Girls’ basketball I-AA: It’s Long Beach Poly vs. everybody else

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

Who will win it all: No. 1 Long Beach Poly over No. 2 Millikan

I have a gut feeling about: No. 9 Santa Margarita

Analysis: The lower half of the bracket is brutal. I can actually envision, without the aid of hallucinogens, No. 6 Ventura vs. Santa Margarita in the semifinals. I love the way No. 2 Brea Olinda passes the ball, and it might present the most formidable challenge to Poly in a championship-game environment. Millikan has all the necessary elements, which gives it the advantage over Brea, Ventura, No. 7 Troy, etc. Poly has the best player (Jasmine Dixon), the most depth, the greatest stamina and there’s nobody in the division that it doesn’t think it can beat. To defeat the Jackrabbits, you must weather the storm in the first quarter, shoot the lights out, and maintain your composure down the stretch. Easier said than done.

-- Martin Henderson