Defending Champ Artesia Heads Into Playoffs

Southern Section high school playoffs in basketball, soccer and wrestling begin this week.

In boys’ basketball, defending state Division II champion Artesia tops a list of 23 area teams qualifying for postseason play. The third-ranked Pioneers (21-3) open the Division II-A playoffs Friday night when they play host to Anaheim Savanna (10-16).

In other key Division II-A games Friday, Whitmont League champion La Serna (17-7) plays host to Chino Hills Ayala (8-6) and Del Rey League champion St. John Bosco (22-2) plays a home game against Chino Don Lugo (10-15).

In the Division I-AA playoffs, fourth-ranked Jordan (17-6), the Moore League champion, plays host Friday to Glendale (14-11), which was a 56-54 winner Tuesday over Santa Monica. Jordan had a bye Tuesday. Lakewood (11-15), which finished last in the Moore League, defeated Bell Gardens, 62-47, Tuesday and will play host to Redlands (15-9), a 74-60 victor over Alta Loma.

Mission Viejo’s Capistrano Valley (18-9) defeated Lawndale Leuzinger, 56-44, and will play at Millikan (14-12) Friday. The Rams defeated San Gabriel, 83-65, in the opening round. Tenth-ranked Poly (16-10) defeated Alhambra, 67-34, Tuesday and will play host to Palos Verdes Peninsula (19-7) Friday. Peninsula defeated Channel Islands of Oxnard, 57-41. Wilson (11-14), a 62-60 victor over Santa Ana Valley, plays at Arcadia (16-10) Friday. Arcadia opened with a 75-68 upset of Fontana. San Gabriel Valley League co-champion Lynwood (19-7), which is fifth-ranked, plays host to El Rancho (17-12). The Dons defeated Victor Valley, 75-68, in the opening round.

In Division II-AA Friday, second-ranked Dominguez (21-2), which shared the San Gabriel Valley League title with Lynwood, plays at home against Beverly Hills (12-13).

In girls’ Division I-AA, top-ranked Lynwood (23-0), plays host Saturday to the winner of a wild-card game that was played Wednesday night. Millikan (16-7), the Moore League champion, also awaits the outcome of a wild-card game for its Saturday home game. Third-ranked Poly (21-2) plays host to Nogales (12-8) Saturday.

Second-ranked Valley Christian (22-2), which opens at home Saturday, awaits the results of a Wednesday night game for its opponent.

There are 22 girls’ teams from the area in the playoffs.

All basketball games begin at 7:30 p.m.

The girls’ soccer playoffs start this afternoon with Moore League champion Wilson (14-4-2) playing host to Crescenta Valley (10-5-5) in a Division II match.

Top-seeded La Serna (18-0-2), champion of the Whitmont League, plays host to Quartz Hill (12-4-3) today in a Division III match. In another Division III match, Del Rey League champion St. Joseph (14-7-2) will play at home against Ayala (13-8-2).

Compton (14-3-2), champion of the Moore League, is at home against intracity rival Dominguez (8-5) Friday in a Division II boys’ soccer match.

In Division III matches, Whitmont League champion La Serna (16-4-1) plays host to Chaffey (12-5-6) and Almont League titlist Bell Gardens (16-5-1) plays host to Garden Grove Pacifica (13-7-2).

Suburban League champion Glenn (13-6) plays host to San Marino (10-7-1) in a Division IV match Friday.

In Division V, Delphic League champion Whitney (17-1-1) has a home match with Orange Lutheran (9-9-2).

All soccer matches begin at 3 p.m.

The Southern Section dual meet wrestling playoffs also got under way Wednesday.

Eight area teams are in the playoffs--Millikan, Glenn, Downey, St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Whittier, El Rancho and Schurr. All had matches Wednesday.