Santa Ana Men Seeded Third in Playoffs

Santa Ana, which won the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball title, was seeded third when the Southern California playoff draw was released Monday.

The Dons (26-5) opens the playoffs at home Saturday against No. 30 East Los Angeles (14-18). Santa Ana beat the Huskies, 84-77, earlier this season.

In Friday games: No. 12 Irvine Valley (20-10) hosts No. 21 Desert (21-12) and No. 17 Fullerton (17-14) is at No. 16 Palomar (15-14).

On Saturday: No. 7 Riverside (23-10) hosts No. 26 Long Beach (14-16), No. 8 Saddleback (23-8) hosts No. 25 Canyons (12-18) and No. 27 Orange Coast (13-16) is at No. 6 Los Angeles Valley (23-8).

Los Angeles City is the top-seeded team, Compton is No. 2 and Cerritos No. 4.

Santa Ana, which won its first women’s basketball conference championship this season, was seeded second in the Southern California women’s pairings.

The Dons (28-3), along with No. 5 Irvine Valley (22-8) and No. 6 Orange Coast (26-5) got byes.

In the first round: No. 24 Cypress (10-19) plays at Rio Hondo (22-100 Friday and No. 10 Fullerton (18-15) hosts No. 23 Victor Valley (14-14) Saturday.

Santa Ana plays March 1 against the winner of No. 15 Mt. San Antonio (24-7) vs. No. 18 West Los Angeles ((17-12).

Irvine Valley will also play on March 1 against the winner of No. 12 Santa Barbara (20-8) and Los Angeles Trade Tech (18-15).

Orange Coast (26-5) plays next Tuesday against winner of Southwestern (13-10) and Bakersfield (23-10).