It’s 1-and-done in HS hoops, even for 31-0 Chino Hills

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA – OK, we’re now at the “single-elimination” point of the prep basketball season in California.

There are no longer the safety nets of the regular season or in sectional play in the Open (when a loss dropped a team into the “consolation bracket”) or the other divisions (a spot in the semifinals or at least the final likely still mean a spot in the state regional play).

It is now “one-and-done”, baby.

And that includes 31-0 and top-ranked (nationally as well as in California) Chino Hills, where a loss anytime in its final four potential games (if there is a trip to the March 26 Open state title game in Sacramento) would do a lot to render an already stunning season as a “disappointment”.

As we all now know, “haters are going to hate”, even for a club that has mowed down a whole lot of exceptional opponents this season.

Regional action begins both in Southern and Northern California Wednesday night (Divisions 1-5; second-round at highest seeds is Saturday) and Friday night (Open Division).

Semifinal action is March 15 with finals four days later.

All games will tip off at 7 p.m. unless noted.

My choices for Top 5 opening-round viewing options:

1. Foothills Christian at Mater Dei (Open/Friday): The highest ranked teams in the BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25 (No.’s 4 and 5) that are pitted in the first round. A rematch of the Feb. 6 Nike Extravaganza game played in the same building and won by host Monarchs, 61-53, in their most impressive effort of the season. It’s also J. Leaf vs. Michael Cage Jr. (future Pac 12 players at UCLA and Oregon, respectively), Part II.
2. Immanuel at Chino Hills (Open/Friday): An upset by Lemoore would rank as one of high school sports’ all-time stunners but it’s still always entertaining as heck to watch Lonzo Ball and the rest of Huskies in action. But you’re not going to get into the Chino Hills gym for this one unless you’re getting a ticket through Lemoore’s allotment or you have some serious connections at Chino Hills.
3. Cathedral Catholic at Sierra Canyon (Open/Friday): The Dons are going to have quite the difficult time getting out of Chatsworth with an upset win. But a matchup of two terrific junior post players, Brandon McCoy (CC) and Cody Riley (SC) should be compelling viewing.
4. Birmingham at Damien (D-I/Wednesday): An L.A. City vs. Southern Section affair, with Birmingham led by a couple of very good juniors (Devonaire Doutrive and Deschon Winston) against the Spartans and one of the very best scorers anywhere on the high school scene in Colorado-bound guard Bryce Peters.
5. Santa Monica at Washington (D-I/Wednesday): Curious bit of seeding here with the 29-2/Southern Section Division I-A-winning Vikings drawing a No. 13 to L.A. Washington’s 19-11 Generals with a three-game losing streak. A Beverly Hills tourney win over SS Open squad Orange Lutheran no doubt juiced Washington’s seed while The Vikings’ overall schedule was well short of imposing. There will be a nice backcourt matchup in this one via Santa Monica’s USC-bound Jonah Mathews and Matthew Mondesir.

 

BurlisonOnBasketball Southern California Top 25

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

(Record/last week’s rating)

1. Chino Hills (31-0/#1)

FB Says: Which is more impressive, the 17 games of at least 100 points or the 104.8 ppg vs. four Southern Section Open foes? Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, vs. Reedley Lemoore.

2. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (26-4/#2)

FB Says: Twenty turnovers were critical vs. Chino Hills but no more so than was allowing 23 offensive rebounds. Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, vs. No. 13 Cathedral Catholic.

3. Torrance Bishop Montgomery (26-2/#3)

FB Says: The Knights will have had 14 days since SS loss to Sierra Canyon to prepare for regional opener. Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, vs. No. 9 L.A. Westchester.

4. Santa Ana Mater Dei (27-4/#4)

FB Says: Like Bishop Montgomery, the Monarchs have had two weeks to prep for their post-Chino Hills loss contest. Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, vs. No. 5 Foothills Christian.

5. El Cajon Foothills Christian (24-4/#5)

FB Says: T.J. Leaf and his buddies rolled through the San Diego Section. The comp gets a whole lot tougher now, beginning Friday night in Santa Ana. Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, at No. 4 Mater Dei.

6. Encino Crespi (28-4/#12)

FB Says: Two stunning jump-shooting efforts (a combined 27 3s) vs. Centennial and Redondo last week earned Russell White’s crew the No. 1 D-I seed. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. L.A. Dorsey.

