MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school basketball rankings

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The league races are starting to heat up with section tournament play looming. De La Salle remains top ranked, and there were no changes in the top seven spots.


1. De La Salle (Concord) (Last week: 1) (19-1)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: A.J. Kuhle
Update: The Spartans continue to impress, rolling along with defense, structure and results, and remain unbeaten against state-wide competition. Big wins of late include Orange Lutheran in the MaxPreps Martin Luther King Classic at Cal, an overtime win over ranked rival Monte Vista (60-56) and three successive routs in league play. Jordan Ratinho and Nikhil Peters are the leaders.

2. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) (2) (17-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Frank Knight
Update: The Mariners suffered a 73-69 loss to newly ranked Newark Memorial, and the teams cap the regular season against each other, too, likely to decide the league title. The biggest win of late was beating previous No. 1 Sacramento 77-67 in the MaxPreps Martin Luther King Classic at Cal.

3. Sacramento (3) (21-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: Derek Swafford
Outlook: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons are closing in on their 14th Metro League championship under coach Derek Swafford, in his 16th season. The loss was to No. 2 Moreau Catholic 77-67.

4. Folsom (4) (21-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Mike Wall
Update: The Bulldogs are closing in on a repeat SFL championship, and perhaps another repeat run in the Division I section playoffs. Guard play has been the strength, be it Jordan Ford, Alec Andrews, Tre Finch or Jared Wall. Earlier wins over ranked foes include Modesto Christian and Sheldon.

5. Modesto Christian (5) (21-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Modesto Metro
Coach: Richard Midgley
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Crusaders extended their winning streak to 21 and have devoured all comers with size, defense and skill. The loss was in the final seconds in a season opener to No. 4 Folsom, 53-51. A rematch could come in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, if not the CIF Open Division NorCal playoffs, or both.

6. Sheldon (Sacramento) (6) (16-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joey Rollings
Update: The Huskies remain unbeaten in the competitive Delta League with a showdown against rival Jesuit on Friday. Guard Isaiah Brooks has been stellar of late, hitting three-pointers and firing assists. The lone section loss was 79-78 to No. 4 Folsom early.

7. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (7) (16-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Motil
Update: Top ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, the Lancers have a 2-game cushion in the brutally tough WCAL. Saint Francis last lost to No. 4 Folsom 57-53 in the Father Kelly Tribute at Jesuit. The other setback was to No. 3 ranked Sacramento 73-53.

8. Jesuit (Carmichael) (9) (18-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Jon Rotz
Update: The Marauders remain a game behind ranked rival Sheldon in the Delta League scramble, and the teams play Friday at Jesuit. Sheldon won the first meeting 74-64 in a game that was much closer.

9. Monte Vista (Danville) (10) (17-4)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Nick Jones
Update: The Mustangs lost a league showdown in overtime to rival and No. 1 De La Salle 60-56, but showed plenty with a young team. The rematch should be just as fun. Monte Vista is the two-time defending NCS D-I champion and won the CIF state title in 2014.

10. Half Moon Bay (12) (21-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Peninsula
Coach: Rich Forslund
Update: The Cougars roll on with defense and offensive structure as Tommy Nuno and Austin Hilton continue to lead the way. A big win was over ranked Bellarmine, 41-35.

11. Serra (San Mateo) (14) (15-4)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Chuck Rapp
Update: The Padres have won 12 of 14 games, falling only to higher-ranked Saint Francis 54-52 and 52-44. Big wins include ranked Bellarmine (44-40).

12. Capital Christian (Sacramento) (15) (14-8)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Golden Empire
Coach: Devon Jones
Update: The Cougars are closing in on another Golden Empire League title and still working out the kinks to be a championship NorCal team, in Division III. Big wins include Newark Memorial with losses to ranked clubs Moreau Catholic (69-48), Sacramento (75-59), Folsom (80-53) and Sheldon (85-68).

13. Newark Memorial (NR) (15-6)
Section: North Coast
League: Mission Valley
Coach: Craig Ash
Update: The Cougars are a longtime powerhouse led by one of the state's top coaches in Craig Ash. A big effort was downing highly ranked Moreau Catholic 73-69. The teams meet for what could be the league title on Feb. 19.

14. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (16) (18-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Tri-County Rock
Coach: Bill Mellis
Update: The Pride have won 10 successive games since falling to No. 5 Modesto Christian 68-56, and are surging toward another league title.

15. Palma (Salinas) (17) (17-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Kelley Lopez
Update: The Chieftains are rolling in league play and should win the title, baring upsets. One loss was to No. 7 Saint Francis and the other was to ranked Half Moon Bay. There's also a nice win against Half Moon Bay, too.

16. Weston Ranch (Stockton) (18) (18-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Chris Teevan
Update: Top ranked by the Stockton Record, the Cougars are unbeaten in league play, the biggie coming 52-48 over ranked rival Manteca. An earlier loss was to Capital Christian.

17. Manteca (19) (18-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Brett Lewis
Update: The Buffaloes target a league-title showdown with rival and No. 16 Weston Ranch, which won the first meeting 52-48. Kenny Wooten Jr. has played well.

18. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (13) (13-5)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Coast Athletic
Coach: Patrick Schneider
Update: The Bells have lost the hard way — 56-53 in double-overtime to St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 44-40 to Serra, 61-56 to Valley Christian — but the team is benefiting. Showdown against ranked rival Saint Francis will be telling.

19. Woodcreek (Roseville) (11) (15-8)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Hayes
Outlook: The Timberwolves have recent wins over Rocklin (80-71 in overtime), Del Oro (Loomis) (75-54) and next play at Oak Ridge and Folsom. An early loss was 79-65 to No. 3 Sacramento.

20. Granite Bay (10) (16-6)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jason Sitterud
Update: The Grizzlies have endured some ups and downs in a very tough SFL scramble, including losing to unranked Nevada Union. Darren Nelson and Charlie Tooley lead the way. One win was over ranked Monte Vista, 63-56.

21. Dublin (NR) (18-3)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Tom Costello
Update: The Gaels have been a power for years, and here they are again, winners of six straight, including 55-51 over No. 22 Doughtery Valley.

22. Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) (20) (20-2)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Mike Hansen
Update: The Wildcats suffered a 55-51 loss to No. 21 Dublin as the teams split and charge toward the league finish line. The only other loss was to Carson of Nevada, 62-50.

23. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) (22) (19-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula South
Coach: Mike Molieri
Update: The Bears are mauling all comers in league play as Eric Norton, Lucas Fioretti and Blake Henry lead the way. The losses were to ranked Bellarmine (58-57) and ranked Half Moon Bay (55-49).

24. Freedom (Oakley) (25) (16-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Drew Torres
Update: The Falcons are the lone unbeaten in a competitive Bay Valley scramble. They have a 13-point loss to Granite Bay, a three-point loss to Manteca and an 83-81 triple-overtime win over Folsom as gauge efforts.

25. Oakland Tech (25) (21-1)
Section: Oakland
League: Oakland
Coach: Karega Hart
Update: The Bulldogs have lost only by three in overtime to once-ranked Pittsburg and are running away with the league. Souley Boum, Dejon Davis and Will Campbell lead the way.

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports in Northern California since 1984, including since 1988 for The Sacramento Bee. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacbeepreps