Top 25 California high school girls basketball rankings (2/7/2024): No. 3 Sierra Canyon earns top seed in CIF-SS playoffs
Somehow, it's already playoff time in much of California. As the Southern Section playoffs begin this week, roughly half the teams in our statewide rankings will have opened their postseason by week's end.
Here are SBLive's California girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 5-11. After each team's name is its record and previous ranking. The rankings will be released every week for the remainder of the season.
SBLIVE TOP 25 CALIFORNIA GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
1. Archbishop Mitty (22-0 – 1st last week)
Belle Bramer (Archbishop Mitty #23) poses with Sabrina Ionescu at the SI20 Showcase
Photo by Sam Stringer
Mercifully, Mitty's historically dominant regular season campaign is almost over. McKenna Woliczko crossed the 1,000-point barrier as just a sophomore with 36 points to beat Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.
2. Etiwanda (25-3 – 2nd)
Aliyahna "Puff" Morris (Etiwanda #25)
Photo by Heston Quan
While Etiwanda has been the consensus top-ranked team in California since beating Sidwell Friends on Jan. 13, getting the No. 2 seed in the Southern Section Open Division was to be expected, due simply to the team's two additional out-of-state losses. And it will make especially little difference in a finals rematch – assuming both teams can avoid upset until then. Etiwanda faces Corona Centennial, Bishop Montgomery, and Ontario Christian in pool play.
3. Sierra Canyon (27-1 – 3rd)
Sierra Canyon 5-star girls basketball player Mackenly Randolph selected to the 2024 McDonald's All-American game on ESPN.
Sierra Canyon Athletics
Awarded the top overall seed in the CIF-SS playoffs, Sierra Canyon will have home court advantage throughout all of Open Division pool play for the third season in a row. Its side of the bracket is also comprised of Mater Dei, Sage Hill, and Orangewood Academy.
4. Sage Hill (24-2 – 4th)
Sage Hill's streak of winning every game by 12 or more points reached 14 games to end the regular season. While time has passed since the Thunder played elite competition, there's no reason not to expect them to bring their best in their playoff opener – another chance at toppling Mater Dei for Orange County supremacy. Mater Dei won their regular season meeting by 10 points, but that was before losing Addie Deal to injury. Even without the 5-star junior, beating Mater Dei would still be a big deal and accomplishment.
5. Cardinal Newman (24-2 – 5th)
The Cardinals just put together their best regular season in program history. It's probably not a stretch to say it was their best by far. And it's hard not to like their chances of building on it this postseason, with potential to go deep in both CIF-NCS and regional playoffs.
6. Folsom (21-4 – 6th)
How dominant has Folsom been? When it "only" defeated Whitney (Rocklin) by 18 points in league play on Tuesday, it was its second-closest in-section game of the regular season. Other than a 64-57 win over McClatchy on Dec. 3, Folsom's 77-59 win over the reigning Division 2 champion Wildcats was only its second against section foes that wasn't a complete annihilation. And it cemented, at minimum, a share of the SFL title – which Folsom is more than likely to finish sweeping on Friday at Oak Ridge.
7. Ontario Christian (25-3 – 7th)
As the No. 3 seed in their pool, the Knights get home games against Bishop Montgomery and Corona Centennial before heading one town over to Etiwanda. One has to like their chances of improving on last year's playoff showing, in which they made the Open Division for the first time and registered a playoff win against Bishop Montgomery.
8. Mater Dei (22-6 – 8th)
While it took a period of adjustment – and dealing with other injuries to star players – Mater Dei played so well to end the regular season that one would hardly realize that Addie Deal is out with an injury. Without the 5-star junior guard, the Monarchs enter the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs as more of an underdog than usual to the outside world. Even then, don't be surprised if they make a serious push towards winning their pool.
9. Bishop Montgomery (18-3 – 9th)
After well over a week since its last game, Bishop Montgomery will be thrust back into action as the sixth seed in the CIF-SS playoffs at No. 3 Ontario Christian. But they closed the regular season playing perhaps their best ball yet, beating all four Del Rey League foes by more than 20 points. Last season, the Knights ran out of steam in the playoffs as the bottom seed in the Open Division, going 0-3 in pool play and getting upset in the first round of regionals. This year, with at least four playoff games guaranteed again and a chance to go on a regional/state run, look for them to show their continued improvement.
10. St. Mary's-Stockton (20-5 – 10th)
The Rams were on upset alert last week against Oakland Tech, up just four points after a challenging third quarter. But they rallied on offense in the final frame to win a season-best ninth game in a row. After a regular season that was generally brilliant but at times inconsistent, St. Mary's is one of the most intriguing teams to watch this postseason.
