GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TITLE GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division I-AA

Long Beach Poly (26-3) vs. Lynwood (26-4), 8:15 tonight at Long Beach State

Top-seeded Long Beach Poly has been The Times’ top-ranked Southland team from the start, but Lynwood has won four consecutive championships -- the last three against Poly, which won its only title in 1995. Senior April Phillips (11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds) and freshman Jasmine Dixon (8.0 points, 7.6 rebounds) give Poly a strong inside presence, and the Jackrabbits’ depth is unmatched. Their defensive pressure is critical, which puts the onus on Lynwood point guard Sade Cunningham to get the ball up the court and into the hands of 6-foot-3 sophomore Lenita Sanford. The third-ranked Knights have won 14 in a row since losing to Poly, 62-54, on Jan. 8. In that game, Poly didn’t take its first lead until the final 2 minutes 45 seconds.

Division II-A

Redondo (27-3) vs. Brea Olinda (24-6), 6:30 tonight, at Long Beach State

This will be top-seeded Redondo’s fourth title game in six years, and the Sea Hawks are doing it with freshman and sophomore starters. Behind sophomores Renahy Young and Courtney Price, and freshman Antonye Nyingifa, Redondo is going for its third title but must get past one of the state’s most storied programs. Brea is in its 15th championship game, and it has won 13 titles. Although the second-seeded Ladycats struggled against quicker opponents -- an advantage Redondo will have -- they showed they can rise on occasion. Brea beat third-seeded Riverside North, a much quicker team, 69-54, in the semifinals behind sophomore Jeanette Pohlen’s 25 points.

Division IV-A

Brentwood (20-6) vs. L.A. Windward (21-5), 4:45 today, at Long Beach State

Top-seeded and defending champion Brentwood stepped up its schedule -- it played six nonleague opponents who reached section semifinals, including Windward, which it defeated, 45-32, on Dec. 16. Brentwood has four players averaging between nine and 11 points, including seniors Brianne Brown (9.3 points) and Tanya Tsikanovsky (9.0). Third-seeded Windward answers with three players averaging between 13 and 15 points -- Hailey Dunham (14.9 points, 5.2 assists), Erica Latimer (13.6 points, 4.2 steals) and Monica Deangelis (13.2 points, 48% from three-point range).

Division V-AA

L.A. Pacific Hills (24-4) vs. Palos Verdes Estates Rolling Hills Prep (19-6), 3 today, at Long Beach State

The question here is whether the real championship was played last week when top-seeded and defending champion Pacific Hills defeated Santa Monica New Roads, 45-43, in a semifinal. New Roads defeated third-seeded Rolling Hills, 64-20, on Feb. 5. Still, anything can happen in an arena setting. Helen Suarez (15.8 points) leads Pacific Hills.