Palisades to Take Favorite Role in City Girls’ Final

Palisades is favored to win the City Section girls’ basketball championship and Palos Verdes Peninsula, Brea Olinda, Harvard-Westlake and Palos Verdes Chadwick are strong candidates to repeat as Southern Section champions when the girls’ basketball playoffs begin Friday.

The City championship game between Palisades and Washington will be played Friday night at Pauley Pavilion. The Division final between Hamilton and Wilson will be played Saturday at Loyola Marymount.

All of the Southern Section’s 10 championship games will be played at the Pyramid in Long Beach, four on Friday night, six on Saturday.

Here is a look at the championship matchups.

CITY SECTION

* City Championship, PALISADES (25-4) vs. WASHINGTON (16-5), Friday at Pauley Pavilion, 6 p.m.: Palisades is ranked fourth in the state and is intent on winning the title after losing to Narbonne in last year’s final. This is an experienced team with a talented nucleus. Senior forward Nicole Funn-Lockley had 19 points and senior point guard Leilani Estavan had 18 points and seven assists in Palisades’ semifinal victory over North Hollywood. Washington is led by Shanell Law, who scored 28 points in the Generals’ semifinal victory over Crenshaw. Juleen Smith and Pepper Gooden are other top players for Washington.

* Division Championship, HAMILTON (15-8) vs. WILSON (15-13), Saturday at Loyola Marymount, 1 p.m.: Forwards Jody Gilzene and Mishale Hackett are the top players for Hamilton, which beat Chatsworth in the semifinals. Wilson forfeited nine wins for using an ineligible player, putting them in the Division playoffs instead of the Championship playoffs. Senior forward Maria Barrajas is the Mules’ top player, averaging 18 points.

SOUTHERN SECTION

* DIVISION I-AA, PALOS VERDES PENINSULA (25-4) vs. EL TORO (23-4), Saturday at Pyramid, 8:15 p.m.: Defending champion Peninsula is in the final for the sixth time in eight years. The Panthers won titles in 1992, ’96 and ’98. Senior center Natalie Kelly has led top-seeded Peninsula to playoff victories over Lawndale Leuzinger, Arroyo Grande, Chino and Ontario Chaffey. El Toro is making its first appearance in a championship game. The Chargers are led by sisters Giuliana and Gioconda Mendiola. El Toro, however, suffered a major setback when freshman guard Amy Shaw suffered a knee injury in the Chargers’ semifinal victory over Lynwood.

* DIVISION I-A, SAN CLEMENTE (23-8) vs. MORENO VALLEY (30-5), Friday at Pyramid, 8:15 p.m.: San Clemente, champion of the South Coast League, had to defeat previously unbeaten Fullerton Troy, top-seeded Riverside J.W. North and perennial power Ventura Buena to reach the final. The Tritons are led by senior Colleen Turnbull, who averages 15 points a game and scored 20 in San Clemente’s semifinal victory over Buena. Moreno Valley is led by Kandace Hunter.

* DIVISION II-AA, BREA OLINDA (27-3) vs. SANTA ANA FOOTHILL (27-3), Saturday at Pyramid, 6:30 p.m.: Defending state champion Brea Olinda is favored to repeat. The Ladycats, ranked second in the state, have rolled past Anaheim El Dorado, La Habra Sonora and Anaheim Canyon en route to the final. Center Chelsea Trotter and guard Lindsey Davidson are the top players for Brea. Chavaughn Brown, Kristen Mann and Jacky Williams are the top players for third-seeded Foothill, which beat Newport Harbor, Moreno Valley Rancho Verde and second-seeded Moorpark to reach the championship game.

* DIVISION II-A, LA PUENTE BISHOP AMAT (25-3) vs. CULVER CITY (26-3), Saturday at Pyramid, 2:45 p.m.: Top-seeded Bishop Amat has received outstanding play from seniors Allison Box and Shannon Wosman throughout the regular season and the playoffs. The question is whether the Lancers can hold off a Culver City team that is playing like a team of destiny. Shyrah Thomas and Trecha Kennedy lead the Centaurs. Thomas made a 28-foot shot in the second overtime to beat Bellflower in the semifinals.

* DIVISION III-AA, FULLERTON ROSARY (21-8) vs. POMONA GANESHA (26-3), Saturday at Pyramid, 1 p.m.: Maggie Barnett averages 18.7 points a game for top-seeded Rosary, which got a first-round bye and advanced to the final with victories over Santa Paula and Brawley. Angie Thomas and Veranda James lead Ganesha, which also got a bye and beat Bishop Montgomery and defending champion Alemany in the semifinals.

* DIVISION III-A, NORTH HOLLYWOOD HARVARD-WESTLAKE (25-4) vs. INGLEWOOD MORNINGSIDE (20-9), Friday at Pyramid, 4:45 p.m.: This is a rematch of last season’s final won by Harvard-Westlake. Harvard-Westlake is led by Omelogo Udeze, who averages 20 points a game. Morningside is led by Kamesha Bell, who helped the Monarchs to playoff victories over Anaheim Estancia and Costa Mesa.

* DIVISION IV-AA, MORRO BAY (20-7) vs. CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN (17-10), Friday at Pyramid, 6:30 p.m.: Top-seeded Morro Bay advanced to the championship game with victories over Downey St. Matthias, Bishop Union and Twentynine Palms. Valley Christian beat Carpinteria, Beaumont and Santa Fe Springs St. Paul.

* DIVISION IV-A, SANTA MONICA CROSSROADS (27-2) vs. SANTA ANA CALVARY CHAPEL (24-5), Saturday at Pyramid, 11:15 a.m.: Sophomore forward Courtney Young and senior center Michele More have led top-seeded Crossroads to playoff victories over Sierra Madre Alverno, Mojave and Santa Maria St. Joseph. Cathy Joens and Marcene Guerrero are the top players for Calvary Chapel, which beat Diamond Ranch, Ventura St. Bonaventure and defending state champion Playa del Rey St. Bernard to reach the final.

* DIVISION V-AA, PALOS VERDES CHADWICK (24-5) vs. COVINA WESTERN CHRISTIAN (23-4), Saturday at Pyramid, 9:30 a.m.: Chadwick’s Erin Gilliland has kept the top-seeded and defending champion Dolphins on track for the title. Gilliland scored 31 points in Chadwick’s semifinal victory over Riverside Woodcrest Christian. Jennifer Dyche is the top player for second-seeded Western Christian.

* DIVISION V-A, PILGRIM (23-2) vs. APPLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN (21-1), Friday at Pyramid, 3 p.m.: Amber Cunningham is the top player for top-seeded Pilgrim, which is trying to win its third title in four years. Pilgrim beat Wildomar California Lutheran, Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep and Rolling Hills Prep to reach the final. Third-seeded Apple Valley Christian beat Santa Monica Lighthouse Christian, Price and Hesperia Baptist Christian.