The Top 25 High School Basketball Teams to Watch This Season

Southland Boys’ Basketball Rankings After Week 5

As the Southland boys’ basketball season progresses, The Times has released its updated rankings following Week 5.

1. SIERRA CANYON (8-1): The team is set to compete in a Christmas tournament in Oregon, maintaining its top position.
2. SANTA MARGARITA (13-1): Following a thrilling double-overtime victory over Bishop Gorman from Las Vegas, the team advanced to the semifinals at the Tarkanian Classic, holding steady at second place.
3. REDONDO UNION (9-2): The squad has made it to the semifinals of the Tarkanian Classic, climbing from fifth last week.
4. ST. JOHN BOSCO (8-2): Despite a recent setback with back-to-back losses to leading teams in Florida, the team remains in fourth place.
5. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (13-2): A loss to Idaho’s top team impacts their ranking, dropping them from fourth to fifth.
6. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (9-2): Notable contributions from Zachary White, particularly in rebounding, have kept the team competitive, moving up to sixth from seventh.
7. SAN GABRIEL ACADEMY (4-3): The performance of 6-foot-11 player Mahamadou Diop has been crucial for the team, but they fall from sixth to seventh.
8. CREAN LUTHERAN (9-3): This team is preparing for the Classic at Damien, keeping their eighth-place ranking.
9. CORONA CENTENNIAL (11-2): A recent loss to Utah’s Timpview has not affected their ninth position.
10. ETIWANDA (14-0): Upcoming challenges at the Classic at Damien will test this undefeated team, moving them up from eleventh.
11. CORONA DEL MAR (11-0): The team will face 10-4 Cypress this Tuesday, maintaining their eleventh place.
12. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (8-4): Competing in the Mission Prep tournament has dropped them to twelfth from tenth.
13. CRESPI (8-4): With a tough schedule ahead, the team holds steady in thirteenth place, anticipating benefits during league play.
14. DAMIEN (13-2): Set to host the Classic at Damien, the team maintains its fourteenth position.
15. LA MIRADA (5-4): The Matadores improved their standing after defeating Layton, UT, 74-67, to advance to the semifinals at the Tarkanian Classic, moving up from seventeenth.
16. ARCADIA (9-1): Anticipation builds as the Apaches prepare to welcome returning players after a sit-out period, leaping from nineteenth to sixteenth.
17. JSERRA (8-5): With a trip to San Diego for the Torrey Pines tournament ahead, the team slips to seventeenth from sixteenth.
18. THOUSAND OAKS (10-0): The Lancers shocked Chaminade, previously unbeaten, placing them eighteenth in the rankings.
19. BISHOP MONTGOMERY (10-0): This team is making its mark as a semifinalist in the Mission Prep tournament, debuting at nineteenth.
20. MAYFAIR (5-2): Josiah Johnson is emerging as a key player to watch, securing a spot at twentieth.
21. EASTVALE ROOSEVELT (7-4): The learning experience in Las Vegas has helped them maintain their twenty-first ranking.
22. BRENTWOOD (13-1): The team’s trip to Hawaii resulted in a 3-1 record, moving them up to twenty-second.
23. MIRA COSTA (12-1): With the Torrey Pines tournament on the horizon, they debut at twenty-third.
24. ELSINORE (16-0): Junior Kamrynn Nathan is making waves, averaging 25 points per game, thus entering the rankings at twenty-fourth.
25. INGLEWOOD (10-4): The team is impressively averaging 92 points per game, rounding out the top 25 at twenty-fifth.

The rankings reflect the dynamic nature of the season as teams gear up for key tournaments and league play, emphasizing the competitiveness of Southland boys’ basketball.