Top 25 California high school girls basketball rankings (3/16/2024): State champion Etiwanda finishes on top; Clovis West leaps
As usual, it feels like high school basketball season came and went in the blink of an eye in California (although next season will soon be just around the corner).
The State Championships took place on Mar. 8-9 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, where Etiwanda dominated the first half to beat Archbishop Mitty in the Open Division for the second year in a row.
Among other state-ranked teams, Bishop Montgomery used similar tactics against Bishop O'Dowd, winning 52-40 after leading 35-14 at halftime. And Harvard-Westlake returned to the bubble for completing an underdog state finals run in Division II.
And that means this is the last California girls basketball power rankings edition of the 2023-24 season.
Remember, the end-of-season power rankings are not necessarily reflective of which teams achieved the most or spent the most time ranked highly averaged out over the course of the season. Like all other versions, the season-end edition does look at the season as a whole, but has an emphasis on recency.
With that said, here are SBLive California's end-of-season girls basketball rankings for 2023-24.
SBLIVE TOP 25 CALIFORNIA GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
1. Etiwanda (32-3 – 2nd last week)
Photo by Dennis Lee
The epitome of the term "back like they never left".
Early in the season, the Eagles fell from first to second to third after a couple unexpected losses, which were due in large part to health issues. But no one, at least in Southern California, seemed to question what they could accomplish in peak form. Etiwanda cruised past Archbishop Mitty 60-48 to become the first back-to-back State Open Division since the format was created in 2013. Not to mention becoming the first Southern Section Open Division champion in six years to win state, and locking up a third straight finish as the No. 1 public school team in the country.
2. Archbishop Mitty (30-1 – 1st)
Morgan Cheli (Archbishop Mitty)
Photo by Dennis Lee
While the Monarchs' season didn't quite end in a state or national title, they did three-peat as CIF Northern Region (and CCS) Open Division champion in one of the top tours de force NorCal high school hoops has seen. A state title was not needed to cement themselves as one of the best Northern California teams ever.
3. Sierra Canyon (31-3 – 3rd)
Sierra Canyon didn't win any CIF titles in 2023-24, but it didn't retain its status as one of the most formidable girls basketball programs in the country. In its second playoff meeting (this year) against Etiwanda, it nearly turned the tables but couldn't quite break through in a 54-51 defeat.
4. Ontario Christian (28-5 – 4th)
The strongest year in program history for the fifth year in a row? Ontario Christian finishes the season with its highest ranking ever, fourth in California. The Knights nearly shocked Sierra Canyon and the rest of the world in the regional semifinals behind 35 points and eight assists from Kaleena Smith before falling 76-69.
5. Mater Dei (25-8 – 5th)
Photo by Nick Koza
If this was Kevin Kiernan's last season coaching Mater Dei, or girls basketball at all, then it was one of his finest jobs yet. After the Monarchs' incendiary start to the season at full strength, they adapted to season-ending and season-altering injuries to top players, and managed to remain nationally-ranked even after losing 5-star Iowa commit Addie Deal. Mater Dei blew out Mission Hills in its state playoff opener to send off the state's winningest coach girls hoops coach ever with exactly 900 career wins.
6. Sage Hill (25-5 – 6th)
How many teams were ranked in the national top 40 from start to finish of the season? Well, less than 40. Sage Hill's highest-ranked team in program history was one of few, going the entire season without taking a loss to a team that wasn't nationally-ranked.
7. Clovis West (31-3 – 11th)
The Golden Eagles finished the season on fire, winning its last 21 games – including a 69-57 win over St. Mary's to make the Northern Region Open Division finals – before going down against Archbishop Mitty.
8. St. Mary's-Stockton (26-6 – 7th)
In regional/state playoffs, St. Mary's managed its second close victory over San Ramon Valley of the season before losing to red-hot Clovis West. What's most important, however, is what preceded that – a 57-51 championship victory over rival Folsom to officially get back on top of the Sac-Joaquin Section.
9. Folsom (26-6 – 8th)
After getting revenge against Cardinal Newman in the first round of state playoffs, Folsom ran into Archbishop Mitty in the state quarterfinals/regional semifinals. The Bulldogs gave Mitty one of its most competitive games of the season in an 82-71 loss.
