Parity Rules Among County Teams in Postseason

DIVISION IV-A

Defending champion: Los Angeles Verbum Dei.

Top teams: Verbum Dei (20-7), Santa Monica Crossroads (16-8), Sierra Madre Maranatha (17-9), Mojave (14-10).

Dark horse: Calvary Chapel. While not the dominating force they have been in past years, the Eagles are led by forward Brett Young, a proven three-point shooter.

Top players: Isaiah Fox (Santa Monica Crossroads), Steve Fulton (Mojave), David Johnson (Mojave), Felipe Williams (Santa Monica Crossroads), Chad Gordon (Santa Monica Crossroads), Jon Stoa (Whittier Christian), Brett Young (Calvary Chapel).

Notes: Crossroads, which won section and state titles two years ago, might be too deep for this division. The Roadrunners have four starters averaging in double figures. Fox, a 6-9 sophomore center, leads the team, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds. . . . Defending champion Verbum Dei has relied all season on Marlon Parmer, a 6-1 guard who averages 27.9 points and 12.3 rebounds, and Dalron Johnson, a 6-9 center who averages 19.9 points and 12.3 rebounds. . . . Despite finishing fourth in the Olympic League, Whittier Christian grabbed an at-large berth and will be at Crossroads on Friday. Orange Lutheran is at Ventura St. Bonaventure.

DIVISION V-A

Defending champion: Rio Hondo Prep.

Top teams: L.A. Price (24-2), Antelope Valley Christian (17-2), Santa Barbara Laguna Blanca (19-5), Rolling Hills Prep (12-6).

Dark horse: Heritage Christian. The addition of Matt Winter, a midseason transfer from Ambassador Christian, has made the Patriots (15-7) a solid contender.

Top players: Starly Alvarado (Orangewood Academy), Peter Beaudin (Antelope Valley Christian), Jamal Flanagan (Antelope Valley Christian), Othel Johnson (L.A. Price), Mychal Lynch (L.A. Price), Matthew Nurse (Antelope Valley Christian), Chris Tamas (Santa Barbara Laguna Blanca), Todd Warner (Heritage Christian), Matt Winter (Heritage Christian).

Notes: L.A. Price, defeated by Rio Hondo Prep in the semifinals last season, has won 11 in a row. The Knights have four players averaging 12 points or better. . . . L.A. Pacific Christian, at Heritage Christian Wednesday, is led by 6-2 center David Powel, who averages 12.7 points and nine rebounds. . . . Banning Twin Pines (12-6), which hosts Orangewood Academy (17-8) Wednesday, has three players averaging double figures in scoring, including Yancy Fulson (15.7 points) and Maurice Townsend (13.6 points, 14.1 rebounds). Tiny Tarbut V’Torah (12-7), in its first year of varsity competition, will play at San Marino Southwestern Academy (11-8) Wednesday.

DIVISION I-A

Defending champion: Glendora.

Top teams: Glendora (26-1), Mater Dei (26-3), Simi Valley (24-4), San Bernardino Pacific (21-4).

Dark horse: La Mirada. The Matadors (10-14) lost 10 of their first 13 games in part because two starters didn’t get out of football until mid-December. Last week 6-6 junior center Marcus Jones became eligible and he could make a difference.

Top players: Robert Abercrombie (Katella), Chaun Ballard (San Bernardino Pacific), Mike Bayer (Mater Dei), Rafeal Beruman (Simi Valley), James Burries (San Bernardino Pacific), Tony Freeman (Santa Barbara), Herbert Gracia (Loara), Jerry Inzunza (Troy), Casey Jacobsen (Glendora), Marcus Jones (La Mirada), Khary Lands (Moreno Valley), Justin Kaatz (Marina), Jamal Sampson (Mater Dei), Steve Scoggin (Mater Dei).

