One-Day Showcase Events Feature Area’s Top Talent

High school basketball playoffs do not begin until mid-February, but fans will have the opportunity to see many of the leading contenders for Southern Section and City Section championships at three boys’ and one girls’ showcase events that will be played today and Monday.

The one-day, multigame formats feature a mix of intersectional, nonleague and league matchups.

Here is a brief overview of each event:

BOYS

DOUBLE PUMP HOOP CHALLENGE, Today at Long Beach City College: If you can only make it for one game of this eight-game event, be there for Fresno Washington Union against Torrance Bishop Montgomery. Washington Union is the defending Division III state champion and features senior DeShawn Stevenson, a spectacular leaper and shooter who has signed with Kansas.

The schedule: 10:30 a.m.--Simi Valley vs. Gardena Serra; Noon--Fairfax vs. Westchester; 1:30 p.m.--Lakewood Artesia vs. Bellflower; 3--Jurupa Valley vs. Corona Centennial; 4:30--Santa Ana Mater Dei vs. Los Alamitos; 6--Torrance Bishop Montgomery vs. Fresno Washington Union; 7:30--Long Beach Poly vs. Long Beach Jordan; 9--Inglewood vs. Redondo Union.

DREAM CLASSIC, Monday at the Pyramid, Long Beach: Lakewood Artesia will try to avenge a December defeat against defending Division II state champion Compton Dominguez in the featured game of an event previously held at Pauley Pavilion.

The schedule: 9 a.m.--La Jolla Bishop’s vs. Greensboro Dudley (N.C.); 10:35--Manual Arts vs. Chino Hills Ayala; Noon--Long Beach Poly vs. Santa Monica Crossroads; 1:30 p.m.--Fairfax vs. Westchester; 3--Crenshaw vs. Upland; 4:30--Santa Ana Mater Dei vs. San Diego University; 6--Compton Dominguez vs. Lakewood Artesia; 8--Lakewood Mayfair vs. Torrance Bishop Montgomery.

ROSE CITY RUMBLE, Monday at Pasadena City College: What this event lacks in high-profile programs, it makes up for with highly competitive matchups.

The schedule: 2 p.m.--Duarte vs. Los Angeles; 3:30--La Canada St. Francis vs. Hacienda Heights Los Altos; 5--Pasadena Muir vs. Rialto; 6:30--Pasadena vs. Rancho Cucamonga; 8--Pasadena Marshall vs. Price.

GIRLS

MLK CLASSIC, Monday at UC Riverside: This event features Chino Don Lugo’s Diana Taurasi and two particularly good matchups in the last two games.

The schedule: 9 a.m.--Ontario vs. Fontana A.B. Miller; 10:30--Compton Dominguez vs. Fontana; Noon--La Quinta vs. Murrieta Valley; 1:30 p.m.--Anaheim Canyon vs. Ventura; 3:30--Washington vs. Chino Don Lugo; 5--San Diego Francis Parker vs. Moreno Valley; 6:30--Lynwood vs. Riverside North; 8--Troy vs. Corona Centennial.