SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: Orange Lutheran returns at No. 25

With league play in full swing, here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams from the CIF Southern Section on Jan. 24.

With league play in full swing, here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams from the CIF Southern Section on Jan. 24.

SBLive’s Southern Section boys high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette and are released every Monday throughout the 2021-22 season.

SBLIVE SOUTHERN SECTION TOP 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Jan. 24, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 1

Sierra Canyon’s two losses have come against out of state opponents. In the last month, the Trailblazers have added two mid year sophomore transfers: seven-footer Majok Chuol and Trentyn Flowers. Sierra Canyon will stay No. 1 until a team from California knocks them off.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (20-1)

Last week: 2

The Huskies lost to Texas power Duncanville 75-70 at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest showcase at Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth, Texas in November, which is their only loss on the year. Centennial’s best wins against California opponents have come against No. 5 Crean Lutheran twice and No. 10 Notre Dame.

3. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (21-1)

Last week: 3

The Bears have beaten No. 18 West Ranch and No. 9 Damien this season. Poly plays No. 2 Corona Centennial on Monday night.

4. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 7

Harvard-Westlake fell to No. 10 Notre Dame 71-61 on Jan. 7, but have bounced back to win four in a row. The Wolverines best wins are against No. 18 West Ranch, No. 16 St. Anthony and No. 11 St. Francis.

5. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (17-2)

Last week: 4

Crean Lutheran drops a spot after losing to No. 2 Corona Centennial 72-57 at last weekend’s State Preview Classic.

6. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (19-2)

Last week: 8

Mater Dei has two out of state losses on the season — they’re undefeated against California opponents.

7. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (16-4)

Last week: 11

Etiwanda picked up two marquee wins last weekend to move into the top ten. The Eagles took down No. 9 Damien 45-39 on Friday and then No. 12 Colony 53-52 on Saturday.

8. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (16-1)

Last week: 9

Rolling Hills Prep’s best wins this season have come against No. 12 Colony and state ranked San Joaquin Memorial. Their loss was against No. 5 Crean Lutheran.

9. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (20-2)

Last week: 5

Damien fell to No. 3 Riverside Poly in the Classic at Damien 64-56, which was the Spartans first loss of the year. Last week, they fell to No. 7 Etiwanda 45-39, which drops them to No. 9. Damien’s best win this season came against No. 3 Riverside Poly the first time the two teams met on Nov. 20.

10. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (17-4)

Last week: 6

Notre Dame beat No. 4 Harvard-Westlake for the first time in the Matt Sargeant era on Jan. 7, but the Knights will most likely not capture the Mission League title outright this season after falling to No. 11 St. Francis 62-59 in overtime last week.

11. St. Francis (La Cañada, Calif.) (18-4)

Last week: NR

St. Francis moves up to No. 11 this week after beating No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 17 Long Beach Poly last week.

12. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (18-2)

Last week: 18

The Titans are improving week by week. Their two losses on the season came against No. 8 Rolling Hills Prep 50-43 at the Classic at Damien and No. 7 Etiwanda 53-52 at the State Preview Classic.

13. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (16-1)

Last week: 10

Following a frustrating defeat against No. 6 Mater Dei on Jan. 12, Santa Margarita has responded with wins over No. 20 St. John Bosco, No. 25 Orange Lutheran and JSerra.

14. St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) (11-4)

Last week: 23

St. Bernard has been inconsistent this season but wins over No. 15 Bishop Montgomery and No. 16 St. Anthony (last week) move the Vikings back into the top 20.

15. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (12-1)

Last week: 12

Bishop Montgomery’s lone loss of the season came against No. 14 St. Bernard, 54-44 on Dec. 4. The Knights’ best wins have come against No. 21 Heritage Christian 68-49 on Dec. 22 and Gardena Serra 68-59 on Jan. 19.

16. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (11-4)

Last week: 15

St. Anthony beat No. 24 Capistrano Valley Christian 60-59 at the State Preview Classic three days after losing to No. 14 St. Bernard 50-48 last Wednesday.

17. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (10-5)

Last week: 16

Long Beach Poly’s best win came against state ranked San Joaquin Memorial in the Classic at Damien. They’ve also played No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 11 St. Francis tough in defeats this season.

18. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (13-6)

Last week: 13

No. 23 Fairmont Prep, a team West Ranch beat 76-74 on Jan. 8, dropping a game against No. 25 Orange Lutheran means West Ranch falls in the rankings this week. When James Evans and Andrew Meadow are playing well, West Ranch can hang with just about anyone. The Wildcats best win this season outside of Fairmont Prep came against St. Augustine.

19. Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) (20-1)

Last week: 19

The Knights’ best wins this season have come against JSerra and Canyon. Their lone loss was to Edison.

20. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (15-8)

Last week: 21

St. John Bosco lost a heartbreaker to Mater Dei 61-59 last week. Their best win on the year came against No. 25 Orange Lutheran.

21. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (15-3)

Last week: NR

Following a COVID pause and some injury issues, Heritage Christian has won four games in a row to get back into the Top 25.

22. Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) (17-3)

Last week: 24

Village Christian’s best wins have come against No. 11 Saint Francis, Narbonne and Alemany. All three of the Crusaders losses have come against ranked opponents. Village Christian hosts No. 21 Heritage Christian in an Olympic League game this week.

23. Fairmont Prep (Anaheim, Calif.) (13-5)

Last week: 14

When healthy Fairmont Prep can hang with anyone, but they've battled injuries all year and lost to No. 25 Orange Lutheran 79-63 last week. The Huskies best wins have come against No. 16 St. Anthony and No. 24 Capistrano Valley Christian this season.

24. Capistrano Valley Christian (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (14-5)

Last week: 17

Capo Valley Christian has a lot of talent led by guards Makaih Williams and Mac West, but the Eagles have struggled in big games this season losing to No. 17 Long Beach Poly, No. 23 Fairmont Prep and No. 16 St. Anthony.

25. Orange Lutheran (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (14-7)

Last week: NR

The Lancers return to the rankings this week after beating No. 23 Fairmont Prep 79-63 on Saturday.