Opportunities Aplenty in Playoffs

Playoff brackets for the bigger, if not better, Southern Section basketball playoffs were announced Sunday with championships in 10 boys’ and 10 girls’ divisions up for grabs.

Wild-card games in the boys’ divisions are Wednesday. First-round games are Wednesday and Friday.

Girls’ wild-card games are Thursday. First-round games are Thursday and Saturday.

Boys’ championship games will be played March 1 and 2 at the Pyramid and March 3 at the Arrowhead Pond. Girls’ championship games will be played March 2 and 3 at the Pyramid.

Last year, the section reduced the number of divisions from 10 to nine in both the boys’ and girls’ playoffs by combining divisions III-AA and III-A.

This season, however, the section added I-AAA.

Winners of I-AAA, I-AA and I-A, and one at-large team from one of the three divisions, will advance to the state regional playoffs that begin March 6. First and second-place teams from all of the other divisions also qualify for the state regional.

Winners of the regionals advance to the state championships March 16-17 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento.

The top-seeded boys’ teams in each division: I-AAA--Upland; I-AA--El Toro; I-A--Santa Ana Mater Dei; II-AA--Compton Dominguez; II-A--Lakewood Mayfair; III-AA--Torrance Bishop Montgomery; IV-AA--Encino Crespi; IV-A--Santa Monica Crossroads; V-AA--Verbum Dei; V-A--Price.

Top-seeded girls’ teams: I-AAA--Lynwood; I-AA--San Clemente; I-A--Ventura Buena; II-AA--Brea Olinda; II-A--Lakewood Artesia; III-AA--Bishop Montgomery; IV-AA--Morro Bay; IV-A--Playa del Rey St. Bernard; V-AA--San Gabriel Academy; V-A--Pilgrim.

Mater Dei, Dominguez, Bishop Montgomery, Crossroads and Price are defending boys’ champions.

Bishop Montgomery and Pilgrim are defending girls’ champions.

BASKETBALL PAIRINGS, D15