La Quinta, Costa Mesa, Brea Girls Open at Home

Kevin Kiernan, La Quinta High School girls’ basketball coach, had some advice for Rancho Alamitos assistant Eric Hamamoto as they stood outside the Southern Section office Sunday examining the Southern California Regional basketball pairings.

“Go to the Sizzler. It’s worked for us twice,” said Kiernan, whose La Quinta team won its first Southern Section title Friday night.

It’s that time of year when coaches try to wear the same shirt that got them through the Southern Section tournament. Superstition is in the air.

The Aztecs went to the restaurant before their victory on the road against Palm Desert in the semifinals and before defeating West Torrance in the 4-A final at Cal Poly Pomona.

For the time being, La Quinta doesn’t have to worry about playing on the road again. The Aztecs (27-2) will be at home for Tuesday night’s opening-round Division II game against Sanger (22-11), as will Costa Mesa and Brea-Olinda in the Division III playoffs.

Rancho Alamitos, runner-up to Costa Mesa in 3-A, travels to LeMoore (20-7) for its first game.

The Mustangs have the task of playing in the same division as the state’s No. 1 team, Brea-Olinda. Brea (30-0) will play host to San Diego Lincoln (14-7).

Costa Mesa is in the lower half of the draw away from top-seeded Brea-Olinda. However, if the Mustangs get past Selma (14-10) in the first round, they most likely would face Palos Verdes, the 3-AA runner-up.

“Obviously I would like to have had Palos Verdes, Rancho Alamitos and Brea all in the above bracket, but this is the way I thought it would be,” Costa Mesa Coach Jim Weeks said.