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

Author:
Mitch Stephens, SBLive Sports
Updated:
Feb 5, 2024 10:13 PM EST
Original:
Feb 5, 2024

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.

Notre Dame Sherman Oaks vs Crean Lutheran State Preview Classic January 20, 2024 Photo-Heston Quan 78

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).

Notre Dame Sherman Oaks vs Crean Lutheran State Preview Classic January 20, 2024 Photo-Heston Quan 73

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