LAGUNA NIGUEL – Friday’s opening of the 2019 CIF Southern Section Open Division boys’ basketball playoffs will mirror the conclusion of the 2018 SS Open playoffs – with Mater Dei taking on Sierra Canyon.
No. 2 seed Sierra Canyon will play host to No. 7 Mater Dei Friday at a site to be determined (possibly Simi Valley High).
Top seed (based upon its win against Sierra Canyon Saturday night at Pasadena City College) Rancho Christian will open against No. 8 Bishop Montgomery – a program that won two of the first five Open championships – at a site to be determined in the Temecula.
For the first time, the competition will take place in a “pool-play setting”, with each team guaranteed three games within its pool.
Filling out the rest of the field is Corona Centennial (seeded No. 3), Rancho Verde (4), Etiwanda (5) and St. John Bosco (6).
The Brandon Baker-coached Rancho Verde program is making its first Open Division playoff appearance. The Mustangs have the longest winning streak (15) of the eight teams with only losses to fellow Open entrants Etiwanda and Etiwanda, as well as top L.A. City Open seed Fairfax and Onyeka Okongwu-led Chino Hills.
Mater Dei which shared the Trinity League title with St. John Bosco but got the 7 seed to the Braves’ 6 because SJB beat the Monarchs in their only league meeting.
Gary McKnight’s team will be traveling to face a team that looks a whole lot like the one it beat (55-53) in last season’s March 3 Open championship game at Long Beach State.
The Trailblazers return four starters from that team in seniors Cassius Stanley (PICTURED), K.J. Martin and Scotty Pippen Jr. and junior Terren Frank.
The Monarchs return a starter in sophomore center Wilhelm Breidenbach, as well sophomore Devin Askew and junior Aidan Prukop (heavily used reserves last season).
Rancho Christian is led by brothers Isaiah and Evan Mobley. But Coach Ray Barefield’s team got strong efforts from Dominick Harris and Luke Turner (a combined 38 points) in the Saturday night win against Sierra Canyon.
Centennial, led by juniors Jaylen Clark, D.J. Davis and Paris Dawson, lost only road games to Rancho Christian and Sierra Canyon, and another game with Rancho Christian in the Classic at Damien Platinum final. It has wins against Etiwanda, Rancho Verde and Fairfax.
Bishop Montgomery has four seniors (guards Gianni Hunt and Josh Vazquez, and forwards Will Crawford and Nick Schrader) who were key elements for the team that lost narrow decisions to Sierra Canyon in both the Southern Section and State Regional Open playoffs last season.
St. John Bosco is making a second consecutive Open appearance despite losing senior post Jonathan Salazar to a knee injury in mid-December.
The schedule
Friday
Pool A:
No. 8 Bishop Montomery (22-4) vs. No. 1 Rancho Christian (24-4), site to be determined
No. 5 Etiwanda (24-3) at No. 4 Rancho Verde (24-4)
Pool B:
No. 7 Mater Dei (26-3) vs. No. 2 Sierra Canyon (24-3), site to be determined
No. 6 St. John Bosco (21-6) at No. 3 Corona Centennial (26-3)
February 12
Pool A:
No. 5 Etiwanda vs. No 1 Rancho Christian, site to be determined
No. 8 Bishop Montgomery at No. 4 Rancho Verde
Pool B:
No. 6 St. John Bosco at No. 2 Sierra Canyon site to be determined
No. 7 Mater Dei at No. 3 Corona Centennial
Feb. 15
Pool A;
No. 4 Rancho Verde vs. No. 1 Rancho Christian, site to be determined
No. 8 Bishop Montgomery at No. 5 Etiwanda
Pool B:
No. 3 Centennial vs. No. 2 Sierra Canyon, site to be determined
No. 7 Mater Dei vs. No. 6 St. John Bosco, site to be determined
Feb. 23
Pool A winner vs. Pool B winner at Cal Baptist at Riverside
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