SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Boys Basketball Rankings: St. Bernard ends the season at No. 9

The Vikings won the Division 1 Southern Section championship 71-59 over JSerra.

Author:
Connor Morrissette
Updated:
Mar 17, 2022 4:02 PM EDT
Original:
Mar 17, 2022

The 2021-22 California boys high school basketball season is in the books.

SBLive’s Southern Section high school boys basketball rankings are compiled by SBLive California reporter Connor Morrissette.

SBLIVE CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

March 17, 2022

1. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (33-1)

Last week: 2

Corona Centennial won both the Open Division state and Southern Section championships this season. The Huskies went undefeated against California opposition.

2. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (26-6)

Last week: 1

Sierra Canyon had a lot of talent on its roster, but the Trailblazers only won their league this season.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (25-4)

Last week: 3

Harvard-Westlake played for the school's first ever Southern Section Open Division championship this season losing 68-48 to No. 1 Corona Centennial. In the state playoffs, the Wolverines lost to No. 2 Sierra Canyon 72-55.

4. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) (21-4)

Last week: 9

Bishop Montgomery went 2-1 in Southern Section Open Division playoff pool play. Their season ended in the state playoffs against No. 1 Corona Centennial, the team they also lost to in the Section playoffs.

5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (26-5)

Last week: 5

Mater Dei won the Trinity League but then went 1-3 in the postseason. The Monarchs beat No. 8 Notre Dame in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, but lost to No. 2 Sierra Canyon, No. 3 Harvard Westlake and then No. 4 Bishop Montgomery in the state playoffs.

6. Damien (La Verne, Calif.) (32-4)

Last week: 6

Damien won the school's second ever state championship this season beating Clovis North 65-57 to claim the Division 1 crown. The Spartans went 1-2 in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

7. Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) (25-7)

Last week: 4

Crean Lutheran fell to No. 6 Damien in the Southern Section Open Division and Division 1 state playoffs. The Saints' best win on the year came against 8. 12 Notre Dame.

8. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) (21-8)

Last week: 7

Notre Dame won a share of the Mission League championship this season thanks to a regular season win over No. 3 Harvard-Westlake.

9. St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) (24-8)

Last week: 15

St. Bernard won the Division 1 Southern Section championship 71-59 over No. 12 JSerra.

10. St. Anthony (Long Beach, Calif.) (18-10)

Last week: 18

St. Anthony made deep runs in both the Division 1 Southern Section and state playoffs this season.

11. Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) (28-5)

Last week: 19

Village Christian won the Division 2AA Southern Section championship 78-69 over No. 17 Long Beach Poly.

12. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) (20-11)

Last week: 24

JSerra got hot and advanced all the way to the Division 1 Southern Section championship game losing 71-59 to No. 9 St. Bernard.

13. Riverside Poly (Riverside, Calif.) (26-3)

Last week: 8

Riverside Poly had a fantastic season but faced an unfortunate playoff draw meeting No. 9 St. Bernard in the quarterfinals of the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs. The Bears lost that game 57-50.

14. West Ranch (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (21-8)

Last week: 16

West Ranch lost on a buzzer-beater to No. 9 St. Bernard 69-67 in the second round of the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs.

15. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (22-10)

Last week: 13

The Braves advanced to the Division 1 Southern Section semifinals where they fell 60-44 to No. 12 JSerra.

16. St. Francis (La Cañada, Calif.) (25-6)

Last week: 20

St. Francis' best win this season came against No. 8 Notre Dame. The Golden Knights also beat No. 23 Heritage Christian. St. Francis fell in the Division 1 quarterfinals to No. 12 JSerra 65-56.

17. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (22-7)

Last week: 21

The Jackrabbits advanced to the Division 2AA Southern Section championship game where they lost to No. 11 Village Christian 78-69. In the state playoffs, Poly fell to No. 9 St. Bernard 52-40.

18. Colony (Ontario, Calif.) (25-3)

Last week: 12

Colony ran into a red hot St. Anthony team in the Division 1 Southern Section quarterfinals. The Titans lost 75-64. Colony's best win on the year came against No. 19 Loyola 56-45.

19. Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.) (22-7)

Last week: NR

Loyola's 51-42 win over No. 20 Etiwanda in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs puts the Cubs at No. 20 to end the season.

20. Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) (21-7)

Last week: 10

Etiwanda recorded a Baseline League win against No. 6 Damien this season, but falling to No. 19 Loyola 51-42 in the second round of the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs means the Eagles finish the year at No. 20.

21. Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.) (22-2)

Last week: 11

Rolling Hills Prep was another team that was in the top half of our rankings for the majority of the season. The Huskies lost 72-44 to JSerra in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs, which drops them to No. 21.

22. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) (20-4)

Last week: 14

No. 10 St. Anthony beat Santa Margarita 51-44 in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs. The Eagles best wins this season came against No. 12 JSerra twice in the regular season.

23. Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) (22-5)

Last week: 17

Heritage Christian beat No. 11 Village Christian in the regular season, but fell in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs 53-49 to No. 16 St. Francis.

24. Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.) (31-4)

Last week: 22

Foothill lost in the Division 2AA Southern Section semifinals 50-45 to No. 17 Long Beach Poly. The Knights then made a run to the Division 2 CIF State championship game. Foothill fell to Elk Grove 62-56 in that game.

25. Los Altos (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) (26-7)