Lance Smith
Los Angeles
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Final 2025-26 top 25 California girls high school basketball state rankings
Lance Smith As usual, California's high school girls basketball season came and went in a blur and ended with a thrilling battle between Archbishop Mitty and a Southern Section dynamo. Despite missing a star player, Ontario Christian cemented its rise to the top of California's girls hoops ranks with a 56-49 win over MItty behind the stellar play of Kaleena Smith.
California CIF-Southern Section girls basketball top 25 rankings - March 16, 2026
Lance Smith The 2025-26 season proved once again that the CIF-Southern Section has a stockpile of elite high school girls basketball teams and players that can't be matched. In the last week of the season – nothing but regional and state finals – Ontario Christian and Corona Centennial put on for the CIF-SS by winning the Open Division and Division I state championships, respectively. Here are High School On SI's California CIF-Southern Section top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Mar.
California CIF-Southern Section girls basketball top 25 rankings - March 9, 2026
Lance Smith Here are High School On SI's California CIF-Southern Section top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Mar. 9. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 2 | Feb. 9 | Feb. 16 | Feb. 23 | Mar. 2 1.
Top 25 California girls high school basketball state rankings - Mar. 9, 2026
Lance Smith As always, high school basketball season flew by. With regional and state finals taking place this week, this is the last in-season rankings edition of 2025-26 before season-end rankings come out in a week. State/regional playoffs have already provided one massive shocker around the top of the rankings, as Sage Hill stunned Sierra Canyon – and everyone else – with a 57-54 win immediately after Sierra Canyon's Southern Section title victory over Ontario Christian.
Top 25 California girls high school basketball state rankings - Mar. 2, 2026
Lance Smith For the first time in three years, a team not named Archbishop Mitty , Etiwanda , or Ontario Christian is the top-ranked team in California. Sierra Canyon is No. 1 after a gutsy 69-62 comeback win over Ontario Christian in the Southern Section championship. And now it's time for one more two-week blast of high school hoops chaos before the 2025-26 season closes as the regional/state playoffs start on Tuesday.
California CIF-Southern Section girls basketball top 25 rankings - Mar. 2, 2026
Lance Smith Here are High School On SI's California CIF-Southern Section top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Mar. 2. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 2 | Feb. 9 | Feb. 16 | Feb. 23 1.
Top 25 California girls high school basketball state rankings - Feb. 23, 2026
Lance Smith With the whole state now entrenched in girls basketball playoffs, the top-ranked teams in California have generally lived up to snuff through the opening rounds. In the Southern Section, top seeds Ontario Christian, Etiwanda, Sierra Canyon, and Sage Hill all remain unbeaten heading into the Open Division semifinals. Which, by the way, means it's time for another potential instant classic between Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon.
California CIF-Southern Section girls basketball top 25 rankings - Feb. 23, 2026
Lance Smith Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 23. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 2 | Feb. 9 | Feb. 16 1.
With the whole state now entrenched in girls basketball playoffs, the top-ranked teams in California have generally lived up to snuff through the opening rounds. In the Southern Section, top seeds Ontario Christian, Etiwanda, Sierra Canyon, and Sage Hill all remain unbeaten heading into the Open Division semifinals. Which, by the way, means it's time for another potential instant classic between Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon.
Top 25 California girls high school basketball state rankings - Feb. 16, 2026
Lance Smith The high school girls basketball playoffs are underway across much of California, and the upsets and heroic individual performances are already rolling in. The biggest upset of the week among state-ranked teams, however, was Mission Hills (No. 7 last week) falling to previously unranked Westview, a result that seems impossible until you take a closer look. And the biggest piece of news from last week was Clovis taking home an undisputed TRAC title with a buzzer-beating win.
California CIF-Southern Section girls basketball top 25 rankings - Feb. 9, 2026
Lance Smith Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 9. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 2 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (27-1 – 1st last week) CIF-Southern Section playoff seedings couldn't have gone much better for Ontario Christian.
California CIF-Southern Section Girls Basketball Top 25 Rankings - Feb. 9, 2026
Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 9. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 2 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (27-1 – 1st last week) CIF-Southern Section playoff seedings couldn't have gone much better for Ontario Christian.
Top 25 California Girls High School Basketball State Rankings - Feb. 2, 2026
With one week left before the playoffs begin in some of the CIF's member sections, Ontario Christian remains atop California's girls basketball standings. Ventura was the top riser of last week across California with a 46-42 upset of Mater Dei. Here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 2. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 | Jan.
Top 25 California Girls High School Basketball State Rankings - Jan. 26, 2026
Here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 26. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 | Jan. 19 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (25-1 – 1st last week) Talk about a bounce-back week.