11. San Ramon Valley (25-1 – 11th)
After what was both a good win and a close call against Carondelet (46-39), San Ramon Valley finished the regular season particularly strong, routing Monte Vista 84-49 and St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 60-35. With their only loss of the regular season coming against St. Mary's more than two months ago, the Wolves finished on a 23-game winning streak – and turned in arguably their best regular season yet.
12. Clovis West (26-2 – 12th)
Technically one game remains before the playoffs, but it's time to chalk up yet another sweep of the Tri-Rivers Athletic Conference for Clovis West. Don't be surprised if this postseason brings one of their most dominant runs through the Central Section yet.
13. Bishop O'Dowd (17-5 – 14th)
Last Wednesday's game against Piedmont turned into arguably O'Dowd's biggest game of the regular season after Piedmont upset O'Dowd the first time in league play. The Dragons passed with flying colors, winning 69-50 and entering the postseason looking like the team everyone thought they were.
14. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (17-3 – 13th)
If SHCP can win two more tests, against Saint Francis (Mountain View) and Archbishop Riordan, it enters the postseason with an exceptionally clean resumé and a No. 2 seed in the Central Coast Section playoffs. While all were lopsided, its only losses came against Archbishop Mitty (twice) and San Ramon Valley. The burning question for the Irish now is – knowing they'll face Mitty again if they make the CIF-CCS finals – what would constitute a successful postseason?
15. Mission Hills (18-8 – 15th)
It was another week of statement wins for the Grizzlies, who thrashed Rancho Bernardo and Poway to clinch a Palomar League title. Those wins also put them 10 games above .500 for the first time this season.
16. Acalanes (23-4 – 17th)
The book on Acalanes has been the same for much of the season – very few wins over state-ranked teams, but consistent domination against everyone besides the elites. While the Dons aren't under-the-radar enough to be called a "dark horse" heading into the CIF-NCS Open Division playoffs, they do make a great underdog pick to go on a run.
17. Corona Centennial (19-10 – 18th)
After its crosstown rivalry with Santiago got reignited last season, Centennial went not only 2-0 but 3-0 against the Sharks this regular season – and took their spot in the Open Division. The Huskies beat them 61-51 in tournament play on Dec. 2, 64-51 on Jan. 10 in Big VIII League play, and 60-55 on Thursday to sweep the conference. During a season when many expected Centennial to take another step back, no less. For a regular season grade, one has to give "The 10" a 10.
18. Orangewood Academy (21-6 – 19th)
A month ago, a third Open Division appearance in four years was almost inconceivable for the Spartans. But Orangewood Academy has been en fuego since losing to Nevada powerhouse Bishop Gorman on Jan. 6, going 10-1 with its only loss coming narrowly against Corona Centennial. In addition to beating formidable Fairmont Prep in both league meetings, including an eye-opening 22-point road win the second time, Orangewood took down Santiago (Corona), King/Drew, and Brentwood School in non-league play to earn the nod.
19. Brentwood School (20-8 – 20th)
After scorching their way to a CIF-SS 2-AA championship last year, the Eagles went 2-0 against Windward to sweep the Gold Coast League. Could things possibly get any better for them? Yes, in fact – they're now the top seed and undeniable favorite to win Division 1.
20. Windward (19-6 – 21st)
While the Eagles would come in as a clear underdog in a potential playoff rematch with Brentwood, they have to like their chances of going on a Division 1 finals run. The only other team in the bracket they lost to is second-seeded North (Torrance), another heavyweight which beat them by two points in November.
21. Moreno Valley (24-4 – 16th)
Breakthrough regular season: check. As far as rankings go, the Vikings have dropped significantly of late, as most other ranked teams have had more big-name matchups. But the Vikings are still on fire to enter the postseason, and there's plenty of room to rise again with such a clean resumé. Now it's time to see what they can do in an insanely competitive CIF-SS 2-AA bracket. Moreno Valley opens up as the heavy favorite against Woodbridge, and could use a statement win after going more than a month without being tested.
22. La Jolla Country Day (21-6 – 22nd)
Other than its loss to Mission Hills and a competitive 13-point win against Bonita Vista, LJCD had blown out all San Diego Section teams it had faced this season until last week. It was fiercely tested on the road on Friday by young Francis Parker, but prevailed 61-54. Now the Torreys open the playoffs against Francis Parker – not exactly an easy first round draw, but they do have home court advantage this time.
23. Carondelet (24-3 – 23rd)
After a close loss to San Ramon Valley, Carondelet bounced back with double-digit wins against California (San Ramon) and Christian Brothers.
24. Rancho Christian (16-7 – 24th)
Rancho Christian enters the Southern Section 2-AA playoffs as one of a good few teams with a legitimate chance of going all the way.
25. Santiago-Corona (17-11 – 25th)
It goes without saying that Santiago is not a team anyone wants to play in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Last year they found their consistency in February to win a regional title. Can they do something similar this year in a winnable bracket?
ON THE BUBBLE:
McClatchy, Village Christian, Buena Park
