County Gets Three Top Seedings : Playoffs: Mater Dei, Tustin and Sonora rewarded for strong regular-season performances.

Mater Dei, Tustin and Sonora, Orange County’s top three teams, were rewarded with top seedings for the Southern Section playoffs.

Mater Dei, ranked No. 1, received a first-round bye in Division I-A. The Monarchs (28-1) will play the winner of Tuesday’s Cerritos/Rancho Cucamonga game.

Mater Dei won the I-A title last season and reached the Southern California Division Regional final, where it lost to Los Angeles Crenshaw.

Tustin, ranked second, will play Chino Don Lugo in the first round Friday. The Tillers are 24-1, losing only to Mater Dei.

Tustin reached the II-A semifinals last season, where it lost to Compton Dominguez.

Sonora, ranked third, received a first-round bye in the III-AA playoffs. The Raiders (22-3) will play the winner of Tuesday’s Ganesha/Western game.

Sonora reached the III-AA semifinals last season, where it lost to Servite.

Six other county teams were seeded. Estancia is No. 2 in III-A, Corona del Mar is No. 3 in IV-A, Santa Ana Valley is No. 4 in I-AA, Santa Margarita is No. 4 in II-A, Servite is No. 4 in III-AA and St. Margaret’s is No. 4 in V-AA.

The Southern Section finals will be played on March 4.

* PLAYOFF PAIRINGS: C16