California's Best: High School Basketball State Champions

who are the califirnia high school basketball state champions

California's high school basketball scene is an exciting and dynamic world, with numerous divisions and tournaments taking place throughout the year. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is a key organiser of high school basketball championships in the state, with divisions for both boys and girls. The 2024-25 season, which ended in March 2025, saw Eastvale Roosevelt claim its first CIF State Open Division crown, with a standout performance from Brayden Burries, who scored 44 points. The 2025 CIF State Basketball Championships also crowned 11 other teams as champions, including five first-time winners. With a vibrant history of high school basketball, California continues to foster young talent and create memorable moments on the court.

Characteristics Values
Date March 14, 2025
Division V Girls Rosamond (29-7) vs. Woodland Christian (30-6)
Division V Boys Diamond Ranch (23-14) vs. International School of San Francisco (24-12)
Division III Boys San Gabriel Academy (20-13) vs. The King’s Academy (27-4)
Division III Girls Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista (21-13) vs. Marin Catholic (25-11)
Division I Girls Sage Hill (23-11) vs. Carondelet (29-6)
Division I Boys Sierra Canyon (26-7) vs. Lincoln, Stockton (31-4)

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California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is the supreme governing body of high school basketball in California. The CIF features separate boys' and girls' teams, with strict rules prohibiting boys from playing on girls' teams and vice versa. During the 2016-17 season, the CIF boasted over 800,000 participants, with a nearly even split between boys and girls.

The state is divided into ten administrative sections, each with its own representative on the Federated Council, the CIF's governing body. The Northern Section is divided into three conferences, while the Southern Section is the largest in terms of both membership and geography, covering nearly one-third of the state's area and half of its population.

The CIF conducts championships for various sports, including basketball. The basketball championships are divided into several divisions, such as Division I, Division II, Division III, and so on. The playoffs culminate in the highly anticipated State Championship, with all 12 championship games televised live by Spectrum Networks.

The road to the State Championship is a thrilling journey. It begins with Round I, followed by Round II, and then the Regional Semifinals and Finals. The host sites for these rounds are carefully selected, and the games are scheduled for specific times, usually in the early evenings, to accommodate eager fans. The ticket prices are kept reasonably low, encouraging students, families, and community members to attend and support their favourite teams.

The CIF also has a strong online presence, with dedicated pages on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. This allows fans to follow their favourite teams, stay updated on scores and game schedules, and engage with other enthusiasts. The CIF website provides essential information, such as championship details, ticket pricing, and the playoff calendar, ensuring that fans and participants alike have a seamless experience.

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2025 CIF State Basketball Championships

The 2025 CIF State Basketball Championships, hosted by the California Interscholastic Federation, will take place over two days in March 2025. The games will be held at host sites, with all 12 championship games televised live by Spectrum Networks.

The first day of the tournament, Friday, March 14, will feature the following fixtures:

  • 10:00 a.m. Division V Girls – Rosamond (29-7) vs. Woodland Christian (30-6)
  • 12:00 p.m. Division V Boys – Diamond Ranch (23-14) vs. International School of San Francisco (24-12)
  • 2:00 p.m. Division III Boys – San Gabriel Academy (20-13) vs. The King’s Academy (27-4)
  • 4:00 p.m. Division III Girls – Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista (21-13) vs. Marin Catholic (25-11)
  • 6:00 p.m. Division I Girls – Sage Hill (23-11) vs. Carondelet (29-6)
  • 8:00 p.m. Division I Boys – Sierra Canyon (26-7) vs. Lincoln, Stockton (31-4)

The second day of the tournament, Saturday, March 15, will feature the remaining fixtures, with the times and opponents to be confirmed.

The tournament features a range of divisions, from Division I to Division VI, with both boys' and girls' teams competing. The Northern California NFHS Network will broadcast all games in Northern California.

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California high school boys basketball playoffs

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) organises the state's high school boys' basketball playoffs. The CIF covers multiple divisions, including Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV, Division V, NorCal Division VI, and Open Division.

The 2025 CIF State Basketball Championships took place in March, with all 12 championship games televised live by Spectrum Networks. The first round of the tournament was held on March 4 and 5, with the second round following on March 6. The regional semifinals took place on March 8, and the regional finals on March 11. The championship games were held on March 14 and 15.

