the Lancers left no doubt in a 63-45 victory over Marlborough to win D1.
ON THE BUBBLE:
Pinewood, Bonita Vista, Westchester, Chaminade, Marlborough, Rosary Academy, Bishop Montgomery, Christian Brothers, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep
