Southern Section Badminton Finals : TODAY’S MATCHES

DIVISION I

La Quinta (14-1) vs. Alhambra Keppel (17-0), at Cypress College, 2:30 p.m.

In a battle of the Aztecs, the top two seeded teams will face off in this year’s final. Second-seeded La Quinta, making its first trip to the finals in 18 years, advanced to the finals with a 13-6 victory over Bolsa Grande. La Quinta will face top-seeded Keppel, which is out to return to the top after being upset in last year’s final by Garden Grove. La Quinta advanced to the quarterfinals last season before losing to Rowland Heights Rowland, 12-7. La Quinta’s strength is in doubles, Keppel’s weakness. In the Southern Section individuals, La Quinta defeated teams from Keppel in both boys’ and girls’ doubles to win the titles. A close match is a sure thing, with La Quinta getting the edge.

DIVISION II

Loara (18-1) vs. Magnolia (14-4), at Cypress College, 2:30 p.m.

Magnolia faced Loara twice during the regular season and lost both. In the first match the Sentinels played Loara tough with a 10-9 loss. But in the second match, Saxon Coach Diane Sweeney juggled her lineup, switching around her girls’ doubles partners and Loara walked off with a 12-7 victory. Sweeney, in her 10th year at Loara, plans to do a little rearranging again in hopes of toppling Magnolia’s strong doubles’ teams. The underrated Sentinels may also make some roster moves involving girls’ singles player Joyce Cabuhat. Magnolia’s Boris Chung and Loara Sopath Ho should play a heated match in boys’ singles. And the Sentinels are hoping for a strong match from Francis Uy in girls’ singles. Magnolia has momentum on its side after upsetting the first- and fourth-seeded teams. Loara will have its hands full and can afford no mistakes.