San Clemente on Road for Big Game

Four Orange County teams will be at home tonight as they take another step toward boys’ and girls’ state basketball titles, but the game of the night requires a trip to North San Diego County.

That’s where seventh-seeded San Clemente plays at second-seeded Vista Rancho Buena Vista at 7:30 in the first round of the Southern California Regional Division I girls’ playoffs.

The Longhorns (29-2) are the San Diego Section champion, which traditionally hasn’t done well against Southern Section opponents. Post player Eisha Bohman (20 points) is one of five senior starters, including Janeene Arendsen (16 points).

Rancho Buena Vista and San Clemente’s path nearly crossed in December at the Marina tournament. There, both teams played Harbor City Narbonne, ranked sixth nationally by USA Today. Rancho Buena Vista lost, 59-57, and the next night, San Clemente lost, 42-39.

Colleen Turnbull scored 26 in the Tritons’ 67-58 loss to Marina in Saturday’s Southern Section Division I-A final. Debby Caine must step up. She shoots 44.6% from the three-point arc, but was two for 15 from the field against Marina.

Brea Olinda and Brethren Christian girls host games, as well as Ocean View and Santa Margarita boys’ teams.

In a boys’ Division III game, Ocean View (25-4) which got 21 points and 16 rebounds from 6-foot-10 center Kevin Hanson in its 59-47 victory over Barstow in the section Division III-AA title game, hosts Torrance Bishop Montgomery (21-7) at 7:30. The Knights start two freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. Freshman guard Errick Craven scored 22 in an 80-66 section Division III-A final loss to West Hills Chaminade. Ocean View has won 15 in a row.

Santa Margarita (28-2), the section Division II-AA champion, has a 7:30 start with visiting Fresno Edison (25-5) in Division II. Eight players average between eight and 14 points for the Eagles. Edison is led by 6-4 Willie Johnson (28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds).

Top-seeded Brea Olinda (29-1) begins its quest for a sixth state girls’ basketball title at 7:30 when it hosts Glendora St. Lucy’s (21-10), which lost its Southern Section II-A final to Compton Dominguez, 41-32. The Ladycats’ Chelsea Trotter is averaging 20.3 points in the playoffs, and Lindsey Davidson has averaged five steals in the last three games.

Troy (28-3), which ran out of gas in the second half of a 52-37 playoff loss to Brea, plays at Chula Vista Eastlake (23-7). With a similar performance, Troy could find itself in the semifinals.

Division IV-AA boys’ runner-up Calvary Chapel (23-7) faces San Diego Division IV champion La Jolla The Bishop’s School at 8 p.m. Bishop’s (23-7) is led by 6-6 junior center Mike Hausman (17 points, 10.4 rebounds), and 6-5 sophomore forward Nick Booker (15.9 points, 17.4 points).

That game is part of a Division IV doubleheader: Bishop’s girls play Cerritos Valley Christian at 6 p.m.

Sixth-seeded Calvary Chapel (24-6) will play at Corcoran (26-5), the Central champion. The Eagles had a similar bus ride in the semifinals, where they defeated Morro Bay, 31-22.

Also in girls’ Division IV, second-seeded Brethren Christian (19-10) hosts Woodlake (18-9), the Central Section runner-up, at 7:30.

Marina won the section I-A girls’ title, but was seeded lowest among the five Division I section champions. Guard Natalie Nakase averaged 22.5 points the last two games and leads the way at 7:30 at Bakersfield Stockdale (26-4).