All teams located in cities in the Central Section are eligible.
These rankings were last updated on March 17, 2026. These will be updated every Monday morning the rest of the season.
1. St. Joseph (31-3) (8-0) | Previous Rank: 1
The Knights secured another Central Section title but fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a state championship.
St. Joseph lost to Harvard-Westlake in the SoCal regional semifinal.
2. San Joaquin Memorial (28-7) (8-0) | Previous Rank: 3
The Panthers got their ultimate get-back win against BCHS.
After dropping to them twice this year, including a section playoff game, SJM got the last word with the D2 state championship win. One of the best trilogies in recent memory.
3. Bakersfield Christian (24-12) (8-0) | Previous Rank: 3
The Eagles fell just one play short of being named state champions, but with plenty of returners back next year, expect the Central Section to feel BCHS’ wrath.
4. Buchanan (27-5) (9-1) | Previous Rank: 4
The Bears fell to Jesuit in the opening round of the Division I state playoffs.
The TRAC champions finished their season as one of the best teams in the Fresno/Clovis area.
5. Clovis North (20-13) (8-2) | Previous Rank: 5
The Broncos picked up a Division I state playoff win over Bishop O’Dowd.
They fought hard in the next round against Oakland but fell by a bucket in overtime.
6. Clovis High (25-10) (4-6) | Previous Rank: 6
The Cougars finished their section playoff run as Division II champions and made noise in the state bracket, upsetting Granada on the road.
They traveled to Oakland Tech in the next round and lost by just a bucket. Clovis High will be a fun team to watch next year.
7. Clovis West (20-13) (5-5) | Previous Rank: 7
The Golden Eagles had a two-week break between section and state play and didn’t let it go to waste. They picked up wins over Menlo-Atherton and University.
In the next round, they fell to San Joaquin Memorial, which went on to win the Division II title.
8. Tulare Union (31-5) (7-3) | Previous Rank: 9
After winning the program’s first section title, the Tribe wasn’t done.
They won three Division III SoCal regional games before falling in the semifinal round to San Juan Hills. A season to remember for Tulare Union.
9. Bakersfield (19-12) (6-2) | Previous Rank: 8
The Drillers fell in the semifinal round of section play in what felt like the true Division II championship, even if it came a round early.
Bakersfield once again proved it belongs among the section’s toughest outs.
10. Bullard (19-12) (6-2) | Previous Rank: 10
The Knights played one last game on the road against Sacramento in the Division I state tournament.
The Central Section will certainly miss senior Ja’Vance Coleman Jr.
11. Centennial (20-10) (7-1) | Previous Rank: 11
The state tournament didn’t go as planned, as the Golden Hawks fell to Roosevelt in the opening round.
On the bright side, core players like Ryan Shaw and Drake Jimenez will return next year.
12. Atascadero (21-11) (4-4) | Previous Ranking: 12
After falling to Clovis High at Selland Arena in the Division II championship, the Greyhounds picked up one more win before the end of their season, beating Warren (Downey) before falling in a close game to Colony in the next round.
13.Central Valley Christian (27-6) (8-0) | Previous Rank: 13
The Cavs put together one of the best seasons in the Central Valley, known for a relentless, no-quit, team-first style.
They fell short in the Division II section championship and lost in the opening round of the state tournament by one bucket to Moreno Valley. CVC will be ready to go again next season.
14. Justin Garza (21-9) (4-6) | Previous Rank: 14
The Guardians reached new heights this season, advancing to the semifinal round for the first time in program history.
Their run ended against Central Valley Christian, but the growth was undeniable. This postseason experience should serve the program well moving forward.
15. Clovis East (14-15) (4-6) | Previous Rank: 15
The Timberwolves saw their season conclude in the first round against Centennial. It was a rebuilding year, but Clovis East consistently competed and never backed down from a challenge.
The fight was there even when the results didn’t follow
16. McLane (23-10) (6-2) | Previous Rank: 20
The Highlanders put on a show this season, finishing as the Division IV Central Section champions in one of the best games of the weekend against Sanger West.
That title overshadows their first-round loss in the state tournament. An unforgettable year for McLane.
17. Sanger West (30-5) (7-1) | Previous Rank: 19
The Hornets finished as Division IV Central Section runners-up and added a state playoff win.
The North Yosemite League champions will be back next season with a vengeance.
18. Hoover (17-10) (6-2) | Previous Rank: 16
Hoover was eliminated by Atascadero in the Division II semifinals, bringing its season to a close.
The Patriots were one of the most athletic and entertaining teams in the section throughout the season.
19. Kingsburg (23-8) (6-2) | Previous Rank: 18
The Vikings knocked off a red-hot Fresno Christian team before pushing Tulare Union to the brink in the semifinals.
Kingsburg fell 54-50 but showed it could trade punches with anyone still standing.
20. Fresno Christian (27-2) (9-0) | Previous Rank: 17
The Eagles were dominant for much of the season but saw their section run end in the quarterfinals against Kingsburg.
Fresno Christian remained one of the section’s most consistent teams from start to finish.
21. South (22-8) (8-0) | Previous Rank: 21
The Spartans ran into a strong Justin Garza squad in the Division III quarterfinals and couldn’t advance.
Even so, South put together a solid postseason showing and remained competitive until the end of its run.
22. North (21-10) (6-2) | Previous Rank: 22
The Stars gave everything they had, highlighted by Ethan Saenz’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime against CVC in the quarterfinals.
North fell short in the extra period and won’t defend its Division III title this year, but the fight was unmistakable.
23. Coalinga (29-6) (10-0) | Previous Rank: 23
The Horned Toads gave it a go in the Division VI state tournament, reaching the SoCal final before falling to Sylmar.
Nonetheless, Coalinga will go down in history as this year’s Division V Central Section champions.
24. Santa Maria (26-6) (10-0) | Previous Rank: NR
The Saints dropped a hard-fought Division V championship game, but their playoff run deserves respect.
Santa Maria topped 100 points in its semifinal victory and made its presence felt.
25. Sanger (16-13) (4-4) | Previous Rank: 23
The Apaches advanced past Hanford in the opening round of the Division II playoffs to secure a state berth.
Their section run ended against top-seed Atascadero in the quarterfinals.