Defending Champion Poway Is 3-A’s Top Seed as Playoffs Begin

As expected, Poway, El Camino, Pt. Loma and Southwest high schools earned the top seeds in the San Diego Section boys and girls’ basketball playoffs, which begin Tuesday.

Poway (21-3), the two-time defending 3-A boys’ champion, is seeded No. 1 and will play host to Montgomery (13-10) at 7:30 on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Mt. Carmel (17-7) will visit No. 2 Serra (21-3) at 7:30.

Wednesday, Morse (16-6) plays at No. 4 El Capitan (18-4), and Mt. Miguel (17-6) is at No. 3 Sweetwater (17-6). Both games start at 7:30.

In 2-A boys’ play Tuesday, No. 1 El Camino (22-3) will play host to Mar Vista (7-16), and St. Augustine (13-10) plays at No. 2 Castle Park (22-1). Both games are at 7:30. Wednesday, Oceanside (19-4) is at No. 3 La Jolla (13-4) and University (17-6) visits No. 4 Lincoln (15-6) at 8.

Pt. Loma (24-1) is top-seeded in the 3-A girls’ division and will be at home against Hilltop (11-2 in league) at 7:30 Tuesday. Also, Fallbrook (16-7) is at No. 2 Monte Vista (23-2) at 7:30, Tuesday; Madison (14-6) at No. 3 Mt. Carmel (18-3) at 7:30, Wednesday, and Mt. Miguel (15-4) at No. 4 Bonita Vista (19-6) at 7:30, Wednesday.

In 2-A girls’ play, No. 1 Southwest (21-2) will play host to Mission Bay (14-8) at 7:30 Tuesday; Mar Vista (9-13) will play at No. 2 San Marcos (23-3) at 7:30, Tuesday; Crawford (6-2 in league) will visit No. 3 La Jolla (16-5) at 6 p.m, Wednesday, and San Pasqual (15-6) will be at No. 4 Lincoln (14-5) at 6 p.m., Wednesday.

The semifinals will be played Friday and Saturday nights with doubleheaders at Mira Mesa and Serra high schools. The girls’ games will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the boys’ contests at 8.