Boys’ basketball: No one predicted an Oak Park-St. Francis championship game

If anyone is screaming, “Thank you Open Division,” it’s the two teams left standing in Southern Section 3A.

Oak Park (20-10), which lost all five starters from last season’s team and twice was routed by Oaks Christian in Tri-Valley League play this season, has made the final, along with St. Francis (19-11), which tied for fifth place in the Mission League. The division’s two best teams, Chaminade and Cathedral, were put into the Open Division.

It adds to the debate of whether diminishing the other divisions to create one 16-team super division makes the Southern Section playoffs better or worse.

JSerra, the fourth-place team from the Trinity League, is in the 4AA final. Inglewood, the third-place finisher from the Ocean League, is in the 1AA semifinals. Long Beach Millikan, the third-place finisher from the Moore League, is in the 1AA semifinals. Long Beach Poly, the team that was upset about not being chosen for the Open Division, is in the 1AA semifinals and on the verge of winning its 20th section title. All benefited from teams being moved to the Open Division.

“It’s a good thing to allow other schools opportunities to have success,” Oak Park Coach Aaron Shaw said.

Oak Park has never won a section title and has gone through a gauntlet of private school teams the last few seasons, losing to Chaminade in last year’s semifinals and losing to Alemany two seasons ago in the final. For Oak Park to reach the final with a whole new starting lineup is quite an achievement.

“It’s really gratifying seeing the guys playing their best basketball,” Shaw said.

Oak Park has an improving junior guard in Michael Alvarez, who’s averaging 21 points a game. “He can really shoot the ball,” Shaw said.

Cole Micek, a senior who was the backup point guard to Ron Lee the last two years, has come on strong in the playoffs. And Matt Byer, Oak Park’s standout receiver and a three-sport athlete, has become a defensive stopper.

Oak Park and St. Francis met in last season’s playoffs, and Oak Park won, 64-42. Shaw said he knew St. Francis would be very good this season, because the Golden Knights were loaded with young players. He didn’t know about his own team, but they have reached peak form.

Eric.sondheimer@latimes.com