10. Cardinal Newman (28-3 – 9th)
Although the Cardinals "fell off" in a rankings capacity the end of the season, what really matters is that their banner year culminated in their first CIF-NCS Open Division championship. Cardinal Newman was also nationally ranked for a stretch of the season, and has a great chance to keep building on its successes with Taissa Queiroz and Kate Schat among expected returners.
11. Bishop Montgomery (23-5 – 10th)
Bishop Montgomery dazzled for stretches – for instance, the entire first half – against Bishop O'Dowd on its way to a Division I State title. Jordin Blackmon had a game-high 15 points on 6-9 shooting to lead the Knights despite playing less than 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
12. San Ramon Valley (28-3 – 12th)
The Wolves' last game was a narrow loss to St. Mary's (Stockton) in the State Open Division playoffs following their CIF-NCS Open Division finals appearance.
13. Bishop O'Dowd (24-7 – 13th)
In the midst of a youth movement but with two star seniors, Bishop O'Dowd got crucial playoff experience for its underclassmen in a state finals loss to Bishop Montgomery, but also sent Savannah Jones and Nyah Greenwood out as Division I regional champions. The Dragons beat Saint Francis (Mountain View), St. Ignatius, Oak Ridge, and Carondelet on their path to Golden 1 Center.
MORE: PHOTOS FROM BISHOP O'DOWD'S STATE FINAL
14. Mission Hills (23-9 – 14th)
Next year will probably be a rebuilding year for Mission Hills, but not before it sent off one of California's top senior classes with a CIF-SDS Open Division title. CSU-LA commit Kyara Walter averaged 19.3 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game shooting 19-40 from behind the arc in four playoff games.
15. Brentwood School (27-9 – 15th)
The Eagles second consecutive banner year didn't end after they won the CIF-SS Division 1 title. They went on to make the State Division I semifinals as well, taking down St. Anthony, St. Joseph, and Moreno Valley before nearly upsetting Bishop Montgomery in the regional championship. Lev Feiman averaged 20.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game across Brentwood's playoff run.
16. La Jolla Country Day (26-8 – 16th)
San Diego State commit Naomi Paganiban averaged 22.3 points, 2.8 steals, and 2.7 assists per game in the postseason, during which LJCD went 4-2.
17. Carondelet (29-7 – 17th)
Carondelet finished the season playing its basketball after what was a consistent season to begin with.
18. McClatchy (26-7 – 18th)
A strong regular season culminated in a strong playoff showing for McClatchy, which made the CIF-SJS D1 semifinals before beating Pinewood and Whitney (Rocklin) in state. It nearly upset Carondelet but fell in overtime of the Division 1 regional semifinals/state quarterfinals.
19. Orangewood Academy (22-11 – 19th)
In longtime head coach Leslie Aragon's final season at the helm, Orangewood made yet another Southern Section Open Division appearance.
20. St. Anthony (25-8 – 20th)
The Saints' last game was a close loss to Brentwood in regionals. Ryann Bennett averaged 18 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game in their five-game CIF-SS 2AA title run.
21. Moreno Valley (30-6 – 21st)
It was another tremendously successful season for the Vikings, which nearly upset Brentwood in Division I regional quarterfinals. Few teams in California are poised to return as much talent.
22. Corona Centennial (19-14 – 22nd)
One of the most improved teams in the state from start to finish, Centennial has been out of action since a 68-60 loss to Moreno Valley.
23. Santiago-Corona (22-13 – 23rd)
Over the last three postseasons, the senior class Santiago will soon graduate was one of California's absolute most winningest. But look for the Sharks to regroup quickly around their up-and-coming young talent as they always seem to do.
24. Acalanes (26-6 – 24th)
As mentioned last edition, Acalanes' season-end ranking is reflective of both a strong season as a whole and an injury-plagued finish. Acalanes is poised to return one of the state's top senior cores in 2024-25.
25. St. Joseph-Santa Maria (24-7 – 25th)
UCLA signee Avary Cain averaged a career-high 21.5 PPG to go with 6.5 RPG, 3.2 SPG, and 2.4 APG in her final year at St. Joseph.
ON THE BUBBLE:
Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, Buena Park, St. Ignatius, Archbishop Riordan, Harvard-Westlake, Windward
