SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL FINALS

GIRLS

Today at the Pyramid in Long Beach

DIVISION I-AA

Lynwood (28-0) vs. Long Beach Poly (32-0), 8:15 p.m.: There are three undefeated girls’ teams in the section, and two meet in the marquee game of the weekend. They are similar in that they are two of the deepest, most athletic teams in the section and are comfortable applying pressure defense up and down the floor. Still, both trailed in the fourth quarter of their semifinals and nearly had their seasons ended; top-seeded Lynwood defeated Long Beach Wilson, 80-76, and second-seeded Poly hung on against Chino Hills Ayala, 42-40. Lynwood is led by senior Janice Bright and sophomore Sade Wiley-Gatewood, and the Knights may have more offensive weapons than Poly, which is led by Kameca Simmons. This is Lynwood’s ninth title-game appearance, and it has won three championships--in 1986, 1994 and last year--when it beat Anaheim Esperanza, 59-39. Poly is playing for the title for the third time; the Jackrabbits lost in 1980 and won in 1995.

DIVISION III-A

Torrance Bishop Montgomery (23-5) vs. Pasadena Muir (24-4), 4:45 p.m.: Each team is going for its third title. Top-seeded Bishop Montgomery, a 65-62 loser to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake in the final last season, is trying to win its second title in three years. Second-seeded Muir lost in last season’s II-A title game to Artesia, 76-47.

DIVISION II-A

North Torrance (24-6) vs. Redondo Union (22-7), 6:30 p.m.: This is the surprise matchup of the weekend after fourth-seeded North upset top-seeded Brea Olinda in the semifinals, ending the Ladycats’ string of 13 consecutive title-game appearances, including 12 championships. North was beaten in last season’s final, 56-54. Third-seeded Redondo, which defeated Brea two years ago, is trying to win its second title in three years. . These teams played twice in the Bay League, and Redondo won, 41-37 and 51-41.

Martin Henderson

DIVISION V-A

Los Angeles Pilgrim (25-3) vs. Hemet Baptist Christian (23-0), 3 p.m.: These schools meet in the playoffs for the third consecutive season, with Pilgrim trying to win its fourth consecutive V-A title and its fifth in the last six seasons under seventh-year Coach Kevin Blue. Amber Cunningham, a 5-9 senior wing, averages 20 points and 10 rebounds for Pilgrim, the top-seeded team. The Warriors feature seniors Jamie DeKiewiet, a 5-10 point guard who averages 19 points, and ReAnne Lappinga, a 6-5 center who averages 22 points and 12 rebounds.