Price Again Could Be Right

Redondo Union, Encino Crespi and Los Angeles Price are the only teams that can defend Southern Section boys’ basketball titles in the same divisions as last season in the wake of realignment for the enrollment-based playoffs.

Price, the top-seeded team in Division V-A, probably has the best chance among the three defending champions. The Knights are seeking a fourth consecutive section title.

Redondo Union, which last season won its first title since 1943, is seeded third in Division II-A.

Crespi is a longshot to repeat in Division IV-AA after finishing fourth in the Mission League and posting a sub-500 overall record.

Glendora won the Division I-AA crown last season but now plays in Division I-A. The Tartans are one of six defending champions displaced from the divisions they won in 2001.

A division-by-division preview:

DIVISION I-AA

Defending champion: Glendora.

Seeded teams: 1. Rialto Eisenhower (23-2), 2. Long Beach Poly (23-3), 3. Fontana Miller (21-6), 4. Oxnard (22-4).

Dark horse: Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley (21-6). The Cougars advanced to the finals last year as an unseeded team and could do it again.

Outlook: This bracket should hold true to form, pitting Eisenhower and Poly in the finals. The Eagles defeated the Jackrabbits in December, and Poly Coach Ron Palmer concedes that his team has had difficulty as players tried to do too much in big games. Eisenhower has struggled against the press, but the Eagles and Jackrabbits possess top-notch frontcourt players.

DIVISION I-A

Defending champion: Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Seeded teams: 1. Mission Viejo (24-2), 2. Glendora (24-2), 3. Thousand Oaks (23-3), 4. Los Angeles Loyola (22-3).

Dark horse: Los Alamitos (16-10). The Griffins played a tough schedule and defeated Mission Viejo, Capistrano Valley and Thousand Oaks.

Outlook: This division is ripe for upsets, considering the top two seeds have lost to teams they should have beaten. Look for at least one “no-name” team to advance to the semifinals or finals.

DIVISION II-AA

Defending champion: Compton Dominguez.

Seeded teams: 1. Mater Dei (22-4), 2. Pasadena (22-4), 3. Villa Park (24-3), 4. Corona Centennial (22-3).

Dark horse: Newport Harbor (19-6). The Sailors won the Sea View League title in convincing fashion.

Outlook: Mater Dei is playing so well that it should breeze through the section’s toughest division. The Monarchs don’t face a potential stumbling block until the semifinals, where they could meet Centennial. Inglewood’s DeAngelo Collins could present some matchup problems for Mater Dei if the Sentinels get past Villa Park and Pasadena.

DIVISION II-A

Defending champion: Redondo Union.

Seeded teams: 1. Riverside King (24-3), 2. Santa Margarita (20-4), 3. Redondo Union (19-6), 4. Elsinore (22-5).

Dark horse: La Habra Sonora (17-10). The Raiders are better than their third-place finish in the Freeway League, as evidenced by their recent 17-point thrashing of Corona Centennial.

Outlook: Any of the top four seeds are capable of winning the title, but hard-nosed point guard Marvin Lea (23.5 points per game) may give King a slight edge. Santa Margarita is the most battle-tested team, having played in the Serra League and beaten City power Fairfax.

DIVISION III-AA

Defending champion: None. (Torrance Bishop Montgomery won the Division III title but there weren’t any subdivisions.)

Seeded teams: 1. Lakewood Artesia (18-6), 2. Lakewood Mayfair (19-7), 3. Palm Desert (22-4), 4. La Puente Bishop Amat (20-6).

Dark horse: Compton Dominguez (14-11). The Dons, winners of three consecutive state titles, will be dangerous.

Outlook: Artesia has completed its recovery from the scandal-ridden 1999-2000 season in two years under Coach Scott Pera, who won a state title at Annville-Cleona (Pa.) High in 1999. The Pioneers will be tough to beat thanks to a lineup that includes four players who average double figures in scoring..

DIVISION III-A

Defending champion: None.

Seeded teams: 1. Compton Centennial (25-0), 2. Bishop Montgomery (20-6), 3. La Canada (22-4), 4. Pasadena Muir (21-5).

Dark horse: Pomona Ganesha (23-4). Michael Efevberha is capable of scoring 50 in a game.

Outlook: Considering Muir’s recent struggles, Centennial should plow ahead unscathed into the finals, where it likely would meet Bishop Montgomery. The Knights’ Fred Washington (21.5 points) could keep things interesting before Darius Sanders, Gabriel Pruitt and Sterling Byrd help the Apaches pull away.

DIVISION IV-AA

Defending champion: Crespi.

Seeded teams: 1. El Segundo (23-4), 2. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (21-5), 3. Rosamond (20-4), 4. West Hills Chaminade (20-6).

Dark horse: Pasadena La Salle (19-5). The Lancers beat a tough L.A. Murphy team twice en route to the Santa Fe League title.

Outlook: Rosamond was the only seeded team to win its league, but the Roadrunners are likely to be outmuscled by El Segundo or Harvard-Westlake. Dashawn Strong and Jeramie Hopson lead the Eagles, while Bryce Taylor (21.8 points) is a force for the Wolverines.

DIVISION IV-A

Defending champion: Santa Monica Crossroads.

Seeded teams: 1. Los Angeles Verbum Dei (23-3), 2. Downey Calvary Chapel (22-4), 3. Gardena Serra (23-3), 4. Van Nuys Montclair Prep (13-11).

Dark horse: Malibu Kilpatrick (19-4). The Mustangs won the Alpha League and could give Serra a run in the quarterfinals.

Outlook: Verbum Dei defeated Calvary Chapel when the teams met three weeks ago, but Grizzly Coach Mark Berokoff likes his chances in a rematch. And why not? Calvary Chapel’s guard tandem of Tim Drisdom and Ralph Miley can play with anyone when their shots are falling.

DIVISION V-AA

Defending champion: Downey Calvary Chapel.

Seeded teams: 1. Palos Verdes Estates Rolling Hills Prep (15-6), 2. L.A. Ribet Academy (16-8), 3. Oxnard Santa Clara (14-8), 4. Apple Valley Christian (21-1)

Dark horse: Sherman Oaks Buckley (18-5). Scrappy guard David Gale was averaging 8.8 assists and 6.4 steals per game as of last week.

Outlook: Rolling Hills Prep, which has defeated Ribet Academy this season in two of three meetings, should roll into the finals behind a trio of sophomores. Forward Curtis Allen (25 points, 11 rebounds) and guards D.J. Wright (10 points, 11 assists) and Jason Daley (13 points) will present matchup difficulties for all comers. Ribet’s hopes rest on the shoulders of forward Chris Booker.

DIVISION V-A

Defending champion: Price.

Seeded teams: 1. Price (22-6), 2. Tarzana Stoneridge Prep (20-5), 3. Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep (14-8), 4. Lancaster Antelope Valley Christian (15-8).

Dark horse: Irvine Tarbut V’Torah (15-7). Coach Patrick Roberts always has his teams prepared.

Outlook: Led by guard Derrick Williams and forward Oscar Edwards, Price hasn’t lost a game on the hardwood since being defeated by Verbum Dei on Jan. 5. The Knights forfeited their final two Harbor League games after it was determined they had scheduled too many games.