Updated Top 25 plus more SoCal playoff insight

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Several squads that were given strong consideration for inclusion into the Open field received spiffy seedings when the CIF Southern Section office unveiled its other divisional brackets Sunday afternoon at its Los Alamitos office.

Long Beach Poly (1AA), Santa Monica (1A), Chino Hills Ayala (2AA), Santa Barbara (2A) and La Canada (4AA) were the top seeds in their respective divisions for first-round playoff action that will begin on Wednesday.

The 16-team Open Division bracket, selected on Friday morning and revealed on Saturday morning, will feature eight games set to tip off at 7 o’clock Friday night.

Other candidates for the Open field that landed in other divisions on Saturday were JW North, Rancho Verde and Etiwanda (No.’s 2, 4 and 5 in the 1AA); Lynwood (No. 2 in 2A); and Diamond Ranch (No. 2 in the 3A).

I will go into more depth within the Southern Section and L.A. City Section open divisions later this week.

Thoughts on some of the other Southern Section divisions (this games tip on Wednesday at 7 p.m.):

*1AA: It didn’t draw a Top Four seed, but look for Etiwanda to make a big splash here after spending the past two seasons in the Open Division.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me much at all if the winner of a potential semifinal game between the Eagles and a long-time playoff foe, Long Beach Poly, ends up as the division champion on March 5 in the Honda Center.

*1A: Santa Monica was clearly the No. 1 seed here once it was left out of the Open Division.

But the Vikings will face multiple potential pitfalls on the road to Anaheim, most notably in a possible quarterfinal with underrated Highland and in a potential semifinal with Peninsula, which finished third in the Bay League by has wins over Open entrants Crespi and Inglewood.

*2AA: Nothing about the playoffs would surprise me more – well, other than, perhaps, Chino Hills losing before the Open semifinals – than seeing top seed No. 1 Ayala not winning this crown.

This team belonged in the Open Division and will probably get to face some of the teams that did when four of those 16 teams are put into the State Southern Regional Division II pool with Ayala on March 6.

*2A: Santa Barbara (26-1) was the clear No. 1 in this division.

IMHO, the return to health of Vittorio Reynoso-Avila makes La Mirada the team to beat here.

The Matadores were beaten in the 2A semifinals (by Compton) a year ago before bouncing back to win the regional and state crowns. They could get their first Section title on March 5 and be on the road to another state championship.

No. 2 seed Lynwood could very well be in the Open field a year from now.

*3AA: No.’s 1 and 2 seeds Oak Park and Calabasas met on Dec. 10 at Sierra Canyon, with Oak Park prevailing, 54-48.

The teams that could prove the toughest obstacles to a March 5 rematch in Anaheim are Esperanza (in a semifinal with Oak Park) and Bonita (in a semifinal with Calabasas).

*3A: No. 1 Rancho Mirage is unbeaten but didn’t face any “Open Division-caliber competition”, for example, in 26 games.

No. 2 Diamond Ranch has eight losses but also plenty of size and shooters as well as a nine-point win over Open team Compton on its resume.

*4AA: Barring any sort of hoops – or otherwise – cataclysm, I’d suggest we’ll be looking at No.’s 1 La Canada and 2 Harvard-Westlake in the championship round.

*4A: No. 1 Viewpoint could prove me wrong but I’d suggest No. 2 Maranatha, led by Stanford-bound Trevor Stanback, is in line to win its second consecutive Section championship.

*5AA: I’m going with the No. 2 seed here (Saddleback Valley Christian), too, over No. 1 Santa Maria St. Joseph.

*5A: St. Bernard’s 11-10 record is vastly deceiving since it played with the likes of Open teams Bishop Montgomery and Cantwell-Sacred Heart (which it beat – twice) in the Del Rey League.

But No. 2 Rancho Christian and No. 3 Capistrano Valley Christian are quite talented, too.

*6: Ladies and gentlemen boys and girls, I’m going with No. 1 Renaissance Academy and don’t have time, inclination or – to be quite honest – insight to debate with anyone who suggest otherwise.

BurlisonOnBasketball Southern California Top 25

(From the CIF Southern, L.A. City and San Diego section)

(Record/last week’s rating)

1. Chino Hills (27-0/#1)

FB Says: The return of 6-7 sophomore Andre Ball (out since Dec. 26 with knee injury) goes a ways in dealing with perceived “depth issue”. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 24 Santa Margarita (Friday).

2. Torrance Bishop Montgomery (24-1/#2)

FB Says: The “very early” 2017 favorite aiming for repeat of 2015 Southern Section Open championship. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 22 Orange Lutheran (Friday).

3. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (23-3/#3)

FB Says: From some perspectives, the possible injection of 6-10 sophomore Marvin Bagley III (via possible court-mandated Temporary Restraining Order of his eligibility denial by California) into the mix would make this team Chino Hills’ biggest obstacle. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 14 Los Alamitos (Friday)

4. Santa Ana Mater Dei (25-3/#4)

FB Says: The Monarchs closed the regular-season portion of their schedule in fine fashion with wins over the No.’s 5-, 22- and 24-teams in these ratings, plus Arizona’s best team, over final two weeks. Playoff opener: SS Open vs. Rosemead Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Friday)

5. El Cajon Foothills Christian (19-4/#5)

FB Says: It would be a significant upset if T.J. Leaf and his buddies aren’t back at the likes of Chino Hills and/or Mater Dei in the State Southern Open Regionals next month. Regular-season finales: at La Jolla Bishop’s (Wednesday); at Carlsbad Army-Navy (Friday).

