Tuesday rematches-galore in Southern semifinals

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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – It will be “Rematch Tuesday Night” during semifinal action of the State Southern Regional boys basketball playoffs.

*In an Open Division semifinal, host Mater Dei (No. 2 in the updated BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25) takes on No. 8 St. Augustine for the third time – courtesy the Saints’ upset of Sierra Canyon Friday night in Chatsworth.

The Monarchs beat St. Augustine in the Dec. 3 championship game of the Mission Viejo Diablo Inferno Tournament and then knocked off the Saints again during the February Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei.

*In Division I action, No. 6 Damien plays host to No. 9 Centennial. The Spartans beat the visiting Huskies in the same gym on Feb. 17 (78-69), during a first-round SS Open Division game.

*In Division II, No. 23 Harvard-Westlake welcomes Pasadena (listed under “Next 10” in the Top 25).

The teams know a lot about each other – Harvard-Westlake beat the Bulldogs, 68-58, during the Southern Section 1A title game played at Azusa Pacific University.

*And, in the other Open semifinal (played at El Camino College in Torrance), there will be a “rematch, of sorts”, when top-ranked Bishop Montgomery plays host to No. 3 Chino Hills.

The Huskies beat Bishop Montgomery twice last season en route to a 35-0, state-championship season, the second time in the Southern Regional final in the Pyramid on the Long Beach State campus.

The five championship games are set for Saturday, with the Open and Division I games at Long Beach State and the other three on the campuses of the highest remaining seeds.

The updated BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25:

1. Torrance Bishop Montgomery/Southern Section Open (1) 28-2

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region Open semifinal, vs. No. 3 Chino Hills, at Torrance El Camino College, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The Knights have a chance to knock off the third team from the SS Open bracket that was seeded ahead of them.

2. Santa Ana Mater Dei/SS Open (2) 32-2

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region Open semifinal, vs. No. 8 San Diego St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: If the Monarchs can go 3-0 vs. the Saints on Tuesday night, they’ll get a SS Open rematch vs. Bishop Montgomery or Chino Hills Saturday night at Long Beach State.

3. Chino Hills/SS Open (3) 30-2

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region Open semifinal, vs. No. 1 Bishop Montgomery, El Camino College, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The Huskies will have to beat a bigger and deeper team Tuesday night than they faced Friday while out-racing Birmingham at Colony High.

4. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon/SS Open (4) 27-3

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: So much for those in the Southland who were all but conceding Southern Section, state and “national” championships to this oh-so-gifted team back in November.

5. Lake Balboa Birmingham/L.A. City Open (5) 27-4

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: A solid choice as a top five team in the state, regardless of what happens over the final two weeks.

6. La Verne Damien/SS Open (6) 31-4

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-I semifinal, vs. No. 9 Centennial

Frank Says: The Spartans need a second post-season win over the Huskies to earn a Saturday reservation for the Pyramid.

7. Eastvale Roosevelt/SS Open (8) 23-8

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-I semifinal, vs. No. 11 Taft, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The Mustangs and Toreadors didn’t get a chance to play in the Classic at Damien in December because they were in different divisions

8. San Diego St. Augustine/San Diego Open (9) 28-4

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region Open semifinal, at No. 2 Mater Dei, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: A Saints’ upset win Tuesday night would be, IMHO, even more significant that the one they pulled off Friday night.

9. Corona Centennial/SS Open (12) 26-9

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-I semifinal, at No. 6 Damien, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: Coach Josh Giles’ Huskies rallied to pull off home wins over Narbonne and Redondo last week.

10. RSM Santa Margarita/SS Open (7) 21-9

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: The Eagles suffered three crushing down-to-the-wire home defeats this season to No. 8 St. Augustine, No. 1 Bishop Montgomery and No. 16 Vista.

11. Woodland Hills Taft/L.A. City Open (18) 27-10

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-I semifinal, at No. 7 Roosevelt, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The Toreadors have quite the junior inside-outside combination via Antwan January and Kihei Clark.

12. San Diego Torrey Pines/San Diego Open (14) 28-5

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Another in a strong half a dozen or so teams from San Diego County this season.

13. Westchester/L.A. City Open (11) 24-10

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Another season of all-time great coach Ed Azzam getting the maximum out of his roster.

14. Fairfax/L.A. City Open (15) 26-6

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Barring injury or defection, this should be one of the five or so best teams in Southern California next season.

15. Long Beach Poly/SS Open (13) 22-9

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: The Jackrabbits lose a lot of size (6-9, 6-8 and 6-6) going into 2017-18.

16. Vista/San Diego Open (25) 28-6

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Anthony Bolton turned the best “first-year” job of any coach in Southern California.

17. Harbor City Narbonne/L.A. City Open (19) 25-9

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Coach Anthony Hilliard has the most underrated program in the L.A. City ranks.

18. Oak Park/SS Open (17) 23-9

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Expect even bigger things out of this program in 2017-18.

19. El Cajon Foothills Christian/SD Open (10)

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Team suffered first-round State upset (to Oak Park) after heart-wrenching loss in San Diego Open semifinal.

20. Redondo Beach Redondo Union/SS Open (16) 26-7

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: Considering personnel (players and Coach Reggie Morris Jr.) losses from last season, Coach Vic Martin and the Sea Hawks did a terrific job in a “transition” season.

21. Anaheim Esperanza/SS Open (23) 27-3

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-II semifinal, vs. No. 22 Crossroads, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: The Aztecs are Division II two wins away from a trip to Sacramento after losing both of their SS Open contests.

22. Santa Monica Crossroads/SS Open (24) 20-10

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-II semifinal, at No. 21 Esperanza, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: Ditto the comments about Esperanza.

23. Studio City Harvard-Westlake/SS Division 1A (“Next 10”)

Next up: Tuesday, Southern Region D-II semifinal, vs. Pasadena, 7 p.m.

Frank Says: Wins Tuesday and Saturday will give this program a second consecutive trip to Sacramento under Coach David Rebibo.

24. SJC JSerra/SS Open (20) 18-12

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: This program has quite the promising future under Coach Zach Brogdon.

25. Mission Hills Alemany/SS Open (21) 24-6

Next up: Season completed

Frank Says: The return of outstanding juniors D.J. McDonald and Fred Odhiambo will keep this program in the Open Division.

Next 10 (alpha listing): Colony 29-5; Etiwanda 21-12; Heritage Christian 20-10; La Canada 25-5; La Jolla Country Day 20-9; Los Alamitos 22-7; Maranatha 18-11; Rancho Verde 26-4; Pasadena 25-7 and Santa Monica 22-8.