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  CORONA – The last of the CIF Southern Section Open Division’s Pool-Play competition is set for Friday night.

   And – and so far, at least – it would be difficult to argue with the success of the format in its first season.

   Not only do six of the eight teams remain in the battle for both spots in the Feb. 23 championship game but each of the first eight games have been every bit of “competitive”:

   *The average margin of victory was ever-so-slightly less than 8 points (7.8);

   *The most lopsided margin came in host and top-seed Rancho Christian’s 61-49 win against No.

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  TEMECULA – The Bishop Montgomery High basketball team came into the Chaparral High gymnasium Saturday night with some significant obstacles facing it for its CIF Southern Section Open Division game with the host Rancho Christian.

   For one, senior forward Nick Schrader was in street clothes and unavailable because of a concussion suffered in practice earlier in the week.

   Not to worry – Coach Doug Mitchell inserted 6-foot-6 junior Isaiah Johnson into the starting lineup and he eventually gave the Knights eight points and eight rebounds.

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  HUNTINGTON BEACH – A 100-mile or so Friday round-trip from La Canada was a small price for the St. Francis High boys’ basketball team to pay for a nifty come-from-behind CIF Southern Section Playoff-opening victory over the host Marina Vikings.

  Trailing by 13 points late in the second quarter and by five going into the fourth quarter, the Golden Knights got all 21 of their points over the final eight minutes from Dennis Flowers III and Andre Henry to prevail in the 3AA contest, 66-62.

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   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.

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  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.

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