Image Source: Eric Sondheimer
Key Takeaways
- The top 25 boys’ basketball rankings for the Southland after Week 9 have been released, with Sierra Canyon taking the top spot
- Harvard-Westlake and Redondo Union are also highly ranked, with several big games coming up for these teams
- St. John Bosco’s Christian Collins is having an MVP season, while Santa Margarita’s Rodney Westmoreland has made a game-winning buzzer-beater
- Corona del Mar and Etiwanda are also looking strong, with Corona del Mar having only one loss and Etiwanda recovering well from a tough week
Introduction to the Rankings
The latest rankings for the top 25 boys’ basketball teams in the Southland have been released, and there are some exciting matchups to look forward to in the coming week. As reported, "Showdown with Harvard-Westlake on Wednesday" is a highly anticipated game for Sierra Canyon, who is currently ranked number one with a record of 18-1. Redondo Union, ranked number two, also has two big games coming up, with Devin Wright expected to play a key role. Harvard-Westlake, ranked number three, has a tough schedule ahead, with games against Sierra Canyon, Notre Dame, and St. Francis.
Top Teams and Their Performances
The top teams in the rankings are performing exceptionally well, with St. John Bosco’s Christian Collins having an "MVP season" according to the report. Santa Margarita’s Rodney Westmoreland has also made a notable contribution, with a "buzzer beat defeats JSerra" in a recent game. As stated, "Rodney Westmoreland buzzer beat defeats JSerra" highlights the excitement and competitiveness of the games. La Mirada’s Gene Roebuck is also consistent and playing well, while Damien is becoming a "dangerous top team" with a record of 21-4.
Teams on the Rise
Corona del Mar is having an impressive season, with a record of 21-1 and only one loss. As the report notes, "Getting tough to tag CDM with a second loss" suggests that they are a strong team to beat. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has also had a breakthrough win against St. Francis, and Corona Centennial is facing a big league matchup against Corona Santiago on Friday. Village Christian’s freshman Will Conroy Jr. is "keeping delivering" and making a significant impact on the team. Crespi is looking at a fifth-place finish in the Mission League, while Crean Lutheran is 3-1 in the tough Crestview League.
Teams to Watch
Etiwanda has had a good recovery week, and San Gabriel Academy is facing Newport Beach Pacifica Christian on Monday. Los Alamitos is gearing up for a rematch against Corona del Mar, while Mater Dei plays at St. John Bosco on Tuesday. St. Francis still needs to secure a playoff spot, and JSerra needs some luck in close games. Mira Costa put up a good fight against Redondo Union, and Elsinore has achieved an impressive 20 straight wins. Inglewood’s Jason Crowe Jr. is having 50-point games become routine, and Crossroads is back on track with Evan Willis returning to the team.
New Entrants and Notable Performances
Brentwood has had a good recovery after a loss to Crossroads, and Arcadia is dominating the Pacific League with a record of 18-4. As the report states, "Twenty straight wins is pretty good" for Elsinore, highlighting their impressive performance. These teams are making significant contributions to the rankings and are ones to watch in the coming weeks. With many exciting matchups and strong performances, the Southland’s top 25 boys’ basketball teams are sure to provide thrilling games and intense competition. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these teams fare and which ones will come out on top.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2026-01-18/los-angeles-times-top-25-boys-basketball-rankings-week-9