Frank Burlison

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – Several squads that were given strong consideration for inclusion into the Open field received spiffy seedings when the CIF Southern Section office unveiled its other divisional brackets Sunday afternoon at its Los Alamitos office.

Long Beach Poly (1AA), Santa Monica (1A), Chino Hills Ayala (2AA), Santa Barbara (2A) and La Canada (4AA) were the top seeds in their respective divisions for first-round playoff action that will begin on Wednesday.

The 16-team Open Division bracket, selected on Friday morning and revealed on Saturday morning, will feature eight games set to tip off at 7 o’clock Friday night.

[Click to continue reading]

LOS ALAMITOS, Ca. – The CIF Southern Section third Boys’ Basketball Open Division bracket was publicly unveiled by Southern Section administrators Saturday morning.

Not in the least bit surprising was that Chino Hills (27-0 and No. 1 in most national rankings), Bishop Montgomery (24-1 with its only loss to Chino Hills), Sierra Canyon (23-3, with an at-the-buzzer loss to national power Oak Hill Academy) and Mater Dei (25-3, which suffered its last loss, by 19 points, to the same Oak Hill Academy squad two days after its buzz-beater vs.

[Click to continue reading]

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. – The last week of the regular season for the CIF Southern Section and L.A. City sections is on tap with some significant matchups that could impact league championship and playoff seeds.

Among those is No. 9 Crespi at No. 22 Alemany (Mission League/Monday night).

Pairings for the 16-team Southern Section will be announced on Friday, with the rest of the Southern Section divisions announced on Sunday.

The L.A. City playoff pairings will be unveiled on Saturday.

 

Updated Southern California Top 25 teams (Southern, L.A.

[Click to continue reading]

SANTA ANA, Ca. – The traveling road show that is the 2015-16 Chino Hills High basketball team continued to entertain packed houses – and frustrate its competition – during Saturday’s second night of the 21^st Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High.

With an estimated 3,000-plus looking on, McDonald’s All-American Lonzo Ball helped the nation’s top-ranked team improve to 25-0 with a 98-81 victory over the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Gaels.

And, in the next and final of nine games played Saturday, the host Mater Dei Monarchs collected their most impressive victory of the season, improving to 23-3 while toppling San Diego’s best team, El Cajon Foothills Christian, 61-53.

[Click to continue reading]

SANTA ANA, Ca – There were a few precarious moments early in the second quarter and even into the final minute for the host Mater Dei Monarchs Friday night during the first day of the 21^st Nike Extravaganza.

But, ultimately, Coach Gary McKnight’s team had too much for the Shadow Mountain Matadors of Phoenix – specifically too much Michael Cage Jr., Spencer Freedman and Harrison Butler – while securing a 79-72 victory.

With senior guard Michael Bibby Jr. hitting four 3s, the visitors took a one-point lead into the second quarter that stretched into seven points (28-21) midway through the second period.

[Click to continue reading]