California CIF-Southern Section Girls Basketball Top 25 Rankings - Jan. 20, 2026
Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 19. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 12 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (22-1 – 1st last week) The Knights' perfection ended with a 57-55 loss to fellow national title contender Bishop McNamara (MD) at Hoophall Classic, the same team that beat Archbishop Mitty at Nike TOC.
Top 25 California girls high school basketball state rankings - Jan. 12, 2026
It doesn't get much better than the top two teams in the state if not the country duking it out in an instant classic for top of the pecking order. Last week was action-packed with exactly that, and much more, in California high school girls basketball.Here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 12.The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season.PREVIOUS RANKINGS:Preseason|Dec. 8|Dec. 15|Dec. 22|Dec. 29 | Jan. 51.
California CIF-Southern Section Girls Basketball Top 25 Rankings - Jan. 5, 2025
Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 5. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 29 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (18-0 – 1st last week) Business as usual for the No. 1 team in high school girls basketball. Ontario Christian's 76-54 win over Texas powerhouse Summer Creek was, believe it or not, its least lopsided win of the year.
Top 25 California Girls High School Basketball State Rankings - Jan. 5, 2025
As of last week, reigning Open Division state finalists Etiwanda and Archbishop Mitty are at full strength for the first time in the 2025-26 season. That simultaneously restores a bit of normalcy to California's high school girls basketball landscape and adds a new level of intrigue at the top, where Ontario Christian has been separating more and more from the rest of the pack. With that said, here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 5.
Top 25 California Girls High School Basketball State Rankings - Dec. 29, 2025
Clovis West is still yet to lose a game, and its list of wins over prominent opponents is rapidly growing. As a result, the Golden Eagles have cracked the top five and might not be done rising. Here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Dec. 29. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 22 1.
California CIF-Southern Section Girls Basketball Top 25 Rankings - Dec. 22, 2025
Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Dec. 22. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (14-0 – 1st last week) With Archbishop Mitty losing (and McKenna Woliczko not yet back from injury), Ontario Christian is currently the runaway No. 1 team in California.
Top 25 California Girls High School Basketball State Rankings - Dec. 22, 2025
After yet another huge week – and the first loss of the season for one its top contemporaries – Ontario Christian is the new No. 1 team in California. Here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Dec. 22. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 8 | Dec. 15 1.
California High School Girls Basketball Top 25 State Rankings - Dec. 15, 2025
With most ranked teams having low-profile weeks and avoiding upsets, this was a very quiet week in the rankings. But there was at least one major piece of important news, and good news at that, as 5-star Sierra Canyon senior Jerzy Robinson returned from a lengthy ankle injury without missing a step. Here are High School On SI's California top 25 girls basketball rankings for the week of Dec. 15. The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 8 1.
Here are High School On SI's CIF-Southern Section girls basketball rankings for the week of Dec. 8. The rankings will be released every Monday throughout the season. PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Preseason | Dec. 1 1. ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (9-0 – 1st last week) The Knights' start to the season couldn't have feasibly been much better. Their 9-0 record is no surprise, but the way they've utterly dismantled elite teams has been remarkable.
California Girls Basketball High School Top 25 State Rankings - Dec. 2, 2025
The 2025-26 season looks to be like most others in California high school girls basketball. After all, California is packed with compelling storylines and elite teams – including a handful of national contenders. With that said, here's a look at who we think are the top 25 teams in the state entering the season. Any regular season games that have already been played were not factored into the preseason rankings. Updated rankings will be released every week throughout the season starting on Monday. 1.
California CIF-Southern Section Girls Basketball Top 25 Rankings – Nov. 30, 2025
Girls basketball season is officially underway for the vast majority of the teams in the CIF-Southern Section. So, below is the first updated edition of the season for High School on SI's CIF-SS girls basketball Top 25. While the first half of the rankings remain stable from the preseason edition – for now – the second half has been anything but stable. Three new teams, none of which have played more than five games, have cracked the updated top 25.
California CIF-Southern Section Girls Basketball Top 25 rankings
High school basketball is back in California, which means it's time to unveil High School On SI's preseason Top 25 girls basketball rankings for the 2025-26 season. Any regular season games that have already been played were not factored into the preseason rankings. Updated rankings will be released every week throughout the season starting on Monday. 1.
Mater Dei football to play just nine games - again - after Bishop Montgomery forfeits upcoming game
Mater Dei football to play just nine games – again – after Bishop Montgomery forfeits upcoming game originally appeared on The Sporting News For the second year in a row and third time in five years, Mater Dei – the No. 1 team in high school football – will play fewer than 10 regular season games. Advertisement While finding non-league opponents willing to play has been an issue in recent years, the Monarchs did get 10 games on the schedule this regular season.