6. Redondo Beach Redondo Union (21-4/#6)

FB Says: Coach Reggie Morris Jr.’s Sea Hawks are 12-1 in the 2016 portion of their 2015-16 schedule. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 17 Roosevelt (Friday).

7. La Verne Damien (24-3/#7)

FB Says: Cool note – the Spartans were 23-3 a year going into the Open playoffs and ultimately won a state title on the Division III level. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 12 Crespi (Friday).

8. Santa Monica (24-2/#8)

FB Says: Less-than-overwhelming strength of schedule, plus foot injury to junior center Daniel Schreier, reasons why Vikings not in Open field despite lofty record and ranking. Playoff opener: SS 1A, vs. Long Beach Cabrillo (Wednesday).

9. Corona Centennial (21-6/#10)

FB Says: It will be a “Compton Magic Reunion”, of sorts, vs. the Tarbabes. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 25 Compton (Friday).

10. Fairfax (26-3/#14)

FB Says: Freshmen Robert McRae and Ethan Anderson have been sensational of late for Coach Harvey Kitani. Playoff opener: L.A. City Open, vs. L.A. Washington Prep (Saturday).

11. Westchester (24-5/#11)

FB Says: An odd split with rival as Comets won at Fairfax and the Lions at Westchester. Don’t bank again a third meeting in L.A. City finale March 5. Playoff opener: L.A. City Open, vs. Woodland Hills El Camino Real (Friday).

12. Encino Crespi (24-3/#9)

FB Says: With the exception of Lonzo Ball at Chino Hills, there may not be a player in Southern California who does more for his team than does De’Anthony Melton for Coach Russell White’s squad. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 7 Damien (Friday)

13. Chino Hills Ayala (24-3/#12)

FB Says: Decision of the other Open Committee members not to include Ayala on their ballots Friday means this team may be the bigger “favorite” in any SS division now. Playoff opener: SS 2AA, vs. Redlands (Wednesday).

14. Los Alamitos (23-4/#15)

FB Says: Cool Note, Part II – the Griffins are the first Orange County public school program to play in the Open Division. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Friday).

15. San Diego Cathedral Catholic (17-5/#13)

FB Says: Two wins over St. Augustine should keep team on opposite bracket of Foothills Christian when SD Playoffs begin next week. Regular-season finale: vs. San Diego Lincoln (Friday).

16. Harbor City Narbonne (21-6/#16)

FB Says: The Gauchos may be seeded No. 2 but are still probably “long-shots, at best” from many points of view. Playoff opener: L.A. City Open, vs. Lake Balboa Birmingham (Saturday).

17. Eastvale Roosevelt (21-6/#17)

FB Says: This isn’t going to be the last time this program will be in the Open Division under Coach Steve Singleton. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 6 Redondo Union (Friday).

18. Inglewood (20-6/#19)

FB Says: The dribble sprints of Inglewood PG Terrell Gomez and Alemany counterpart Shacquile Dawkins should be time by Accutron Friday night. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 21 Alemany (Friday).

19. San Diego St. Augustine (19-5/#20)

FB Says: Will represent San Diego in either the State Southern Open or Division I bracket. Regular-season finales: vs. La Jolla (Tuesday); vs. Mission Bay (Friday).

20. Woodland Hills Taft (25-5/#21)

FB Says: So far the return of Coach Derrick Taylor has been nothing short of a smashing success. Playoff opener: L.A. City Open, at L.A. Dorsey (Saturday).

21. Mission Hills Alemany (21-6/#22)

FB Says: Standout Alemany junior Earnie Sears Jr. will be facing the alma mater of his dad (who played at Cal) and uncle (Bobby Sears/Long Beach State) Friday night. Playoff opener: SS Open, vs. No. 18 Inglewood (Friday).

22. Orange Lutheran (21-6/#18)

FB Says: Considering what the program lost thru graduation and then the Nike Extravaganza injury to KaVaughn Scott, that the Lancers went 8-2 in the Trinity League is remarkable. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 2 Bishop Montgomery (Friday).

23. La Canada (24-3/#24)

FB Says: This may be the best team in Southern California that a lot of people haven’t taken the time to watch. Playoff opener: SS 4AA, vs. Northview (Wednesday).

24. Santa Margarita (17-9/#23)

FB Says: The Eagles were oh-so-close to knocking off oh-so-many quality opponents this season – four of them in the Open bracket. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 1 Chino Hills (Friday).

25. Compton (20-8/UR)

FB Says: Senior post Raysean Scott was a monster at both ends of the floor in the key Moore League win vs. LB Poly last week. Playoff opener: SS Open, at No. 9 Corona Centennial (Friday).

Tapping at the cusp of the Top 25: (alphabetical) Lake Balboa Birmingham 19-7; Calabasas 21-6; L.A. Dorsey 23-6; Lynwood 19-5; Riverside JW North 22-4; Oak Park 21-6; Long Beach Poly 17-9; Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 25-2; Santa Barbara 26-1 and L.A. Washington Prep 19-9.