Seven CIF SS Open squads take aim at Sierra Canyon

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LAGUNA NIGUEL – The Harvard-Westlake and St. Anthony programs will make their first appearances in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys’ basketball playoffs, brackets for which were unveiled from the Southern Section Administration office in Los Alamitos early Sunday.

In no great surprise, defending champion Sierra Canyon was the top seed in the eight-team field, followed by Corona Centennial, Rancho Christian and Etiwanda.

The last of the selections was locked in Saturday night, when Ribet Academy was knocked off by Rancho Christian at Cerritos College and cleared the way for the St. John Bosco Braves to make their third consecutive Open appearance.

The Open Division (in its seventh year) is conducted with pool play and the Braves – as the No. 8 seed – will travel Friday night to take on Sierra Canyon.

Coach Andre Chevalier’s Trailblazers are 24-4, with a loss to Rancho Christian in the Dec. 30 title game of the Classic at Damien’s Platinum Division that was avenged on Jan. 11 at Pasadena City College.

They’re led by a couple of McDonald’s All-Americans in Ziaire Williams (pictured) and B.J. Boston.

In the other game in that pool Friday night, Etiwanda plays host to No. 5 St. Anthony.

The Saints picked up their first Open slot via a 26-2 record that included victories against Harvard-Westlake and St. John Bosco, as well as a 5-for-5 efforts against Del Rey League foes St. Bernard (No. 12 in the updated BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25) and Bishop Montgomery (No. 25). One of the wins against the Knights came in the championship game of the Trevor Ariza Tournament at Westchester in December.

Etiwanda, also 26-2, has won 15 in a row since its Dec. 28 Classic at Damien Platinum semifinal loss to Sierra Canyon.

The surprise team in all of California boys hoops this season – 26-2 Centennial – draws a pool opener at home against No. 7 Mater Dei Friday night.

It will be a rematch of a Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division semifinal in Las Vegas on Dec. 20, won by Coach Josh Giles’ Huskies, 63-53.

Centennial also collected high-profile victories over the two best teams in Nevada (Bishop Gorman and Coronado – the latter, twice); Rancho Christian; No. 9 Windward and No. 22 JSerra.

Harvard-Westlake earned its Open No. 6 slot – narrowly over Mater Dei – largely because of its wins at Centennial and against No. 10 Santa Clarita Christian, as well as a pair of Mission League victories against No. 15 Chaminade.

Open pool play continues on Feb. 18 and 21, with the championship game set for Long Beach State on Feb. 28.

All other Southern Section championship games will be played on Feb. 29.

Windward (No. 9 in the BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25) rose to the top seed in Division I with eight D-1 teams making up the Open Eight.

Coach Colin Pfaff’s Wildcats – who finished behind Sierra Canyon in the Gold Coast League — open playoff action Wednesday night at home against Loyola, an at-large selection from the Mission League.

As expected, Santa Clarita Christian (No. 10) drew the top seed in the 2AA field and opens the playoffs Wednesday at home against Maranatha.

It’s a division that is deeper in quality teams – at least among the top eight or so – than D-I, with BurlisonOnBasketball Top 25 members Heritage Christian (No. 11), St. Bernard (12), Chaminade (15), Rolling Hills Prep (19) and Oak Park (20) also in the field.

Defending champion Fairfax (No. 14) is the top seed in the eight-team L.A. City Open playoffs (which is conducted via traditional bracket play) and opens Friday night against El Camino Real.

 

Top 25 (records as of games of Feb. 8 and opening playoff opponent)

1. Sierra Canyon (Southern Section Open/24-4). Friday: vs. No. 8 St. John Bosco.
2. Corona Centennial (SS Open/26-2). Friday: vs. No. 7 Mater Dei.
3. Rancho Christian (SS Open/21-5). Friday: vs. No. 6 Harvard-Westlake.
4. Etiwanda (SS Open/26-2). Friday: vs. No. 5 St. Anthony.
5. Saint Anthony (SS Open/26-2). Friday: at No. 4 Etiwanda.
6. Harvard-Westlake (SS Open/23-4). Friday: at No. 3 Rancho Christian.
7. Mater Dei (SS Open/22-6). Friday: at No. 2 Corona Centennial.
8. Saint John Bosco (SS Open/22-6). Friday: at No. 1 Sierra Canyon.
9. Windward (SS D-1/21-7). Wednesday: vs. Loyola.
10. Santa Clarita Christian (SS 2AA/18-5). Wednesday: vs. Maranatha.
11. Heritage Christian (SS 2AA/24-4). Wednesday: vs. Campbell Hall.
12. Saint Bernard (SS 2AA/20-7). Wednesday: vs. Beckman.
13. Ribet Academy (SS 2A/21-3). Friday: vs. winner Dominguez at La Mirada, Wednesday.
14. Fairfax (L.A. City Open/24-4). Friday: vs. El Camino Real.
15. Chaminade (SS 2AA/22-7). Wednesday: vs. Diamond Ranch.
16. Riverside Poly (SS D-1/23-5. Friday: vs. winner Crossroads at L.B. Poly, Wednesday.
17. Damien (SS D-1/21-7). Wednesday: vs. Temecula Valley.
18. Westchester (L.A. City Open/19-8). Friday: vs. Washington Prep.
19. Rolling Hills Prep (SS 2AA/25-2). Wednesday: vs. Capistrano Valley Christian.
20. Oak Park (SS 2AA/26-2). Wednesday: vs. Warren.
21. Birmingham (L.A. City Open/18-7). Thursday: vs. Gardena.
22. JSerra (SS D-1/21-7). Wednesday: at Rancho Verde.
23. Renaissance Academy (SS 4AA/19-9). Wednesday: vs. Milliken Community.
24. King-Drew (L.A. City Open/21-7). Friday: vs. Taft.
25. Bishop Montgomery (SS D-1/17-10). Wednesday: at Redondo.