Girls’ basketball: Rematches highlight Division I-A

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Among quarterfinal games in the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs tonight, two are rematches. I’d bank that one is a dandy, and my suspicion is that the other will be, too.

The best of the bunch -- not just the rematches -- should be fifth-seeded Foothill (24-4) at fourth-seeded San Clemente (24-4). When they met on Dec. 27 in the second round of the Orange County Championships, Foothill scored a 52-48 upset, the Knights’ signature victory of the season.

Foothill has Christina Marinacci (pictured at right), one of the Southland’s top players, and guard Blair Shinoda, one of the most underrated. Both are juniors. And both will benefit from this game next year. But San Clemente has come a long way since then. T he Tritons have won 15 in a row, including victories over La Jolla Country Day and Magnolia. The defending champions of the division are peaking at the right time, and Kristen Riley & Co. should advance.

The other rematch is sixth-seeded Canyon Springs (21-5) at third-seeded Mira Costa (23-5). The first time, on Dec. 1, Mira Costa won, 57-52. In that game, Canyon Springs made only three of 19 three-point shots and Mira Costa made two of 11. Mira Costa went on to higher-profile things and Canyon Springs flew under the radar. Canyon Springs won its last 14 against mostly nondescript opponents, but this game has the potential to be great if Canyon Springs can avoid getting rattled early.

The other two games are interesting, too. Riverside North (19-9) had a couple of victories early in the season -- over La Jolla Country Day and Troy -- and then headed south. The Huskies probably don’t have enough to hang at top-seeded Redondo (24-3), but you always have to wonder about North’s potential.

Seventh-seeded Riverside King (22-5) has won 16 in a row, one more than second-seeded Muir (25-1). Muir has more quality wins on the season, but King is the best opponent Muir has played since Jan. 5.

-- Martin Henderson