Saturday is championship day in SoCal prep hoops

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Open Division championships in the Southern, Los Angeles and San Diego sections will be contested for Saturday.

Along with getting three programs title hardware, those games will also help determine the seeding for the eight-team State Southern Regional Open Division playoffs that get underway on March 11.

The most attractive of those Saturday championship games will have the No.’s 1 (Mater Dei) and 2 (Bishop Montgomery) teams in the updated BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25 facing off in the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Here is the aforementioned Top 25:

1. Santa Ana Mater Dei/Southern Section Open (3) 31-1

Next up: Saturday, vs. No. 2 Bishop Montgomery, Honda Center, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The addition of 7-foot-2 Bol Bol was a key element in the Monarchs win over Chino Hills Friday night. But every bit as much so was the near-flawless play of junior point guard Spencer Freedman.

2. Torrance Bishop Montgomery/SS Open (4) 25-2

Next up: Saturday, vs. No. 1 Mater Dei, Honda Center, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The Knights’ performance against Sierra Canyon in the Galen Center was as impressive as any I’ve seen this season.

3. Chino Hills/SS Open (3) 29-2

Next up: March 11, State Southern Open regional, TBD

Frank Says: Even with as poorly as the Brothers Ball shot and with as well as Bol Bol and Spencer Freedman played for Mater Dei, the Huskies nearly still pulled it out in the Galen Center.

4. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon/SS Open (1) 27-2

Next up: March 11, State Southern Open regional, TBD

Frank Says: The Trailblazers will need to shore up their defense if they are to bounce back from the loss to Bishop Montgomery and win a state title.

5. Lake Balboa Birmingham/L.A. City Open (5) 26-3

Next up: Saturday, vs. No 13 Westchester, Cal State Dominguez Hills, 7:30 p.m.

Frank Says: The Patriots have appeared to be the best L.A. City team since the end of last season. They’ll get to demonstrate it definitively Saturday night.

6. La Verne Damien/SS Open (7) 27-4

Next up: Tuesday, at No. 14 Redondo, 7 p.m., SS Open consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The Spartans and Sea Hawks are playing for a better State Regional Southern Division I seed.

7. RSM Santa Margarita/SS Open (6) 21-8

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-I regional, TBD

Frank Says: The Eagles get nearly two weeks off before playing again after the loss at Redondo.

8. Eastvale Roosevelt/SS Open (9) 20-7

Next up: Tuesday, vs. No. 10 Centennial, 6:15 p.m., SS Open consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The Mustangs will try to make it 4 for 4 this season vs. Centennial

9. Fairfax/LAC Open (8) 25-4

Next up: Tuesday, vs. No. 19 Narbonne, 7 p.m., L.A. City Open consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The loss to Westchester Saturday was the Lions’ first against an L.A. City opponent this season.

10. Corona Centennial/SS Open (11) 24-8

Next up: Tuesday, at No. 8 Roosevelt, 6:15 p.m., SS Open consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The Huskies were as good as they’ve been all season last week in wins over Heritage Christian and Long Beach Poly.

11. San Diego St. Augustine/San Diego Open (12)

Next up: Tuesday, vs. No. 12 Foothills Christian, 7 p.m., SD Open semifinal

Frank Says: The Saints got great news Monday when Saturday’s second technical against junior standout Taeshon Cherry was rescinded by the SD Section, clearing him to play Tuesday night.

12. El Cajon Foothills Christian/SD Open (12)

Next up: Tuesday, at No. 11 St. Augustine, 7 p.m., SD Open semifinal

Frank Says: Jaylen Hands is capable of carrying this team to wins in its next two games and another SD Section Open title.

13. Westchester/LAC Open (15) 24-8

Next up: Saturday, vs. No. 5 Birmingham, 7:30 p.m., Cal State Dominguez Hills, L.A. City Open championship

Frank Says: It’s usually foolish to pick against Westchester and Coach Ed Azzam in the L.A. City playoffs.

14. Redondo Beach Redondo Union/SS Open (16) 25-5

Next up: Tuesday, vs. No. 6 Damien, 7 p.m., SS Open consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The Sea Hawks’ Consolation victory over No. 5 seed Santa Margarita was the biggest “seed upset” in the bracket.

15. Long Beach Poly/SS Open (10) 22-8

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-I regional, TBD

Frank Says: The Jackrabbits were bounced by Centennial after beating the Huskies in Week 2 of the season in Corona.

16. Torrey Pines/SD Open (18) 27-3

Next up: Tuesday, vs. Vista, 7 p.m., SD Open semifinal

Frank Says: The Falcons beat Vista in a December contest, 59-51

17. Oak Park/SS Open (17) 22-8

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-I regional, TBD

Frank Says: A win over Esperanza Tuesday means this team will be a top 8 seed in the Southern D-I regional

18. Woodland Hills Taft/LAC Open (UR)

Next up: Tuesday, vs. El Camino Real, 7:30, L.A. City consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The Toreadors turned in an impressive fourth quarter before losing to Birmingham for the fourth time this season Saturday night.

19. Harbor City Narbonne/LAC Open (19)

Next up: Tuesday, vs. No. 9 Fairfax, 7 p.m., L.A. City consolation semifinal

Frank Says: The Gauchos were upset in overtime last Tuesday night be Taft

20. SJC JSerra/SS Open (22) 18-11

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-I regional, TBD

Frank Says: A Tuesday win over Alemany and near-comeback win at Damien Friday night went a long way in justifying the Lions slot in the Open Division.

21. Mission Hills Alemany/SS Open (13) 24-5

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-II regional, TBD

Frank Says: Two losses in the Open Division put this club into the Division II portion of the State playoffs.

22. Northridge Heritage Christian/SS Open (21) 20-9

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-II regional, TBD
Frank Says: A home loss to Centennial gives this team more than two weeks to prep for the state playoffs.

23. Anaheim Esperanza/SS Open (20) 25-3

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-II regional, TBD

Frank Says: D-II foes are going to have quite the difficult time checking this Kezie Okpala-led squad.

24. Santa Monica Crossroads/SS Open (24) 18-10

Next up: March 8, State Southern D-I regional, TBD

Frank Says: With Ira Lee and Shareef O’Neal on the floor, the Roadrunners will be among the D-II favorites.

25. Vista/SD Open (ur) 26-3

Next up: Tuesday, at No. 16 Torrey Pines, 7 p.m., SD Open semifinal

Frank Says: Anthony Bolton should be San Diego Coach of the Year.

Next 10 (alpha): Colony 26-5; Etiwanda 21-12; La Canada 25-5; La Jolla Country Day 20-9; Los Alamitos 22-7; Maranatha 18-9; Rancho Verde 25-3; Pasadena 23-6; Santa Monica 22-8 and Villa Park 23-5.