ALBANY - Salesian wing Alvin Loving IV goes through pregame introductions. Salesian and Ygnacio Valley played against one another in a high school boys basketball game at Albany High School in Albany, Calf. on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
For the first time this season, a team not named De La Salle sits atop our Bay Area News Group boys basketball rankings.
Salesian is the new No. 1 after the Pride went 3-1 in the Platinum Division at the Damien tournament last week, beating tournament host Damien in the third-place game on Saturday after losing in overtime to St. John Bosco in the semifinals the previous day.
De La Salle went 2-2 in the Platinum Division, falling to Damien in the second round before going 1-1 on the consolation side of the bracket.
San Ramon Valley won the Gold Division at Damien for the second consecutive year, a magical four-game run that moved the Wolves from 14th to sixth in the latest rankings.
They play host to No. 11 Berkeley on Thursday before moving on to East Bay Athletic League play next week.
Monte Vista (14-1) jumped two spots to No. 3.
Five EBAL and four West Catholic Athletic League teams are ranked in the Top 10.
On to the rankings …
Bay Area News Group Top 20
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
(Records through Saturday)
No. 1 SALESIAN (13-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Since last ranking: Beat Ygnacio Valley 65-45, Windward 70-66, Centennial-Corona 59-57, lost to St. John Bosco 68-66 (OT), beat Damien 62-59
Up next: Wednesday at Vallejo, 7 p.m.
No. 2 DE LA SALLE (12-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Since last ranking: Beat Fairfield 70-47, Campbell Hall 72-62, lost to Damien 51-42, Owyhee 71-61, beat American Fork 69-68
Up next: Wednesday vs. Granite Bay, 7 p.m.
No. 3 MONTE VISTA (14-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Since last ranking: Lost to St. Mary’s-Stockton 58-54, beat San Juan Hills 68-67, Scripps Ranch 77-72 (OT), La Jolla Country Day 51-48, Santa Fe Christian 67-65
Up next: Friday at James Logan, 7 p.m.
No. 4 GRANADA (12-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Since last ranking: Beat Skyline 73-32, Castlemont (forfeit), Armijo 71-33, Serra 75-69
Up next: Saturday vs. Sheldon-Sacramento at Capital Christian-Sacramento HS, 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (6-4)
Previous ranking: 3
Since last ranking: Beat Santa Margarita 43-38, Montgomery 64-61, lost to Carlsbad 71-67, St. Augustine 57-55
Up next: Thursday vs. Bellarmine, 7:30 p.m.
No. 6 SAN RAMON VALLEY (12-3)
Previous ranking: 14
Since last ranking: Beat Freedom 69-38, Rancho Cucamonga 54-52, Rancho Christian 70-60, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 67-62, Dixie 69-68
Up next: Thursday vs. Berkeley, 7 p.m.
No. 7 ST. IGNATIUS (9-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Since last ranking: Beat Archie Williams 82-56, Ygnacio Valley 75-53, Miramonte 72-52, University-San Francisco 79-68
Up next: Thursday at Archbishop Riordan, 7:30 p.m.
No. 8 SERRA (7-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Since last ranking: Beat Half Moon Bay 69-51, Jefferson 81-52, lost to Granada 75-69
Up next: Tuesday at Acalanes, 7 p.m.
No. 9 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (4-3)
Previous ranking: 7
Since last ranking: Did not play
Up next: Tuesday at St. Francis, 6:30 p.m.
No. 10 DUBLIN (12-3)
Previous ranking: 8
Since last ranking: Beat Kennedy-Fremont 92-53, Willow Glen 77-44, lost to Redondo Union 63-62, beat Lone Peak 68-65, Hillcrest 87-50, lost to Etiwanda 54-35
Up next: Wednesday at San Rafael, 7 p.m.
No. 11 BERKELEY (10-2)
Previous ranking: 11
Since last ranking: Beat Foothill 61-44, lost to Rancho Buena Vista 84-77, beat St. Francis 62-35, Douglas 80-46, North Kitsap 62-51
Up next: Wednesday vs. St. Joseph-Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
No. 12 MENLO-ATHERTON (11-0)
Previous ranking: 12
Since last ranking: Beat Menlo School 66-52, Analy 59-48, Fortuna 66-36, Valley Christian 61-58
Up next: Jan. 10 at Half Moon Bay, 6 p.m.
No. 13 CAMPOLINDO (11-3)
Previous ranking: 18
Since last ranking: Beat College Park 57-50, Downey 59-32, Clovis East 55-47, lost to Modesto Christian 56-47, beat Mountain House 59-51
Up next: Thursday at St. Mary’s-Stockton, 7:30 p.m.
No. 14 OAKLAND TECH (11-4)
Previous ranking: 9
Since last ranking: Beat Woodinville 70-64, lost to Bishop Montgomery 54-48, beat Otay Ranch 79-70, Bullard 69-58, lost to Pleasant Valley 49-47, Venture Academy 90-67, beat San Leandro 67-58, Downey 54-51
Up next: Thursday at College Park, 7 p.m.
No. 15 SACRED HEART PREP (7-4)
Previous ranking: 15
Since last ranking: Beat Ogden 73-52, Christian-El Cajon 66-22, lost to Whitney 58-48
Up next: Saturday at Justin-Siena, 2:30 p.m.
No. 16 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (9-4)
Previous ranking: 13
Since last ranking: Beat Fairfax 54-44, El Camino 65-45, lost to Crespi 60-53, Bellarmine 60-56
Up next: Wednesday vs. Heritage, 7:30 p.m.
No. 17 YGNACIO VALLEY (10-4)
Previous ranking: 16
Since last ranking: Beat Moreau Catholic 66-65, Berean Christian 75-29, lost to Salesian 65-45, beat Urban 65-61, lost to St. Ignatius 75-53, Montgomery 61-50, beat King 71-68
Up next: Friday vs. Dublin, 7 p.m.
No. 18 BISHOP O’DOWD (6-4)
Previous ranking: 17
Since last ranking: Beat Redondo Union 67-60, lost to Liberty Magnet 60-40, beat Mojave 80-70, Boulder Creek 61-53, lost to Carlsbad 86-75, beat Our Lady of Good Counsel 72-50, lost to Santa Margarita 75-39
Up next: Wednesday at Alameda, 7 p.m.
No. 19 BRANHAM (11-1)
Previous ranking: 19
Since last ranking: Beat Santa Clara 71-31
Up next: Wednesday at Evergreen Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 20 LIBERTY (9-2)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Since last ranking: Beat Milpitas 64-47, Villa Park 79-69, Bingham 63-62, Bishop Blanchet 70-54, lost to Dana Hills 71-69
Up next: Tuesday vs. Las Lomas, 7 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The rankings were compiled by BANG’s Darren Sabedra and Joseph Dycus.
Originally published at Darren Sabedra