LAGUNA NIGUEL – The teams making up the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoff field and the top two slots in the L.A. City Open Division bracket comprise the first 10 spots in the latest BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25 of the teams in Southern California.
Of course, that was the case last week, as well.
The Southern Section’s four Open playoff games this week are the most high-profile of the week’s opening playoff contests.
Outside of the games in that division – and, barring a stunner, inevitable Fairfax-Westchester showdown for the L.A. City title – the most compelling playoff games are likely to come from with the Southern Section’s Division 1.
The 28-team field (four squads, Canyon of Anaheim, No. 16 Long Beach Poly, No. 13 Harvard-Westlake and Redondo, have first-round byes Friday) is paced by defending champion and Onyeka Okongwu-led Chino Hills.
The No. 11 Huskies come into the playoffs with six wins in their past seven games, knocking off No. 8 Etiwanda and No. 12 Damien in Baseline League games in the process.
Onyeka can lead the Huskies to three Southern Section and three state championships during his stay at the school.
If the “seeds” hold up there could be Feb. 14 quarterfinal match-ups of Chino Hills-St. Anthony, Long Beach Poly-No. 20 Loyola, Harvard Westlake-No. 17 JSerra and Damien-No. 14 Santa Margarita.
Here’s the updated BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25:
(With CIF section and record, thru games of Feb. 2)
- Temecula Rancho Christian (SS/24-4)
Next: Friday, SS Open, vs. No. 6 Bishop Montgomery
- Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (Southern Section/24-3)
Next: Friday, SS Open, vs. No. 9 Mater Dei
- Corona Centennial (SS/25-3)
Next: Friday, SS Open, vs. No. 10 St. John Bosco
- Fairfax (LAC/24-1)
Next: Friday, L.A. City Open, vs. Harbor City Narbonne
- Westchester (Los Angeles City Section/21-3)
Next: Friday, L.A. City Open, vs. Woodland Hills El Camino Real
- Torrance Bishop Montgomery (SS/22-4)
Next: Friday, SS Open, at No. 1 Rancho Christian
- Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (SS/24-4)
Next: Friday, SS Open, vs. No. 8 Etiwanda
- Etiwanda (SS/24-3)
Next: Friday, SS Open, at No. 7 Rancho Verde
- Santa Ana Mater Dei (SS/26-3)
Next: Friday, SS Open, at No. 2 Sierra Canyon
- Bellflower St. John Bosco (SS/21-6)
Next: Friday, SS Open, at No. 3 Centennial
- Chino Hills (SS/16-9)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, vs. Muir
- La Verne Damien (SS/23-5)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, at Maranatha
- Studio City Harvard-Westlake (SS/19-7)
Next: Feb. 12, SS D-1, vs. Redondo Union
- RSM Santa Margarita (SS/18-10)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, at Edison
- Camarillo (SS/24-3)
Next: Feb. 12, SS D-2AA, vs. Bonita or Cathedral
- Long Beach Poly (SS/21-6)
Next: Feb. 12, SS D-1, vs. San Marcos or Windward
- SJC JSerra (SS/21-7)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, at Eastvale Roosevelt
- Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (SS/17-11)
Next: Friday, SS D-2AA, at Temecula Valley
- St. Augustine (San Diego Section/21-5)
Next: Tuesday, at San Patrick Henry
- Loyola (SS/20-5)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, vs. Serra
- Orange Lutheran (SS/20-8)
Next: Friday, SS D-2AA, at Inglewood
- Windward (SS/22-5)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, vs. San Marcos
- Riverside Notre Dame (SS/18-10)
Next: Friday, SS D-2AA, vs. Northwood
- Riverside Poly (SS/20-8)
Next: Friday, SS D-1, at Cajon
- Ontario Colony (SS/23-5)
Next: Feb. 12, SS D-2A, vs. Murrieta Mesa or Beaumont
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