Big Games : Palisades at Carson

Palisades visits Carson to open the Los Angeles City boys 4-A Division basketball playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Dolphins, 14-7 overall and 4-6 in the Central League, ended the season on a disappointing note, losing their final four games. They will face a strong Carson team (16-6 overall, 8-2 in the Marine League), led by 6-6 center-forward Anthony January.

Palisades Coach Jerry Marvin ranks Carson as one of the 10 best teams in the City. He said Carson is quick and has size and that he will counter with a man-to-man defense instead of the zone that he has used all year. Marvin said his team will play with more intensity in a man-to-man.

Marvin said that turnovers, a problem all year, will have to be held to a minimum if Palisades is to go far in the playoffs and that the return of starting point guard Cornell Rucker should help to reduce turnovers.

Crescenta Valley at Culver City

Culver City will play host to Crescenta Valley in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section 4-A boys basketball playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Culver finished with an impressive 22-3 record (9-1 in the Ocean League). But the Centaurs could have their hands full with Crescenta Valley (17-7 overall, 7-3 in the Pacific League).

Crescenta Valley features one of the top players in California in 6-3 guard Harvey Mason, who is averaging 28.5 points a game.

San Dimas at Daniel Murphy

Daniel Murphy (15-6 overall, 11-1 in the Santa Fe League) will entertain San Dimas at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a CIF 2-A boys basketball playoff game. San Dimas was 20-2 overall and 10-2 in the Montview League.

Murphy Coach Jim Tinker said that San Dimas is quick and likes to push the ball up the court. He said that his team also likes that style of play, which could make the game a high-scoring affair.

Andre Gougis, Tinker’s point guard, leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.6 points a game.

Sacred Heart of Mary at Marymount

Marymount, 16-5 overall, 10-0 in the Sunshine League and winner of its first league title since 1980, will play host to Sacred Heart of Mary (6-11 overall) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a CIF girls 1-A playoff.

Marymount is coming off a 57-56 overtime win over Notre Dame last week that decided the league championship. Cathy McNamee scored 26 points to lead the the Sailors, and Marymount Coach Christopher Utz also received strong play from Karen Pope and Molly O’Sullivan.

Utz said he looks for Sacred Heart of Mary to be tough despite its record. He said his team will have to play a strong inside game.