7. Redondo Beach Redondo Union (24-6/#6)

FB Says: The Sea Hawks got their No. 2 seed based upon body of work that included five wins vs. SS Open squads and a down-to-the-wire loss to Sierra Canyon. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. Fresno Clovis West.

8. Santa Monica (29-2/#7)

FB Says: As has been the case all season, USC-bound guard Jonah Mathews came through in prime fashion in the SS 1-A title game Saturday in Anaheim. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-II Regional, at L.A. Washington.

9. Westchester (27-5/#9)

FB Says: Coach Ed Azzam’s program cranked out another L.A. City title Saturday night. But the competition will be a whole lot tougher on Friday night. Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, at No. 3 Bishop Montgomery.

10. Corona Centennial (23-8/#8)

FB Says: The Huskies’ post combination of Ike Anigbogu and Jalen Hill will be tested by sophomore Taeshon Cherry Wednesday night. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-II Regional, vs. San Diego St. Augustine.

11. Chino Hills Ayala (29-3/#10)

FB Says: The Bulldogs continued to look like a team that should have been in the SS Open division during their 2AA title win over Edison Saturday night. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-III Regional, vs. Bakersfield West.

12. La Verne Damien (25-5/#11)

FB Says: Bryce Peters & Co. had 12 days following their SS Open consolation loss to Alemany to prepare for their next game. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. Lake Balboa Birmingham.

13. San Diego Cathedral Catholic (20-6/#13)

FB Says: This team joined the ranks of San Diego clubs that have been beat down by Foothills Christian over the past few years. Friday schedule: Southern Open Regional, at No. 2 Sierra Canyon.

14. Harbor City Narbonne (23-7/#14)

FB Says: The Central Section’s inclusion of Lemoore into the State Open bracket dropped the Gauchos into the D-I field with a No. 3 seed. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. Compton.

15. Fairfax (29-4/#15)

FB Says: At least one more test on tap for the Lions’ young guards. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. No. 18 Roosevelt.

16. Mission Hills Alemany (23-8/#17)

FB Says: Central had a December win over a SS Open club (Los Alamitos). Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. Fresno Central (7:30 p.m.)

17. Oak Park (26-6/#18)

FB Says: It was a bit perplexing that this squad, so impressive Saturday evening vs. Bonita in the Honda Center, only got a No. 5 seed in the regional. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-III Regional, vs. Fresno San Joaquin Memorial.

18. Eastvale Roosevelt (21-8/#19)

FB Says: Juniors Matt Mitchell and Jemarl Baker will prove tough matchups for L.A. City power Fairfax. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, at No. 15 Fairfax.

19. Inglewood (21-8/#20)

FB Says: Torrey Pines pulled off a D-I stunner at Long Beach Poly a year ago. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-I Regional, vs. San Diego Torrey Pines.

20. Los Alamitos (23-6/#21)

FB Says: The Griffins will find the on-court sledding a bit less challenging at home Wednesday than they did in the SS Open competition. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-II Regional, vs. Poway.

21. Orange Lutheran (21-8/#22)

FB Says: The Lancers beat Army-Navy in a tight game (67-61) at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Jan. 30. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-II Regional, vs. Carlsbad Army-Navy.

22. Riverside JW North (27-4/#25)

FB Says: The Huskies knocked off No. 1 seed Long Beach Poly in the tightest of the SS final games Saturday in Anaheim. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-II Regional, vs. Bakersfield Ridgeview.

23. Long Beach Poly (20-10/#24)

FB Says: The Jackrabbits’ loss to JW North put them on the road to Fresno Wednesday. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-II Regional, at Lemoore.

24. Diamond Ranch (24-8/#unranked)

FB Says: Seven-footer Roman Silva, with 22 points and 12 rebounds Friday night in a title win over Chaminade, showed succinctly why he is one of the best unsigned 2016 prospects in the West. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-IV Regional, vs. Kern Valley.

25. Santa Barbara (30-2/#unranked)

FB Says: That was an impressive win Saturday in the Honda Center over easily the toughest opponent the Dons had faced this season. Wednesday schedule: Southern D-III Regional, vs. Selma.

Tapping at the cusp of the Top 25 (alphabetical): Lake Balboa Birmingham 21-9; Calabasas 24-7; Compton 21-10; La Canada 27-3 (season over); Lynwood 23-6; Moreno Valley Rancho Verde 28-3 (season over); Santa Margarita 17-11; Woodland Hills Taft 26-7; San Diego Torrey Pines 25-5 and Temecula Valley 28-5.