SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: Anaheim Canyon returns at No. 23

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. This set of rankings will be our last until after state championships are played on March 12 with the postseason beginning this week in the Section.

Author:
Connor Morrissette, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 7, 2022 12:10 PM EST

Here’s a look at the top boys high school basketball teams in the Southern Section with the playoffs beginning this week.

SBLIVE CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Feb. 7, 2021

1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (22-3)

Last week: 1

Sierra Canyon picked up a big victory over nationally ranked Glenbard West (Ill.) winning 67-64 on the road on Saturday. Junior guard Dylan Metoyer hit a buzzer beating 3 to win the game. The victory keeps the Trailblazers at No. 1 in our rankings. Sierra Canyon earned the No. 2 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, which begin on Friday. The Trailblazers have no in state losses.

2. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (26-1)

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, and haven't lost since. Corona Centennial earned the No. 1 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, which begin on Friday. The Huskies have no in state losses.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (21-2)

Last week: 3

Harvard-Westlake fell to No. 7 Notre Dame 71-61 on Jan. 7, but have bounced back to win seven in a row. The Wolverines earned the No. 3 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, which begin on Friday.

4. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (22-3)

Last week: 4

Crean Lutheran’s best win came against No. 11 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. The Saints earned the No. 4 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, which begin on Friday.

5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (25-2)

Last week: 5

Mater Dei has won ugly at times this season, but it’s led to a 25-2 record, undefeated Trinity League title and No. 6 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

6. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (26-2)

Last week: 7

Damien earned the No. 5 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs after beating No. 10 Etiwanda 59-45 last week to earn a share of the Baseline League title.

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

Last week: 8

Notre Dame beat No. 3 Harvard-Westlake for the first time in the Matt Sargeant era on Jan. 7. The win ended up bolstering the Knights' resume enough to clinch a Southern Section Open Division playoff bid. Notre Dame is the No. 7 seed.

8. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (25-2)

Last week: 9

Losing in an uncompetitive game (62-37) at home to No. 2 Corona Centennial on Jan. 24 ultimately cost the Bears a spot in the Open Division Southern Section playoffs. We still rank Poly ahead of Southern Section Open Division No. 8 Bishop Montgomery because the Bears beat No. 6 Damien (Open Division No. 5) earlier this season and Bishop Montgomery didn't play anyone that made the Southern Section Open Division this year.

9. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (18-2)

Last week: 15

Bishop Montgomery swept No. 15 St. Bernard to win the Del Rey League title outright last week. Following their 47-44 victory over St. Bernard on Sunday, Bishop Montgomery received the No. 8 seed in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs. Winning the Del Rey League, a tough league, as well as having good size on the interior put the Knights ahead of other Open Division hopefuls No. 8 Poly and No. 10 Etiwanda.

10. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (20-6)

Last week: 6

Losing by double digits to Baseline League rival Damien (59-45) most likely ended up costing Etiwanda a spot in the Open Division playoffs. The Eagles will compete in Division 1. The bracket comes out on Tuesday.

11. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (20-1)

Last week: 10

Rolling Hills Prep’s best win this season came against No. 12 Colony. Their loss was against No. 4 Crean Lutheran. They'll compete in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

12. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (23-2)

Last week: 11

The Titans two losses on the season have come against No. 11 Rolling Hills Prep 50-43 at the Classic at Damien and No. 10 Etiwanda 53-52 at the State Preview Classic. Colony will compete in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

13. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (19-8)

Last week: 20

The Braves return to the rankings this week because they've been on a tear. St. John Bosco took down No. 14 Santa Margarita 59-38 last week and have won four Trinity League games in a row to end the regular season. They'll compete in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

14. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (19-3)

Last week: 12

Santa Margarita finished in second place in the Trinity League and will compete in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

15. St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) (16-6)

Last week: 13

St. Bernard lost to No. 9 Bishop Montgomery twice last week to finish second in the Del Rey League. They'll compete in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

16. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (20-7)

Last week: 16

West Ranch will be another tough out in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs after winning the Foothill League with a 12-0 record.

17. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (21-4)

Last week: 18

Heritage Christian got revenge for an earlier defeat against No. 19 Village Christian last week winning 57-44 to claim a share of the Olympic League title. The Warriors will compete in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

18. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (15-6)

Last week: 14

St. Anthony split two games with No. 9 Bishop Montgomery two weeks ago, but league defeats to Serra and No. 15 St. Bernard drop the Saints to No. 18 this week.

19. Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) (22-4)

Last week: 17

Village Christian beating No. 17 Heritage Christian two weeks ago and No. 20 St. Francis earlier this season gives the Crusaders a Top 25 resume. Village Christian lost their second game against Heritage Christian last week which means the two teams will split the Olympic League title. Village Christian will compete in the Division 2AA playoffs as one of the favorites.

20. St. Francis (La Cañada, Calif.) (23-5)

Last week: 21

St. Francis will be healthy and dangerous heading into the Division 1 playoffs in the Southern Section. The Golden Knights beat No. 7 Notre Dame, an Open Division team, 62-59 last month showing they can compete with anyone they'll see in the postseason.

21. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (18-5)

Last week: 22

Poly won the Moore League title with a 12-0 record. The Jackrabbits best win on the season came against San Joaquin Memorial at the Classic at Damien. They'll be one of the favorites in the Southern Section Division 2AA playoffs.

22. Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) (25-2)

Last week: 19

Canyon ended Foothill's 15 game win streak but the Knights will still go into the 2AA playoffs winners of 16 of their last 17.

23. Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) (23-4)

Last week: NR

Canyon gets back into the rankings after ending Foothill's 15 game win streak. The victory clinched a share of the Crestview League championship. Canyon will compete in the Division 2AA playoffs.

24. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (15-9)