Two Defending Champions on Repeat Courses

The Long Beach Poly and Compton Dominguez boys’ basketball teams earned the right to defend their titles and will take part in two of the 12 Southern Section and City championship games that will be played in the Southland today through Saturday.

Southern Section games will be played at the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine and the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

City Section games will be played at the Sports Arena and Cal State Los Angeles.

Here is a division-by-division look at the championship games:

CITY SECTION

4-A Division, WESTCHESTER vs. MANUAL ARTS, Friday at Sports Arena, 8 p.m.: It’s no surprise that top-seeded Westchester reached the championship game. The Comets defeated Locke, Palisades and five-time defending 4-A champion Crenshaw to advance. Westchester is led by senior point guard Brandon Granville, senior forward David Bluthenthal and senior swingman Tony Bland. Manual Arts, the No. 6 team, beat Cleveland, Washington and Fremont en route to the final. James Wright had 17 points for the Toilers in their semifinal win over Fremont.

3-A Division, SYLMAR (18-9) vs. BIRMINGHAM (18-9), Saturday at Cal State Los Angeles, 3 p.m.: Sylmar, led by George Wrighster and Jeremiah Turner, advanced to the final with victories over Franklin, Poly and University. Stanley Fletcher and Emmanuel Evans led Birmingham to wins over Jordan, Bell and San Pedro.

SOUTHERN SECTION

DIVISION I-AA, LAKEWOOD ARTESIA (28-1) vs. LONG BEACH POLY (24-6), Saturday at Pond, 8:30 p.m.: Artesia defeated the Jackrabbits twice this season behind the strong play of junior center Jason Kapono and a deep and talented roster. Artesia rolled past fourth-seeded Simi Valley, 70-45, in the the semifinals after beating Fountain Valley, El Toro and Rialto Eisenhower. Long Beach Poly, coming off an 84-71 semifinal win over Etiwanda, is led by senior center Ricky Anderson and sophomore point guard Wesley Stokes.

DIVISION I-A, GLENDORA (28-1) vs. PACIFIC (21-8), Saturday at Pond, 6:45 p.m.: Top-seeded Glendora, led by 6-6 junior Casey Jacobsen, takes on No. 2-seeded Pacific, which ended Mater Dei’s season Tuesday with a 70-69 semifinal victory. Jacobsen is one of several outstanding Glendora players, including brothers Chris and Chad Clark. Pacific is led by guards Chris Smith, Chaun Ballard and Bobby Tossetti. Center Demond Huff had 15 points and made the game-winning shot against Mater Dei as time expired.

DIVISION II-AA, COMPTON (26-5) vs. SANTA MARGARITA (27-2), Tonight at Bren Events Center, 7:30 p.m.: Compton center David Hamilton was grazed in a shooting incident Tuesday and his status is uncertain for tonight’s game against one of the most balanced teams in the Southern Section. Top-seeded Compton defeated Anaheim Canyon, California and Brea Olinda en route to the final. Santa Margarita is led by guard T.J. Williams and forward Ryan Forehan-Kelley.

DIVISION II-A, COMPTON DOMINGUEZ (24-4) vs. REDONDO UNION (28-2), Saturday at Pond, 2:45 p.m.: Redondo Union has been waiting all season for its shot at the two-time defending Division II state champion Dons and Kentucky-bound forward Tayshaun Prince. Redondo is led by sophomore center Andrew Zahn, who helped lead the Sea Hawks to a 55-53 semifinal victory over Pasadena Muir. Dominguez cruised to a 82-48 victory over previously unbeaten Dos Pueblos in the semifinals.

DIVISION III-AA, HUNTINGTON BEACH OCEAN VIEW (24-4) vs. BARSTOW (25-3), Saturday at Pond, 1 p.m.: Ocean View point guard Tony Dow scored 20 points and had six assists in the top-seeded Seahawks’ semifinal victory over Pomona. No. 2 Barstow beat Central Union, Riverside Notre Dame and La Canada to reach a section championship game for the first time in 45 years.

DIVISION III-A, WEST HILLS CHAMINADE (26-1) vs. BISHOP MONTGOMERY, Saturday at Pond, 11:15 a.m.: Top-seeded Chaminade is led by freshman center Scott Borchart, junior point guard Cayce Cook and senior forward Justin Beach. Chaminade defeated Pasadena Blair, Corona Centennial and Cabrillo to reach the final. Bishop Montgomery is led by 6-6 senior forward Lamar Lawrence and 6-4 junior Tony Booker. The Knights defeated La Canada St. Francis, Morningside and Costa Mesa Estancia to advance.

DIVISION IV-AA, SANTA MARIA ST. JOSEPH (20-8) vs. SANTA ANA CALVARY CHAPEL (23-6), Friday, Bren Events Center, 8 p.m.: Santa Maria St. Joseph is coming off an 82-74 semifinal victory over top-seeded Twentynine Palms in which junior guard Matt Cova scored 31 points. Calvary Chapel’s Joe Ortiz scored 32 points in the Eagles’ 79-70 semifinal victory over Pasadena Marshall.

DIVISION IV-A, VERBUM DEI (18-5) vs. GARDENA SERRA (22-8), Saturday at Pond, 9:30 a.m.: Verbum Dei advanced to the championship game with an 82-72 victory over top-seeded Santa Monica Crossroads. Verbum Dei is led by junior guard Marlon Parmer, who scored 34 points in the victory over Crossroads, and center Dalron Johnson. Serra, led by guard Davon Johnson and forward Doyle Cole is coming off a 90-61 semifinal victory over Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson.

DIVISION V-AA, PACIFIC HILLS (23-6) vs. OXNARD SANTA CLARA (14-12), Friday at Bren Events Center, 6 p.m.: Santa Clara was not a seeded team for the playoffs, but Coach Lou Cvijanovich has his team playing for its 15 title in his 40 years as coach. Guards B.J. Ward, Nick Jones and forward Ryan McGill lead the Saints. Third-seeded Pacific Hills defeated Glendale Adventist, Boron, Pasadena Poly before Tuesday’s 83-82 semifinal victory over Van Nuys Montclair Prep.

DIVISION V-A, ROLLING HILLS PREP (20-1) vs. LAGUNA BLANCA (21-4), Today, Bren Events Center, 5:30 p.m.: Top-seeded Rolling Hills Prep is coming off a 60-42 semifinal victory over Price. The Huskies are led by forward B.J. Hart and guards Joey Perry and Chiumba Johnson. No. 2 Laguna Blanca defeated Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep, 55-47 in the semifinals. Junior Brian Niehaus and seniors David Cochran and and Jon Keith are top players.