SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: Crean Lutheran moves up to No. 5

With holiday tournaments wrapped up, here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in the Southern Section to begin 2022.

With holiday tournaments wrapped up, here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in the Southern Section to begin 2022. 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

January 3, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (14-1)

Last week: 1

Sierra Canyon’s lone loss this season came against Texas power Duncanville on Nov. 27. Since then, the Trailblazers have won 10 games in a row. Nine of those victories have come without star senior Amari Bailey who is battling a lower body injury. Sierra Canyon will stay at No. 1 until a team from California knocks them off.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (12-1)

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. Last week, they won the Platinum Division of the Classic at Damien after beating No. 11 St. John Bosco and No. 15 Etiwanda. The Huskies also beat No. 5 Crean Lutheran last week, 66-56.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (13-1)

Last week: 3

The Wolverines dropped their first game of the year at Hoophall West to Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Ariz.) 59-54 on Dec. 11. Since then, Harvard-Westlake has won three in a row. They’re a clear Open Division team in the Southern Section.

4. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (16-1)

Last week: 8

Poly is one of the biggest risers this week after beating No. 22 West Ranch and No. 6 Damien to advance to the Platinum Division championship game of the Classic at Damien.

5. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (10-1)

Last week: 7

Crean Lutheran is another team that drastically raised its stock at the Classic at Damien. The Saints advanced to the Gold Division championship game with wins over Oak Park and No. 8 Rolling Hills Prep.

6. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (17-1)

Last week: 4

Damien fell to No. 4 Riverside Poly in the Classic at Damien 64-56, which was the Spartans first loss of the year. Earlier this season, Damien beat Riverside Poly 55-52.

7. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (13-2)

Last week: 5

Mater Dei has two out of state losses on the season. They open Trinity League play against No. 11 St. John Bosco on Wednesday.

8. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (13-1)

Last week: 10

Harvey Kitani clearly has his best ever Rolling Hills Prep team this season. The Huskies have beaten No. 18 Colony and San Joaquin Memorial so far this year.

9. St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, Calif.) (9-3)

Last week: 6

St. Bernard’s best win this season came against No. 10 Bishop Montgomery. The Vikings’ three-headed monster of Darius Carr, Tyler Rolison and Jason Hart make St. Bernard a tough opponent on any given night.

10. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (11-1)

Last week: 11

Bishop Montgomery’s lone loss of the season came against No. 9 St. Bernard, 54-44 on Dec. 4. The Knights’ best win came against No. 13 Heritage Christian 68-49 on Dec. 22.

11. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (12-5)

Last week: 9

St. John Bosco looked great for three and a half quarters against No. 2 Corona Centennial before ultimately losing 62-56 in the Classic at Damien. The Braves followed that performance up with two surprising losses to American Fork (Utah) and Sheldon. St. John Bosco has a lot of talent and will be a Trinity League title contender. They’re a better team than the one that finished the Classic at Damien with three straight defeats.

12. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (13-3)

Last week: 18

The Knights went 2-1 in the Classic at Damien without star senior Ben Shtolzberg, who missed the games due to a shoulder injury. With Shtolzberg (who will be back Wednesday) and star junior Dusty Stromer in the lineup, the Knights can compete with just about every team in California high school basketball.

13. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (11-2)

Last week: 19

Heritage Christian has lost to No. 10 Bishop Montgomery and No. 12 Notre Dame this season. The Warriors' best win came against St. Joseph 54-52.

14. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (8-3)

Last week: 12

Despite a close defeat to unranked Foothill three weeks ago, JSerra started December strong with wins over No. 15 Etiwanda and Tesoro. The Lions didn’t play in a holiday tournament due to COVID-19.

15. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (10-4)

Last week: 14

Etiwanda has had issues offensively this season. The Eagles have lost to No. 2 Corona Centennial, No. 7 Mater Dei and No. 14 JSerra, but they have Top 25 level talent led by 2022 New Mexico commit Quinton Webb.

16. Serra (Gardena, Calif.) (13-4)

Last week: NR

Serra has some resume boosting wins against No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 17 Long Beach Poly this season. The Cavaliers lost to Orange Lutheran 81-68 on Nov. 20, which is their only defeat against an unranked team.

17. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (6-4)

Last week: NR

Long Beach Poly is 6-4, but the Jackrabbits showed that they can compete with top teams in the state when fully healthy at the Classic At Damien. Poly beat San Joaquin Memorial 64-63 in the Gold Division semifinals. Early season defeats to No. 24 St. Anthony and No. 16 Serra mean the Jackrabbits come in at No. 17 this week.

18. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (13-1)

Last week: 15

The Titans one loss on the year came against No. 8 Rolling Hills Prep 50-43 last Tuesday in the Classic at Damien. Senior Minnesota commit Jaden Henley and junior guards Kollen Murphy and Jaidyn Simpson make up a strong trio for Colony.

19. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (11-0)

Last week: 16

Santa Margarita has won all ten of its games by double figures to begin the year.

20. Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) (11-3)

Last week: 23

Village Christian's best wins have come against No. 24 Saint Francis, Narbonne and Alemany. All three of the Crusaders losses have come against ranked opponents.

21. Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.) (9-4)

Last week: 21

Crossroads beat No. 23 St. Anthony 69-57 on Nov. 19 and No. 22 West Ranch on December 12. The Roadrunners have lost two of their last four games, but have enough talent and the resume to stay in this week's Top 25. Crossroads' top player is 2022 center Henri Adiassa, a Lehigh commit.

22. West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) (8-6)

Last week: NR

The Wildcats only played one game in the Classic at Damien, but they took No. 4 Riverside Poly to the buzzer in the game before ultimately losing 78-77. West Ranch is a clear Top 25 team in the Section led by Andrew Meadow and James Evans.

23. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (7-3)

Last week: 22

The Saints beat No. 17 Long Beach earlier this season, but dropping a game against unranked Fairmont Prep in December has St. Anthony outside the Top 20.

24. St. Francis (La Canada, Calif.) (10-2)

Last week: NR

St. Francis debuts this week. Their best win is against St. Paul. The Golden Knights two defeats this season have come against No. 20 Village Christian and state ranked Clovis West.

25. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) (12-4)

Last week: NR

Mira Costa debuts this week as well. The Mustangs best wins have come against San Juan Hills and Loyola. Three of their four losses have come against teams ranked in our statewide rankings, with the fourth defeat coming against St. Augustine, the No. 1 team in San Diego.