Centennial, Windward in key State Preview clash Saturday at Harbor College

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LAGUNA NIGUEL – After taking big hits Monday in Springfield during the Hoop Hall Classic, three of Southern California’s best boys’ hoops teams are back in action with key games this week.

The most notable spot to be during the week be Harbor College in San Pedro, where the Rolling Hills Prep State Preview/Presented by Scorebook Live will be held on Saturday.

Six teams in the updated SoCal Top 25 team rankings will participate, notably in the 8:30 finale when No. 3 Corona Centennial takes on No. 10 Windward in a clash that could have significant impact on the look of the eight-team CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff field.

Taft (No. 16), the highest-rated of the L.A. City programs, plays Peyton Watson-led Long Beach Poly at 12:30 p.m., with the host team (No. 22) meeting Loyola at 2 o’clock.

The 6-foot-7 Watson (pictured) is the most heavily recruited junior in Southern California.

Next up is No. 5 Harvard-Westlake (vs. Santa Monica) at 3:30 and No. 19 Westchester vs. Colony at 5.

Sierra Canyon, which remains in the top spot despite its loss to Pius VI of Virginia at the Hoop Hall, takes on Windward (at Cal State Northridge) Thursday night in a Gold Coast League game.

Rancho Christian is still No. 2 despite losses to Camden (NJ) and Washington DC DeMatha in Springfield and will play host to No. 20 Riverside Poly Saturday night in its Eagle Showcase.

Mater Dei, now at No. 9 after a Trinity League loss at No. 8 St. John Bosco on Friday night and a loss to Arlington (VA) O’Connell Monday morning in Springfield, has another key Trinity clash Wednesday night when it plays host to No. 7 JSerra.

 

Top 25 (records as of games of Jan. 20)

1. Sierra Canyon (SS D-1/18-3)
2. Rancho Christian (SS D-1/17-5)
3. Corona Centennial (SS D-1/18-2)
4. Etiwanda (SS D-1/19-2)
5. Harvard-Westlake (SS D-1/19-2)
6. Saint Anthony (SS D-1/22-1)
7. JSerra (SS D-1/18-3)
8. Saint John Bosco (SS D-1/17-5)
9. Mater Dei (SS D-1/16-5)
10. Windward (SS D-1/18-5)
11. Santa Clarita Christian (SS 2AA/16-5)
12. Heritage Christian (SS 2AA/19-3)
13. Ribet Academy (SS 2AA/15-1)
14. Saint Bernard (SS 2AA/16-6)
15. Damien (SS D-1/17-5)
16. Taft (L.A. City D-1/16-5)
17. Fairfax (L.A. City D-1/17-4)
18. Chaminade (SS 2AA/19-4)
19. Westchester (L.A. City D-1/12-6)
20. Riverside Poly (SS D-1/17-4)
21. Renaissance Academy (SS 4AA/16-7)
22. Rolling Hills Prep (SS 2AA/20-2)
23. Oak Park (SS 2AA/20-2)
24. Capistrano Valley (SS 2AA/20-1)
25. King/Drew (L.A. City D-1/17-4)