Notes: Glendora waltzed through the season and the top-seeded Tartans’ only loss was to Carmichael Jesuit, 75-66, in the 11th game of the season. They defeated Mater Dei (54-42), Brea Olinda (66-48), Troy (63-53) and Capistrano Valley (66-48). Guard Casey Jacobsen, last year’s most valuable player of the division, has been outstanding. He leads the team in scoring (32.3 points per game). . . . Marina Coach Roger Holmes was all smiles after the Vikings, who have won five in a row, drew San Clemente on Friday at home. “We’re starting to click,” he said. “We started out 3-0, then we lost to Katella in overtime and it was up and down from there. But this is the way I thought we could play all year.” . . . Troy drew Saugus in the opening round, but could be looking at a matchup with Simi Valley on Feb. 23. Center Beruman and guard Tony Ward are the only senior starters for the Pioneers, who have good depth. . . . According to several coaches in the division who are not from the county, Loara should also be considered a contender. It’s the second consecutive playoff appearance for the Saxons and their scrappy play has been impressive. . . . Santa Barbara is another team to watch. The Dons are led by 6-4 forward Dante Bogan (16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds) and 6-1 guard Brent Williams (13.7 points).

DIVISION II-A

Defending champion: Compton Dominguez.

Top teams: Inglewood (26-3), Santa Margarita (24-2), Pasadena Muir (25-2), Pacifica (25-1).

Dark horse: Bolsa Grande. The Garden Grove League was competitive this season and Jon James is a proven scorer and rebounder.

Top players: Josh Call (La Puente Bishop Amat), Spencer Gloger (Santa Margarita), Jon James (Bolsa Grande), Alex Jenkins (Goleta Dos Pueblos), Nathaniel Johnson (Pasadena Muir), John Parker (Pasadena Muir), Rory O’Neil (Ridgecrest Burroughs), Adam Rachlin (Pacifica), Jayson Simpson (Pacifica).

Notes: Ridgecrest Burroughs, led by O’Neil (16 points, 10 rebounds) is another dark horse to consider. . . . Second-seeded Santa Margarita received a bye in Wednesday’s first round and awaits the outcome between El Centro Central Union and Victor Valley. The Eagles, who host the winner Friday, have won 13 in a row. Their last loss was to Mater Dei, 57-44, in the championship game of the Orange Holiday Classic. “If you told me last summer that I would be coaching a 24-2 team at this time of the year, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Coach Jerry DeBusk said. “We started to come together at the end of the summer and the seniors have really begun to play well lately.” Ryan Dwight, averaging five assists, has come on for the Eagles and has given the team solid leadership in the backcourt. Forward Kelly Kramer (12 points) has added depth in the front line. Gloger has become one of the county’s best ball-handlers for a big man. “This is a very tough division,” Pacifica Coach Bob Becker said. “Inglewood beat Redondo Union earlier this year. Inglewood is very, very good.” Pacifica’s only loss was to Redondo Beach Redondo Union. . . . A good county matchup in the first round Wednesday features 9-19 Valencia, much better than its record indicates, at Laguna Hills (15-10).

DIVISION III-A

Defending champion: West Hills Chaminade.

Top teams: West Hills Chaminade (21-4), Banning (15-12), Ojai Nordhoff (18-5), Inglewood Morningside (12-13).

Dark horse: Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings came out of one of the county’s most competitive leagues, the Sea View.

Top players: Dennis Alshuler (Corona del Mar), Mike Davis (Banning), Scott Borchart (West Hills Chaminade), Andy Flores (Ojai Nordhoff), Dwayne Trotter (Inglewood Morningside).

Notes: Chaminade has won 11 in a row. Its last loss was to Encino Crespi, 42-38, in the Mission League opener. Borchart is averaging 15 points and eight rebounds. Three teammates are averaging 10 points. . . . Banning finished in a tie for first in the Skyline League. Davis averages 16.5 points and 10.3 rebounds. Geno Randle averaged 11.5 points and Darius Stuart averages 10.4. “So far it’s all been about coaching,” Corona del Mar Coach Paul Orris said. “Now it’s all about the players you have.”. . . . Alshuler (13.6 points) and Kevin Hanen (10.7 points) lead the Sea Kings.