PREP BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS : Santa Clara Shoots for a Repeat in Division IV

Oxnard Santa Clara, the defending champion in boys’ Division IV, will headline today’s opening of the state high school basketball tournament at the Oakland Coliseum Arena when it meets Northern California champion Fairfield Vanden at 8 p.m.

In the first state tournament to have finals in all five boys’ and girls’ divisions held at the same site, four titles will be determined today and six more Saturday.

Sparked by Shon Tarver, a 6-foot-5 guard, Santa Clara, undefeated in 27 games this season, will attempt to win its 45th consecutive game against Vanden (29-3).

Tarver, who was last season’s State Division IV player of the Year, averaged 36.3 points a game in the Saints’ three Southern California Regional playoff victories.

In the boys’ Division V final, El Cajon Christian (19-11) plays Northern champion Colusa (27-2) at 4:15 p.m.

In the girls’ finals, Atherton Menlo goes for its second consecutive Division V title, playing Rosamond (21-7) at 2:30 p.m., while Santa Maria St. Joseph (28-3) meets Moraga Campolindo (23-11) in Division IV at 6:15 p.m.

Menlo (26-5) is coached by former Stanford quarterback John Paye, whose sister Kate scored 33 points against Sacred Heart in the Northern Regional final.