The Orange County boys basketball rankings as of Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Notable this week: Top-ranked Santa Margarita won its first game in the elite CIF-SS Open Division playoffs last week. … No. 2 Crean Lutheran and No. 3 JSerra both won their first two games in the Division 1 playoffs to reach the quarterfinals. … Fairmont Prep is back in the Top 10 after it reached the Division 1 quarterfinals. … Aliso Niguel moves up to No. 18 after two wins in the Division 3 playoffs. … The CIF-SS semifinals are Friday.
BOYS BASKETBALL TOP 25
(Records are through Monday, Feb. 16)
1. Santa Margarita 27-3: The Eagles beat Damien 81-71 in a CIF-SS Open Division game last week. Kaiden Bailey scored 21 points with four 3-point baskets and reserve Jacob Sears scored 17 points with four 3-pointers. Santa Margarita is in Pool B in the Open Division with Harvard-Westlake and Damien.
Previous ranking: 1
2. Crean Lutheran 23-7: The Saints, the No. 1 seed in Division 1, earned playoff wins over Santa Barbara, 87-61, and Corona Santiago, 87-80, last week. Crean’s Chadrack Mpoyi, a 6-11 senior, scored 31 points with 17 rebounds in the win over Santa Barbara and scored 27 points with 21 rebounds against Santiago.
Previous ranking: 2
3. JSerra 21-12: The Lions, seeded No. 2 in Division 1, beat Pasadena, 72-66, in the first round and Loyola, 75-46, in the second round. Jaden Bailes scored 21 points against Pasadena and 22 points against Loyola. Ryan Doane scored 15 points against Pasadena. Earl Bryson scored 14 against Loyola.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Corona del Mar 27-2: The Sea Kings’ 12-game winning streak ended with a loss to Crespi, 82-70 in the Open Division playoffs. Maxwell Scott scored 35 points in the loss. Scott, a junior, is four points shy of equaling the school record for career points.
Previous ranking: 4
5. Mater Dei 19-14: The Monarchs were placed in Division 2 for the playoffs. They beat Providence of Burbank 83-63 in the first round and Westlake 85-59 in the second round. Zain Majeed scored 25 points in the win over Westlake. Richie Ramirez scored 30 points in the win over Providence.
Previous ranking: 5
6. Orange Lutheran 19-10: The Lancers beat Arcadia, 79-74, in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs before losing to Rolling Hills Prep, 63-52, in the second round. Rolling Hills Prep is a “bubble” team in the CalHiSports.com California Top 25.
Previous ranking: 6
7. Los Alamitos 19-10: The Griffins lost to Loyola, 72-64, in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs. Los Alamitos finished second to Corona del Mar in the Sunset League.
Previous ranking: 7
8. La Habra 21-8: The Highlanders lost to St. Bernard, 63-51, in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs. La Habra finished second in the Crestview League. Highlanders coach Aaron Reikenberg announced his resignation on Tuesday.
Previous ranking: 8
9. Cypress 19-11: The Centurions beat San Gabriel Academy, 61-58, in the first round before losing to Rancho Christian, 94-82, in the second round. Senior guard Ryan Gov scored 29 points in the loss to Rancho Christian. Emmanuel Igbekoyi scored 17 points in the win over San Gabriel Academy. Cypress finished third in the Crestview League.
Previous ranking: 9
10. Fairmont Prep 19-11: The Huskies defeated Crossroads, 52-43, in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs and beat Brentwood, 60-57, in overtime in the second round. Jordan Ceballos scored 17 points for the Huskies against Brentwood.
Previous ranking: 12
11. Servite 19-12
Previous ranking: 10
12. Pacifica Christian 20-8
Previous ranking: 11
13. San Clemente 18-11
Previous ranking: 13
14. Tesoro 24-5
Previous ranking: 14
15. Canyon 18-12
Previous ranking: 15
16. Sonora 20-9
Previous ranking: 16
17. El Dorado 27-3
Previous ranking: 17
18. Aliso Niguel 22-8
Previous ranking: 21
19. Edison 21-9
Previous ranking: 19
20. Esperanza 24-4
Previous ranking: 18
21. Fountain Valley 21-8
Previous ranking: 20
22. Marina 13-15
Previous ranking: 22
23. Newport Harbor 16-13
Previous ranking: 23
24. Woodbridge 21-9
Previous ranking: 25
25. Villa Park 17-12
Previous ranking: 24
