LOOKING AHEAD / UPCOMING PREP EVENTS IN ORANGE COUNTY

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

A total of 47 county teams begin Southern Section playoff action in 10 divisions Friday night. Top-ranked Mater Dei (25-2) opens its quest for a sixth consecutive section title by hosting El Toro (18-8) in a Division I-A game at the Bren Center. In another I-A opener, Dana Hills (15-12) is at Marina (17-9). Marina is making its first appearance in the playoffs in five years. Esperanza (13-13) plays at Santa Margarita (18-7) in Division I-AA, and Tustin (16-10) is at Valencia (18-8) in Division II-A. In a Division III-A game, Estancia (18-7), the champion of the Pacific Coast League, is at La Quinta (18-7), the champion of the Garden Grove League.