The 2025 Open Division playoffs featured more than eight teams for the first time since 2018, with 'competitive equity' being used to determine the high school basketball players, a method that has been used for football for four seasons. Harvard-Westlake was the No. 1 seed in the 2025 Open Division playoffs.

The 2024 and 2023 CIF Northern Section Boys Basketball playoffs also took place, with D3, D4, D5, D6, and D7 NSCIF divisions.

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California high school girls basketball playoffs

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) covers the CA high school girls' basketball playoffs. The 2025 CIF State Basketball Championships took place in March, with all 12 Championship Games televised by Spectrum Networks. The games were also carried by the NFHS Network in Northern California.

The girls' basketball playoff brackets in California are divided into Divisions I-VII, with pool play and state seeding. The 2025 CIF State Basketball Championships included the following match-ups:

  • Division V Girls – Rosamond (29-7) vs. Woodland Christian (30-6)
  • Division III Girls – Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista (21-13) vs. Marin Catholic (25-11)
  • Division I Girls – Sage Hill (23-11) vs. Carondelet (29-6)

Ontario Christian won the girls' section title in 2025, with freshman Tati Griffin leading the top-ranked Knights to victory. The Knights beat No. 7 Sierra Canyon 62-52, while two-time defending state champion Mater Dei lost to Etiwanda.

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2024-25 CIF State Open Division crown

The 2024-25 high school basketball season in California culminated in the prestigious CIF State Open Division crown, with Eastvale Roosevelt claiming the title. Led by the stellar performance of Brayden Burries, who scored an impressive 44 points, Eastvale Roosevelt lifted their first-ever CIF State Open Division championship. The two-day event, which took place on March 14 and 15, 2025, saw intense competition and remarkable displays of athletic prowess.

The road to the CIF State Open Division crown was a long one, beginning in mid-November and concluding with the highly anticipated championship tournament. The tournament comprised 12 games in total, with 11 other teams joining Eastvale Roosevelt in celebrating their victories as CIF State champions. Among these 11 teams, five schools stood out as first-time champions, marking a historic achievement for their respective athletic programs.

The Division V Girls' championship kicked off the tournament on Friday, March 14, with Rosamond facing off against Woodland Christian. Woodland Christian emerged victorious with a final score of 29-7, securing their first CIF State championship. Diamond Ranch and the International School of San Francisco competed in the Division V Boys' category, with Diamond Ranch prevailing by a close score of 23-14.

The Division III competitions showcased the talents of both San Gabriel Academy and Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista. In the boys' division, San Gabriel Academy demonstrated their skills, defeating The King's Academy with a score of 20-13. Meanwhile, in the girls' division, Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista, edged out Marin Catholic in a tightly contested match, winning with a score of 21-13.

The Division I competitions concluded the tournament on Saturday, March 15, with Sage Hill and Carondelet competing in the girls' division. Carondelet clinched the championship with a thrilling score of 51-48, marking a memorable end to the high school basketball season. In the boys' division, Sierra Canyon and Lincoln, Stockton, faced off, with Sierra Canyon ultimately claiming the title with a significant margin of 26-7.

The 2024-25 CIF State Open Division crown and the accompanying championships represent the culmination of hard work, dedication, and talent across California's high school basketball landscape. These tournaments provide a platform for student-athletes to showcase their skills, build character, and create lasting memories.

Frequently asked questions

The CIF is the governing body for high school sports in California. They organize and oversee the state's high school basketball championships.

There are several divisions in California high school basketball, including Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV, Division V, and the Open Division.

The California high school basketball championship is typically held in March. The 2024-25 season, for example, ended on March 15, 2025.

The past champions of the California high school basketball championship vary by year and division. For the 2024-25 season, Eastvale Roosevelt won the CIF State Open Division crown. Other champions from that season include San Gabriel Academy, Woodside Priory, International, Whitney (girls), and Woodland Christian (girls).

You can find more information on official websites such as CIFState.org and MaxPreps.com, as well as sports news websites like SI.com and LATimes.com.

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