Crenshaw at Top of Both Brackets

It was a Crenshaw High sweep for both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams when the City Section playoff committee announced the seedings for the 4-A and 3-A playoffs on Saturday.

The first-round games begin Friday at 7:30 p.m. The championship games are March 8.

Crenshaw (18-3), the boys’ 1996 Division I state champions, will try to defend their title after being voted the top-seeded team in the 4-A bracket; the Cougar girls received the same spot in their bracket.

In a competitive boys’ 4-A bracket, Fairfax caught a break from the 16-member committee. Although the Lions (17-7) finished second in the Western Conference, behind second-seeded Westchester, the committee believed Fairfax was strong enough to be the fourth-seeded team, usually a spot for a conference champion.

Kennedy (12-10), which finished in a first-place tie with Cleveland in the Northwest Conference, fell to No. 9 and will travel to Canoga Park (No. 8). Fremont (21-5) is seeded third.

In the boys’ 3-A are favorites Bell (22-5), Eagle Rock (21-4), Sylmar (14-9) and Birmingham (18-7).

Crenshaw’s girls’ team (19-3) probably will face second-seeded Narbonne, Palisades (No. 3) or Banning (No. 4) for the 4-A title.

The Northern Conference was well represented in the girls’ 3-A. Three of its teams--Franklin (19-8), Eagle Rock (20-5) and Lincoln (17-7)--were seeded in the top four spots. Hamilton (15-5) is seeded third.