Corona Centennial routs Servite: Score, updates, highlights from California high school football game
Corona Centennial routs Servite: Score, updates, highlights from California high school football game originally appeared on The Sporting News Corona Centennial, ranked No. 3 in California and No. 11 in the country, started the 2025 high school football season with a bang. Advertisement QB Dominick Catalano threw three touchdown passes, two of which went to TE Keawe Browne, and RB Malaki Davis broke out for three rushing touchdowns as the Huskies cruised past Servite 42-14.
Top 25 Offensive Player of the Year candidates in California high school football Original
With the 2025 California high school football season a week from kickoff, here's a look at who we think are the top 25 statewide Offensive Player of the Year candidates entering the season. Although all 25 players mentioned below were listed on our preseason position rankings (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end), it takes more than just talent to have an OPOY or MVP-type season.
Shorthanded Mission Viejo repeats as Battle at the Beach 7-on-7 champion Original
New year, new faces, same old Mission Viejo football. 4-star senior quarterback and Ohio State commit Luke Fahey led the way without most of his familiar running mates as the Diablos won Edison's Battle at the Beach passing tournament on Saturday, July 12. In 2024, five of Mission Viejo's six leading receivers were seniors. The exception was their very top receiver, 4-star Miami commit Vance Spafford, who had team-bests of 57 catches for 1,017 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Accelerating data science innovation: How Bayer Crop Science used AWS AI/ML services to build their next-generation MLOps service | Amazon Web Services
The world’s population is expanding at a rapid rate. The growing global population requires innovative solutions to produce food, fiber, and fuel, while restoring natural resources like soil and water and addressing climate change. Bayer Crop Science estimates farmers need to increase crop production by 50% by 2050 to meet these demands.
Serra-San Mateo stuns Folsom in instant classic: Northern California high school football roundup
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Serra-San Mateo stuns Folsom in instant classic: Northern California high school football roundup
As of Friday night, high school football is now in full swing throughout all of Northern California. Week 1 had an exciting slate of games, including what was pegged to be β and lived up to the hype as β the potential NorCal game of the year. Here's a look at some notable football results from Friday, Aug. 30: Serra (San Mateo) 22, Folsom 21 To the surprise of no one, the pre-league battle between perennial Northern California juggernauts Serra and Folsom was a candidate for game of the year.
Vote: Who is California's top high school linebacker?
While linebacker isn't the first position that comes to mind when most people think of California high school football stars, California is usually loaded with linebacker talent. And it would be an understatement to say 2024 is no different. California is currently brimming with even more top-end talent at the position than in some recent years, and it's deep as ever too.
Orange Lutheran and Pacifica face off
There's no softball tournament in the country like the CIF-Southern Section playoffs - especially in the dogfight known as Division I. Two familiar Orange County foes, Orange Lutheran and Pacifica-Garden Grove - ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in California, respectively - will battle in the finals after playing twice in the regular season. Both teams are led by elite senior pitchers and have been untouchable for many weeks leading up to the finals.
California (CIF) High School Baseball Playoffs
DivisionsChamp 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball Division 1 Championships May 2, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball Division 2 Championships May 2, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball Division 3 Championships May 3, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball Division 4 Championships May 2, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball Division 5 Championships May 2, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball Division 6 Championships May 2, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section Baseball...
California (CIF) High School Softball Playoffs
DivisionsChamp 2024 LA City Section Softball Division I Playoff Bracket May 9, 2024 - 2024 LA City Section Softball Division II Playoff Bracket May 8, 2024 - 2024 LA City Section Softball Division III Playoff Bracket May 7, 2024 - 2024 LA City Section Softball Division IV Playoff Bracket May 7, 2024 - 2024 LA City Section Softball Open Division Playoff Bracket May 8, 2024 - 2024 AAA League CIF SF Section Varsity Softball Playoffs and Championships May 7, 2024 - 2024 CIF Southern Section...
SBLive Top 25 preseason national girls basketball rankings: Long Island Lutheran (New York) No. 1
SBLive scoured the country to compile the nation's top high school girls basketball programs entering the 2023-24 season. SBLive's girls basketball rankings will highlight teams affiliated with the state high school athletic association in the state in which it resides, or those allowed to play affiliate high schools in their home state as well as some of the country's top prep schools and basketball academies.
Look: Reigning state champion Etiwanda dominates at H.O.P.E. Showcase
CYPRESS, Calif. - Etiwanda girls basketball looks to continue its historic run in 2023-24. The Eagles won their first Southern Section Open Division championship two seasons ago and their first CIF State Open Division championship in March. And entering the new season, all indications are that Etiwanda is ready to pursue its first national championship with what may be its best team yet. On Oct. 7, Etiwanda went 2-0 in lopsided wins at the 5th Annual H.O.P.E. Showcase.
