Frank Burlison

MISSION VIEJO, Ca. – The Mater Dei High Monarchs, even with the significant losses of three key starters from their Southern Section IAA and State Division I championship 2011-12 season, remain the top team in Orange County.

It wasn’t quite the same given beforehand, but the identification of the second best team in the county was made quite apparent Saturday night.

The host Mission Viejo Diablos fell behind the Foothill Knights 9-2 in the opening minutes of the Diablo Inferno Tournament final.

But they promptly assumed control of the proceedings and coasted to an 88-62 victory that brought their record to 5-0.

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REDONDO BEACH, Ca. – The Long Beach Poly and L.A. Westchester teams came into the 61^st Pacific Shores Tournament at Redondo Union High as the top seeds in the 12-team event.

And, during Friday night’s semifinals, they played the parts of the 1 and 2 seeds quite adroitly, thank you very much.

Playing at 5 o’clock (instead of 6:30) since its opponent’s football team was play host to a Southern Section title game at 7:30, L.A. City power Westchester used its depth and balanced scoring attack to pull away from Gardena Serra, 60-45.

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REDONDO BEACH, Ca. – The semifinals of the 61^st Pacific Shores will be played today (Friday/Nov. 30) at Redondo Union High (located at 1 Sea Hawk Way in Redondo Beach).

Since Gardena Serra’s football team is playing host to a Southern Section championship game this evening, the Cavaliers’ championship semifinal with L.A. Westchester is set to tip off at 5 p.m.

The rest of the schedule: 3:30 (fifth-place semifinal) Compton Dominguez vs. Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro; 6:30 (fifth-place semifinal) Lomita Narbonne vs. Lakewood Mayfair; 8 (championship semifinal) Long Beach Poly vs.

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CORONA, Ca. – After two rather ho-hum games, it figured that the third time – eh, game – would proved the charm Thursday night at Centennial High.

And that was the case as the host Huskies – trailed by double-figure margins in the third quarter – pulled out a scintillating 82-75 victory, in overtime, against Inglewood during the first-ever Tip-Off at the Empire Invitational.

In those earlier tilts, Westwind Prep Academy (via Phoenix) toppled Rialto Eisenhower, 74-52, followed by Etiwanda’s 60-43 victory over Compton.

Friday night’s Gold Division semifinals tip off at 7 o’clock with top seed Westwind Academy taking on Inglewood and then Centennial playing host to Etiwanda at 8:30.

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PASADENA, Ca. – Tuesday’s Day II of the 9^th Rose City Roundball Classic, hosted by the very capable Tim Tucker-led basketball staff and supporters at Pasadena High, produced nary a suspense-laden outing during its four games.

Such is life – and basketball. It can’t all be down-to-final-moments, buzzer-beating action, right?

But, as was the case with Monday night’s four opening tilts, the results did set the stage for some intriguing quarterfinal contests.

Top seed El Camino Real (77-30 over Granite Hills) and Cantwell (which toppled L.A.

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