SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: Cajon debuts at No. 25

Here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in CIF Southern Section on the last day of January.

Here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in CIF Southern Section on the last day of January.

SBLive’s Southern Section 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. 31, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (20-3)

Last week: 1

Sierra Canyon’s three losses have all come against out of state opponents. They’ll stay at No. 1 until a team from California knocks them off.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (24-1)

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. 4 Crean Lutheran twice and No. 8 Notre Dame. Last week, the Huskies took down Nevada Coronado 80-71 in overtime behind 31 points from senior guard Donovan Dent.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (20-2)

Last week: 4

Harvard-Westlake fell to No. 8 Notre Dame 71-61 on Jan. 7, but have bounced back to win six in a row. The Wolverines best wins are against No. 4 Crean Lutheran, No. 14 St. Anthony and No. 16 West Ranch.

4. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (19-3)

Last week: 5

Crean Lutheran’s best win came against No. 10 Rolling Hills Prep at the Classic at Damien. They’ve lost close games to No. 2 Corona Centennial and No. 3 Harvard-Westlake as well this season.

5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (23-2)

Last week: 6

Mater Dei has won ugly at times this season, but it’s led to a 23-2 record and Trinity League title.

6. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (18-5)

Last week: 7

Etiwanda picked up two marquee wins two weeks ago to move into the top ten. The Eagles took down No. 7 Damien 45-39 and then No. 11 Colony 53-52. Last week, the Eagles fell to Nevada Durango 58-44.

7. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (22-2)

Last week: 9

Damien’s best win this season came against No. 9 Riverside Poly the first time the two teams met on Nov. 20. The Spartans have another shot at a marquee win on Monday night when they host No. 6 Etiwanda.

8. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (19-4)

Last week: 10

Notre Dame beat No. 3 Harvard-Westlake for the first time in the Matt Sargeant era on Jan. 7. The win should get them into the Open Division playoffs.

9. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (23-2)

Last week: 3

Losing in an uncompetitive game (62-37) at home to No. 2 Corona Centennial drops Poly to No. 9 this week.

10. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (18-1)

Last week: 8

Rolling Hills Prep’s best win this season came against No. 11 Colony. Their loss was against No. 5 Crean Lutheran. The Huskies drop two spots this week after nearly losing to Capistrano Valley Christian in last week’s Nike Extravaganza.

11. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (20-2)

Last week: 12

The Titans are improving week by week. Their two losses on the season came against No. 10 Rolling Hills Prep 50-43 at the Classic at Damien and No. 6 Etiwanda 53-52 at the State Preview Classic.

12. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (18-2)

Last week: 13

Following a frustrating defeat against No. 5 Mater Dei on Jan. 12, Santa Margarita showed its improving in a 61-58 loss to the Monarchs last week. Those two losses are Santa Margarita’s only defeats on the year.

13. St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) (15-4)

Last week: 14

St. Bernard has been inconsistent this season but wins over No. 15 Bishop Montgomery and No. 14 St. Anthony have the Vikings in the top 20.

14. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (13-5)

Last week: 16

St. Anthony split two games with No. 15 Bishop Montgomery last week.

15. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (14-2)

Last week: 15

Bishop Montgomery splitting two games with No. 14 St. Anthony last week keeps the Knights at No. 15.

16. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (15-7)

Last week: 18

West Ranch played state ranked No. 6 Modesto Christian close but eventually fell 93-83 last week. Jaqari Miles scored 29 points in the loss.

17. Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) (20-3)

Last week: 22

Village Christian beating No. 18 Heritage Christian last week and No. 21 St. Francis earlier this season gives the Crusaders a Top 25 resume.

18. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (17-4)

Last week: 21

Following a COVID pause and some injury issues, Heritage Christian has won six of their last seven games to get back into the Top 20.

19. Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) (23-1)

Last week: 19

Foothill has won 14 games in a row.

20. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (17-8)

Last week: 20

St. John Bosco has won three of their last four Trinity League games to stay at No. 20 this week.

21. St. Francis (La Cañada, Calif.) (20-5)

Last week: 11

St. Francis drops ten spots after losing 74-61 to 12-9 Bakersfield Christian.

22. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (14-5)

Last week: 17

Poly lacks a signature win on the year so they drop a few spots this week.

23. Orange Lutheran (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (15-9)

Last week: 25

The Lancers have a big game against JSerra on Tuesday which will most likely determine who finishes in fourth place in the Trinity League.

24. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) (18-6)

Last week: NR

Roosevelt debuts this week. Their six defeats have all come against ranked teams or out of state teams. The Mustangs best wins have come against Hillcrest, Great Oak, Villa Park and La Mirada.

25. Cajon (San Bernardino, Calif.) (16-3)

Last week: NR

Cajon also debuts this week. Senior guard Shyheim Parm is having a special season. He's averaging 23.3 points per game and has led the Cowboys to wins over Los Altos and Oak Park this year.