SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: Santa Clarita Christian debuts

SBLive’s Southern Section high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and will be released every Monday throughout the spring 2021 season.

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SBLIVE SOUTHERN SECTION TOP 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

May 10, 2021

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1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (7-0)

Last week: 1

Amari Bailey scored a career high with 32 points in a 79-55 win over Crossroads last week. He also had 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (17-0)

Last week: 2

Mater Dei just keeps on winning. Last week, the Monarchs took down No. 10 St. John Bosco and JSerra. They're 6-0 in the Trinity League.

3. Etiwanda (6-0)

Last week: 3

Etiwanda beat No. 4 Damien thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Darvelle Wyatt on Friday.

4. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (21-2)

Last week: 4

Damien has lost just two games this season and they both came against No. 3 Etiwanda, once by four points and a second time by three points. The Spartans are a lock to make the Southern Section Open Division.

5. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (12-2)

Last week: 5

Harvard-Westlake has won nine games in a row. The Wolverines have great young talent led by junior Cameron Thrower and sophomore Brady Dunlap. Their two defeats came against No. 4 Damien and Heritage Christian.

6. Ribet Academy (Los Angeles, Calif.) (4-0)

Last week: 6

Ribet Academy has won by double-digits in every game they've played so far this season. Monday's game against No. 9 Centennial and then future games against Heritage Christian and No. 19 Birmingham will show if Ribet is a Southern Section Open Division team, but early indications show that they will be. Tyler Powell and Barrington Hargress are off to strong starts.

7. Corona Centennial (12-1)

Last week: 7

Centennial has won 11 games in a row. They have a huge game against No. 7 Ribet Academy on Monday.

8. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (13-2)

Last week: 9

Beware of St. John Bosco’s three-headed monster of Scotty Washington, Jeremiah Nyarko and Lamaj Lewis (LMU commit). The Braves got revenge against No. 15 Santa Margarita last week, winning 56-48.

9. Santa Margarita (9-2)

Last week: 8

Santa Margarita has been one of the surprises of the spring so far thanks to a win over No. 10 St. John Bosco. Jake Blazona and Luke Turner are key contributors. Two weeks ago, the Eagles fell to No. 2 Mater Dei 51-38 and then last week they lost to St. John Bosco in a rematch 56-48.

10. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) (9-1)

Last week: 15

Roosevelt's win over No. 22 Colony earlier this season is proving to be a big one. The Mustangs lone defeat this year came to No. 9 Centennial 84-47.

11. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (14-1)

Last week: 16

A balanced scoring attack from Colony led to a 72-69 win over No. 25 Chaminade. Jaidyn Simpson led the way with 19 points, and the Titans also got 18 from Kollen Murphy, 16 from Brenton Knapper, 10 from Jaden Henley, and nine from Denzel Hines.

12. Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) (11-2)

Last week: 11

KJ Simpson and Keith Higgins form one of the state’s best backcourt partnerships. They combined for 57 points against No. 22 Colony, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles lost 72-69.

13. West Ranch (5-0)

Last week: 13

West Ranch is a perfect 5-0 in the Foothill League.

14. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (13-4)

Last week: 10

A 64-52 defeat to No. 25 Santa Clarita Christian pushes Heritage Christian back to No. 14.

15. Rolling Hills Prep (4-0)

Last week: 19

Benny Gealer and Kenny Manzi are a strong duo.

16. Laguna Beach (12-0)

Last week: 20

Laguna Beach plays No. 2 Mater Dei and No. 24 Fountain Valley this week.

17. Fairmont Prep (8-3)

Last week: 21

Fairmont Prep has won five games in a row.

18. St. Bernard (4-1)

Last week: 24

All of a sudden a Del Rey League title is within St. Bernard's grasp.

19. Dominguez (9-0)

Last week: NR

Dominguez is in first place in the San Gabriel Valley League.

20. San Clemente (9-2)

Last week: NR

Last week's 51-44 win over Capistrano Valley moved San Clemente into this week's rankings.

21. Capistrano Valley (9-1)

Last week: 14

Losing to San Clemente dropped Capo Valley to No. 21.

22. Compton (7-1)

Last week: NR

Compton beat Long Beach Poly 65-57 last week, which pushed the Tarbabes into a tie for first place in the Moore League.

23. Crossroads (4-1)

Last week: 22

Crossroads has wins over Windward and Beverly Hills. They dropped their first game of the year last week to No. 1 Sierra Canyon 79-55.

24. Fountain Valley (8-2)

Last week: NR

Fountain Valley has a big game against No. 16 Laguna Beach this week.

25. Santa Clarita Christian (1-3)

Don't let their record fool you, Santa Clarita Christian is a talented team. Last week, they beat No. 14 Heritage Christian 64-52. Tiago Soares scored 27 points in the win. The Cardinals losses this year came against No. 12 Chaminade, Heritage Christian and Birmingham.