Advertisement

BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Share

CITY SECTION

Today at the Forum

Championship Division

Westchester (27-3) vs. Los Angeles Fairfax (26-2), 5 p.m.

In a rematch of last year’s championship, these Western League rivals meet for the seventh time in two seasons. Westchester, seeking its fourth consecutive title, has won four of the last six meetings. Led by a front line of seniors Trevor Ariza (6 feet 7) and Scott Cutley (6-6) and sophomore Marcus Johnson (6-6), the Comets had four players hit double figures in a 78-52 semifinal victory over Woodland Hills Taft. Fairfax can match the Comets up front with Alex Bausley (6-6), Jason Gilzene (6-6) and Jamal Boykin (6-7). The Lions were able to shut down Maryland-bound Ekene Ibekwe (6-9) in a 62-46 semifinal victory over Carson. Guard play could be the difference as Fairfax’s Kevin Bell and Josh Shipp match up against Westchester’s Bobby Brown and Jonathan Tolliver.

*

SOUTHERN SECTION

Today at Arrowhead Pond

Division I-AA

Rialto Eisenhower (23-7) vs. Victorville Silverado (29-1), 8:30 p.m.

This bracket actually played out the way it was predicted, with top-seeded Eisenhower taking on the second-seeded Hawks. Silverado made it with only a few points to spare, eking out a second-round victory over Long Beach Wilson, 57-54, and fending off unseeded Lawndale Leuzinger, 71-67, in a semifinal. Sean Marshall, who has signed with Boston College, has been strong for Eisenhower, scoring 28 points in a 78-62 quarterfinal victory over Santa Monica.

Division I-A

Los Angeles Loyola (25-4) vs. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (26-4), 6:30 p.m.

Before last season, Loyola hadn’t won a section title since 1953. Now, the top-seeded Cubs are talking about a dynasty with a lineup that includes Kansas-bound guard Omar Wilkes, forward Chris Rucker and guard Vince Oliver. Third-seeded Canyon Springs has some firepower of its own, with Tron Smith, Andre McGee and Richard Cobbs each averaging at least 16.5 points.

Advertisement

Division II-AA

Inglewood (22-8) vs. Bellflower St. John Bosco (25-6), 2:15 p.m.

Unseeded Inglewood upset top-seeded San Bernardino San Gorgonio in a quarterfinal, 70-64, and No. 4 Santa Barbara in a semifinal, 51-43. Inglewood guard Ray Reed has been torrid in the playoffs, scoring 23 points against Santa Barbara. St. John Bosco, seeded No. 3, has been led by guard Eric Lane, who is averaging 22 points in the playoffs.

Division II-A

Santa Ana Mater Dei (30-2) vs. Lakewood Mayfair (22-7), 12:30 p.m.

Top-seeded Mater Dei should roll to its fifth consecutive section title behind a deep and talented team that features forward D.J. Strawberry, guard Wesley Washington and center Harrison Schaen. All three will play for Division I schools next season. Second-seeded Mayfair, making its first appearance in a title game since 2001, will need standouts Chris Childress, Justin Hawkins and Dejon Prejean to be at their best to have a chance at an upset.

Division III-AA

Lakewood Artesia (27-2) vs. Santa Margarita (20-9), 10:45 a.m.

Santa Margarita, seeded No. 2, has had no problems in the playoffs, winning three games by an average of 27.7 points. Todd Follmer had 26 points and 14 rebounds in a surprisingly easy 73-44 semifinal victory over Hacienda Heights Los Altos. Artesia almost lost to Newbury Park in a quarterfinal, 53-49, but looked better in a 74-60 victory over Atascadero, with Kaelen Daniels scoring a career-high 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting.

Division III-A

Compton Centennial (18-9) vs. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (25-6), 9 a.m.

There might not be a section final with a better individual matchup than this game featuring Harvard-Westlake’s 6-5 Bryce Taylor taking on Centennial’s 6-5 Arron Afflalo. Both are juniors with college futures. Taylor, averaging 28.4 points, has a high game of 53 points. Afflalo, averaging better than 20 points, scored 42 points against Carson. If the two neutralize each other, Harvard-Westlake could have the edge because of experience.

-- Ben Bolch, Mike Bresnahan and Eric Sondheimer

Advertisement