SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS PREVIEWS : 1-A : Murphy Flips Over Team’s Seeding

Southern California Christian Coach Mike Murphy said he feels like the luckiest guy in Orange County--and probably for good reason.

Heading into today’s start of the Southern Section 1-A boys’ basketball playoffs, Murphy’s Flames are second seeded and on the other side of the pairings from unbeaten Pasadena Poly (21-0).

It all started last week when the Flames (18-5 overall, 11-1 in league) won a coin flip against Arrowhead League co-champion Sherman Indian (13-4, 11-1).

That allowed Southern California Christian to be second seeded. That, in turn, put the Flames in the lower bracket, as far away as possible from top-seeded Pasadena Poly. And when only 28 teams were chosen for the 32-team bracket, that gave the Flames a bye in the first round.

And all that makes Murphy very excited.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “From what I know, the upper bracket looks much stronger than ours. Also the bye will give us time to prepare. It’s a tremendous advantage.”

The bye also will give a chance for injured starters Shawn Wilshire (strained knee) and Eddie Felten (pulled hamstring) to heal for Friday’s second-round match against the winner of today’s Woodcrest Christian-Western Christian game.

But even if the Flames’ lucky streak carries them into the finals on March 3, they most likely will have to face Pasadena Poly, led by all-Southern Section guard Ryan McKee.

“Pasadena Poly has to be considered favorite,” Murphy said. “But I still like our chances.”

1-A IN A BOX Top Teams: Pasadena Poly (21-0), Mission Prep (15-5), Bishop Diego (18-5), Southern California Christian (18-5)

Dark Horses: Ontario Christian (15-8), Faith Baptist (17-5)

Top Players: Don Burns (Mission Prep), Kenny Cross (Southern California Christian), Carter Judy (Pasadena Poly), Ryan McKee (Pasadena Poly)

Best First-Round Game: Sherman Indian (13-4) at Ontario Christian

Final Four Prediction: Pasadena Poly vs. Ontario Christian, Bishop Diego vs. Southern California Christian.