Ayala releases the matchups for its Best of the West tourney

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It seems like one of the passages of December is waiting for Ayala Girls’ basketball Coach Mel Sims to finally release the pairings for his Ayala Best of the West girls’ basketball tournament.

Well, they were released this week.

The tournament, which runs Dec. 26-31, is annually one of the best in the Southland. Occasional first-round upsets can render a team looking to state its case as a top-10 contender moot because one thing you don’t want to do is fall into the loser’s bracket if you’re A) looking to make a name for yourself, B) trying to gain credibility, C) planning on making a serious run in the playoffs.

One team worth watching is No. 19 Cajon, which fits into the ‘all of the above’ category. The Cowgirls have stepped up their schedule this season and, after a 47-46 loss to No. 4 Ayala earlier this year, might be poised to really prove they are a team that deserves to be mentioned among the Southland’s best this season, and not just cling to a lower spot in the top 25. They are led by Layshia Clarendon and Darshae Burnside, who have averaged 19 points apiece.

It will also be another good test for Bishop Montgomery, which was unranked in The Times’ preseason poll but showed it belonged with its performance at the Redondo tournament.

The winners’ bracket games are played at Ayala.

Here’s how the first-round of the bracket sets up, top to bottom, with the winners advancing to play each other:

No. 2 Fontana Miller vs. Corona Santiago
Riverside Poly vs. JSerra
Diamond Ranch vs. No. 24 Bishop Amat
Keppel vs. No. 19 Cajon

Bishop Montgomery vs. Great Oak
Chino Hills vs. Taft
Redlands East Valley vs. No. 10 Chatsworth
Westchester vs. No. 8 Lynwood

No. 8 Muir vs. Long Beach Jordan
Canyon Country Canyon vs. Colony (Alaska)
Artesia vs. Palmdale
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Magnolia

No. 15 Perris vs. Long Beach Wilson
St. Paul vs. Monrovia
Silverado vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Pasadena vs. No. 4 Ayala

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.ayalaladyhoops.com