With non-league play wrapping up, here are the VST’s L.A. City Section girls basketball rankings. This week’s edition features some of the usual LACS powerhouses in the top five followed by a handful of up-and-coming programs with a chance to break through to the Open Division.

1. Hamilton (11-1)
   
   The Lady Yankees are off to one of the better starts a City Section team has had in the past several years. Their only on-court loss came 68-52 against Westlake on Dec. 28, although technically they retroactively had to forfeit what would’ve been a season-opening win over Ventura. And their wins have come against the likes of Windward, Oak Park, Mira Costa, and most recently by 21 points against Westchester.
   
   
2. Birmingham (10-6)
   
   Without adding transfers, Birmingham is still a championship contender despite graduating a senior class that won the program’s first two Open Division titles. The Patriots have gone 5-6 in their last 11 games after starting 5-0, but that’s a result of a hard schedule. And last week’s 67-58 win over Chaminade was arguably their best yet, with other downed foes including Mira Costa, North (Torrance), Crescenta Valley, and Hart.
   
   
3. Westchester (11-4)
   
   It’s nearly an annual tradition for Westchester to graduate a tremendous senior class and remain in contention for an Open Division finals run. It seems to be the case again in 2024-25. Tuesday’s 69-48 loss to fellow City contender Hamilton is discouraging given Westchester’s championship aspirations, but it doesn’t diminish a strong non-league performance including lopsided wins over West (Torrance), Redondo Union, Washington Prep, and Hart. Westchester’s only other losses came narrowly against Mira Costa, Paramount, and Desert Hills (UT).
   
   
4. Palisades (6-6)
   
   Don’t let the record fool you – Palisades will be making its sixth Open Division appearance in a row with room to spare come playoff time. The Dolphins are one of a few familiar faces among the City’s top teams who frequently enter league play with an uninspiring record but are seasoned from a tough schedule. They blew out South Pasadena and edged out Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) early on, and rolled past Oaks Christian, Chatsworth, and University in their last three outings.
   
   
5. King/Drew (4-8)
   
   Like Palisades, King/Drew routinely plays a handful of Southern Section heavyweights to prepare for a tough league race and Open Division playoff bracket. Time will tell if it can repeat last year’s breakthrough success, which included making the Open Division semifinals and sweeping the Coliseum League. The season prior to that, King/Drew made the Open Division semis and shared a league title with Crenshaw despite starting 4-9 with a similar schedule. The Golden Eagles’ last game was a 10-point win over Los Altos.
   
   
6. Washington Prep (9-2)
   
   The senior-heavy Generals knocked on the door of the LACS’ top tier on a handful of occasions last season, and they look like an Open Division team in 2024-25. Two of their last three games were double-digit wins over Eagle Rock and Arleta. And their only losses were against Westchester and El Cajon Christian. Can they knock off incumbent giants King/Drew and Crenshaw?
   
   
7. Garfield (9-4)
   
   Garfield quietly had a monster year in 2023-24, sweeping the Eastern League and nearly knocking off Division 1 champion Sun Valley Poly in the semifinals en-route to a 23-6 finish. And it appears to be moving up the LACS food chain further in 2024-25. Other than a loss to Paramount, Garfield’s only losses came against tremendous out-of-state competition way out in Orlando, Florida, at KSA’s 2024 Basketball Holiday Tournament. The Bulldogs recovered to win by 12 against UMS-Wright Prep (AL) before leaving, and then edged out La Serna 46-41 to open the new calendar year. Their most impressive wins were 74-46 over Verdugo Hills in November and 52-44 over Culver City in mid-December.
   
   
8. Legacy (10-2)
   
   The Tigers are looking to make the most of the last year with a tremendous senior class, and they’re off to a great start. They have the City’s best record against in-section opponents at 10-0, including nine double-digit victories, with their only losses coming against Palos Verdes and Leuzinger. Legacy is already 3-0 in Eastern League play, and Saturday’s 20-point non-league win over Crenshaw might’ve been the team’s best yet.
   
   
9. Granada Hills Charter (9-8)
   
   After graduating nearly its entire core, the reigning CIF Division III Southern Region champion was at risk of temporarily falling way off the map. Instead, the Highlanders enter West Valley League play above .500 while hanging tough with some staunch Southern Section foes in respectable losses. Defense has been their calling card, allowing just 45.1 points per game.
   
   
10. Verdugo Hills (10-4)
    
    Verdugo Hills has had some serious squads over the years, and this may prove to be the highest-ranked one of the bunch. Like some of the program’s top teams from recent years past, this year’s iteration has a penchant for playing in a lot of close games – and winning them. Verdugo Hills has played in seven single-digit games this season and six two-possession games, and it didn’t lose a single one in regulation. The only loss of the bunch came to Pasadena in overtime, and the rest were narrow wins, including Chatsworth (twice), Santa Paula, Cleveland, and most recently Trinity Classical Academy. So, the Dons should be ready for yet another grueling East Valley League gauntlet and (projected) Division 1 playoff run. Their other losses were to Valencia, Garfield, and Village Christian.
    

Also in consideration:

Kennedy, Eagle Rock, Arleta, Chavez, Sherman Oaks CES, El Camino Real, San Fernando, Wilson, Northridge Academy, Crenshaw, Franklin, University Prep Value, Harbor Teacher