Girls basketball I-A: The semifinals are not what they appear to be

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A look at the Southern Section Division I-A girls’ basketball playoffs.

Who will win it all: No. 1 Redondo over No. 3 Mira Costa

I have a gut feeling about: No. 4 San Clemente

Analysis: If you want to see the real championship game, check out Redondo vs. San Clemente in the semifinals. San Clemente has four starters back from last season, when it beat all three of the teams seeded in front of it this year. It seems to be peaking at the right time, is the defending champion, and has won five titles in the last seven years. The way they are playing right now, both Redondo and San Clemente should beat No. 2 Muir or Mira Costa (or whoever else emerges) in the finals. I love Muir but it hasn’t played a competitive game since Jan. 5, and its lack of depth in the post is concerning. In the end, Redondo’s Atonye Nyingifa wins out with a supporting cast that’s vastly underrated, but it’s going to be a dogfight.

-- Martin Henderson