Bishop Gorman routs Liberty 49-6 to complete final regular-season hurdle
By Lance Smith, SBLive Sports via highschool.si.com, LAS VEGAS - The final regular-season obstacle is out of the way. Bishop Gorman's No. 4 nationally-ranked football team should be able to cruise from here. The Gaels got two touchdown passes from Micah Alejado and two touchdowns each from Devon Rice and Elija Lofton Thursday to breeze past visiting Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 49-6 to improve to 5-0. Gorman, which... Read more on Publisher's website
Bishop Gorman football survives Miami Central in epic back-and-forth battle
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Bishop Gorman was pushed to its limits by Miami Central on Friday, but survived a back-and-forth thriller to win 39-35. A cross-country flight, a 90-minute weather delay, a size disadvantage, and a 14-point deficit was not enough to stop Miami Central from giving Bishop Gorman a great shot. For Miami Central, the 8:30 p.m. start meant the game started at 11:30 p.m. in Eastern time.
Who should be SBLive’s California High School Football Coach of the Week (Aug. 24-26)?
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s California High School Coach of the Week for Aug. 24-26 as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff. Read through the nominees and cast your vote below. Voting will conclude on Sunday, Sep. 3 at 11:59 p.m and the winner will be announced on Monday. If you would like to nominate a coach in future weeks, please email Lance@scorebooklive.com or tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @SBLiveCA.
Sights, sounds, and scores from Week 0 (Aug. 17-19) of California high school football
The first weekend of high school football in California – known as Week Zero – is just unfolding. Here's a look at some of the top storylines rolling in from Friday night lights through the state. Check back throughout the rest of the night and weekend as we publish our game coverage and update our weekend roundup.
Vote now: Who is the top running back in California high school football?
At any given time in California high school football, there are dozens of future NCAA Division I running backs, and well over a hundred RBs who will go on to play in college. 2023 is no exception. Last week, we listed who we believe to be the top 50 RBs in the state to start the season. Now, it's your turn to vote for who you think is the best running back in California. From now until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20, vote for your favorite candidate(s) as many times as you'd like.
Vote now: Who will be the best quarterback in California high school football in 2023?
How many great quarterbacks play their high school football in California? On Friday, we listed who we think are the top 50 QBs in the state, and there are still dozens of outstanding signal callers who'll go on to play in college that didn't make the cut. On our list, Carlsbad's Julian Sayin, a 5-star Alabama commit, narrowly edged out Mater Dei star and Stanford Pledge Elijah Brown for the top spot.
California's Top 20 running backs for the 2023 high school football season: On a countdown
Word around the NFL is that the running back position has lost its luster, its panache, its importance. Phooey. That couldn't be further from the truth at the high school ranks. Here are 50 of California's best and most explosive backs heading into the 2023 football season, which starts next week in five of the CIF's 10 sections. The remaining five sections begin on Aug. 25. Criteria for this list was based evenly on college recruitment and. high school production.
Meet SBLive's California All-State softball teams for 2023
Much like previous seasons, the 2023 high school softball season in California was unpredictable and high-powered. At least 15 teams from the Golden State were nationally ranked at some point during the season, and dozens more could compete any team in the country on any given day. Many current players throughout California are among the top-ranked players in the country, and hundreds will go on to play at the college level. That makes picking a California All-State team all the more challenging.
Caruthers 3-sport star Morgan Trigueiro is SBLive's Central Section Athlete of the Year
(Photos by Samuel Marshall Photo) Welcome to a continuing tradition at SBLive California – honoring the male and female athletes of the year in every CIF Section. Because the SBLive crew gets so immersed in specific sports seasons, it is nice to take a step back to pick a section honor on a broader scale. The criteria isn’t too expansive: The starting point is finding athletes who are all-league/all-state performers. Totality of career is also a factor as is winning.
SBLive's Sophomore All-American girls basketball teams: Breakout lifts Aaliyah Chavez to top of class
SBLive Sports published its overall 2022-23 All-American girls basketball teams in April. Now, it's time to break it out by returning classes. Last time - Class of 2024. Next up - Class of 2025. --- SBLIVE'S SOPHOMORE ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS FIRST TEAM F Dee Alexander, Purcell-Marian (OH) No. 4 prospect of 2025 by ESPN.com, Alexander lifted the Cavaliers to an OHSAA Division 2 state title, averaging 25.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
SBLive's California Softball Top 25: Saint Francis (Mountain View) returns to No. 1; Grand Terrace, Great Oak debut
At long last, it's championship week across all of California high school softball. While some of the CIF's sections have been in postseason mode for weeks and others are still yet to start, this week brings playoff ball no matter where in the state you live. Here are SBLive's California softball rankings for the week of May 15-21. The rankings are released every week throughout the season. MORE: LAST WEEK'S RANKINGS 1.
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