TOURNAMENT TIPOFF

Brea Olinda, Morro Bay and Pilgrim are the only defending champions to open the girls’ basketball playoffs as the top-seeded teams in their divisions.

There are 295 teams in nine divisions in the Southern Section playoffs, which begin tonight with wild-card games, and 32 teams in two divisions in the City playoffs that begin Friday.

Southern Section championship games will be played March 3 and 4 at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

The City Championship game will be played March 3 at the Great Western Forum. The Invitational final is March 4 at Loyola Marymount.

Finalists from every division except the City Invitational advance to the Southern California Regional of the state tournament March 7-11. The state finals will be played March 17-18 at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Here is an overview of each division:

CITY SECTION

CHAMPIONSHIP

It will take an incredible effort and/or an unusual game plan executed to perfection for any team to knock off Harbor City Narbonne, the top-ranked team in the nation. The Gauchos (26-0) are led by USC-bound senior Ebony Hoffman and junior Loree Moore and are focused on winning a mythical national title with an unbeaten season. Defending champion Palisades (19-2) is the second-seeded team. Crenshaw, led by Trilena Amos, is third and South Gate is fourth.

INVITATIONAL

Northern League runner-up Franklin is the top-seeded team in a division for teams ranked 17-32.

SOUTHERN SECTION

DIVISION I-AA

Top-seeded Chino Hills Ayala (22-3) has been building toward this championship opportunity ever since Arizona-bound guard Candice Allen arrived on campus as a freshman. Second-seeded Lynwood (22-4) has Laconia Hatcher and a ferocious defense, high-scoring Giuliana Mendiola leads third-seeded El Toro (20-6) and fourth-seeded Anaheim Esperanza (20-6) is a defensive-minded team that also may challenge.

DIVISION I-A

Riverside J.W. North (22-3) is the top-seeded team in perhaps the most wide-open race for a division title. Second-seeded Fullerton Troy (23-3), third-seeded Ventura (24-1) and fourth-seeded San Clemente (22-3) earned the premium slots on the bracket, but no one is counting out Chino Don Lugo (23-4) with Diana Taurasi or Ventura Buena (21-5) with Courtney Young.

DIVISION II-AA

Top-seeded Brea Olinda (21-5) was not supposed to be as strong this season, but the Ladycats have come on in the second half of the season. They’re led by Stanford-bound center Chelsea Trotter. Santa Ana Foothill (19-7) might be the only team with a chance to stop Brea, but Redondo Union (22-5) and Norco (22-3) are the other seeded teams.

DIVISION II-A

Pacific League champion Pasadena Muir (19-6) is the top-seeded team. Defending champion La Puente Bishop Amat (19-7) is second, Newbury Park (22-4) third. Fourth-seeded Hacienda Heights Los Altos (20-4) features one of the section’s most dynamic players in Alexa Johnson.

DIVISION III-AA

Perennial contender Mission Hills Alemany (21-5) earned the top seeding, but Torrance Bishop Montgomery (21-3) is capable of joining its top-seeded boys’ team as a potential division champion. Third-seeded North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (18-7) and fourth-seeded Fullerton Rosary (18-9), the defending champion, are also formidable.

DIVISION IV-AA

Defending champion Morro Bay (16-6) is the top-seeded team. The Pirates’ greatest challenge will come from Cerritos Valley Christian (20-6), Lancaster Paraclete (18-7) and Twentynine Palms (19-5).

DIVISION IV-A

Playa del Rey St. Bernard (18-5) is the overwhelming favorite despite the presence of second-seeded and defending champion Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (16-7), San Pedro Mary Star (16-4) and Yermo Silver Valley (16-7).

DIVISION V-AA

Academy League champion Downey Calvary Chapel (20-5) could meet fourth-seeded Capistrano Valley Christian (17-6), the league runner-up, in the semifinals. Ojai Thacher (18-4) is seeded second, Murietta Calvary Chapel (11-11) third.

DIVISION V-A

Defending champion Pilgrim (23-2) is the top-seeded team. Rolling Hills Prep (21-3) is second, Hemet Baptist Christian (17-1) third and Price (18-2) fourth.