BOYS’ BASKETBALL TITLE GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division I-AA

Los Alamitos (26-4) vs. Long Beach Jordan (26-4), 6:30 p.m., Saturday at Arrowhead Pond

Second-seeded Jordan hopes to become the ninth Moore League team to win a Division I-AA title since 1991. Playing in its first section final since winning the 1996 title, Jordan will count on Larry Johnson, a 6-foot-5 junior forward who has averaged a team-high 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. Senior guards Clyde Thomas and Deandre Denan also average in double figures for the Panthers. Los Alamitos, playing in its first section final, will counter with a taller lineup, led by 6-5 senior forward Landry Fields, who recently committed to Stanford, 6-10 junior forward Clint Amberry and 6-9 sophomore forward Corbin Moore.

Division I-A

Thousand Oaks (27-4) vs. Ventura (25-5), 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Pond

Ventura is playing in its first section final since 1951. Thousand Oaks made its only other appearance in 2002. Third-seeded Ventura won its first semifinal in 28 years Tuesday, when Nick Larson contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds and Nick Palmer had 13 points and 13 rebounds in a 52-50 victory over Glendora. The fourth-seeded Lancers are led by guards Alex Cohen, a 5-10 senior who has averaged 11 points and six assists, and Bobby Macias, a 5-8 junior who has averaged a team-high 15.1 points. Thousand Oaks also has a strong supporting cast, including 6-5 senior Wade Kegley, who had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench Tuesday in a 56-55 semifinal victory over Oxnard.

Division II-AA

Santa Ana Mater Dei (29-2) vs. Villa Park (27-3), 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Pond

Villa Park senior guard Riley Johnson spoiled what appeared to be the first section championship meeting between longtime Southland powers Mater Dei and Compton Dominguez on Tuesday, when he made three free throws with two seconds left in a 65-64 semifinal victory over the Dons. Villa Park and Mater Dei are each led by 6-7 junior forwards with similar offense-minded styles. Taylor King came into the week averaging 26.3 points and 12.1 points for top-seeded Mater Dei, and Drew Viney has averaged 17.7 points and 11 rebounds for the third-seeded Spartans. Both teams also have intimidating shot-blockers in the middle, additional size and scoring ability at forward and physical point guards who are strong taking the ball to the basket. They last met seven years ago in the Division II-A quarterfinals, when Mater Dei won at Villa Park. The Spartans have since won 68 consecutive home games.

Division II-A

Ontario Colony (29-3) vs. Torrance (19-11), 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Pond

Each is 0-1 in section final games, but Torrance made its appearance 40 years earlier than Colony’s. The top-seeded Titans suffered a one-sided loss to Mater Dei in last season’s Division II-A final. Torrance lost to Anaheim Servite in 1965. North Carolina-bound forward Deon Thompson has averaged 20.9 points and 13.7 rebounds for sixth-seeded Torrance, and he produced 28 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in a 58-55 upset over second-seeded Paso Robles in the semifinals. Colony needed a late basket from Stedman Merritt to force overtime against Anaheim Canyon, then pulled away to win, 83-72, in the other semifinal.

Division III-AA

Lakewood Artesia (28-1) vs. Santa Margarita (26-3), 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Pond

For the third time in four years, Artesia and Santa Margarita will tip off for the Division III-AA title. The top-seeded Pioneers were also favored heading into last season’s championship game but went scoreless for nearly five minutes at the end of the game and lost, 50-32. The bulk of Artesia’s team has returned, however, bringing much-needed experience to its well-balanced, multi-faceted game plan. The Pioneers will need a group effort on defense to slow UCLA-bound forward James Keefe, who is starting in his third consecutive final.

Division III-A

Compton Centennial (26-3) vs. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (25-4), 9 a.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Pond

Centennial hasn’t had any luck in section finals, losing in a championship game in five of the last six seasons. Harvard-Westlake, meanwhile, has won four consecutive section championships, including victories over Centennial in 2003 and 2004. Top-seeded Centennial will count on the experience of Jervaughn Johnson, Tyre Thompson and Jesse Woodard, who were key members of its Division III state championship team two years ago. Harvard-Westlake is led by North Carolina-bound center Alex Stepheson, who has averaged 20.2 points and 18.3 rebounds. He has been rebounding especially well in the last seven games, averaging 25.

Division IV-AA

North Hollywood Campbell Hall (25-4) vs. Gardena Serra (22-7), 8:15 p.m. Friday at Loyola Marymount

After experiencing success against larger schools during the regular season, these teams figure to be primed. Campbell Hall, the defending champion and the top-seeded team in the division, is led by sophomore guard Jrue Holiday, who has averaged 20.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists, and his brother, Justin, a junior forward who has averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds. Serra, seeded third, has victories over Long Beach Jordan, a Division I-AA finalist, and Los Angeles Loyola, a Division II-AA semifinalist. Mike Mayo made a layup at the overtime buzzer Friday to lift the Cavaliers to a 54-52 semifinal victory over second-seeded San Juan Capistrano Serra.

Division IV-A

Van Nuys Montclair Prep (23-8) vs. Downey Calvary Chapel (17-14), 6:30 p.m. Friday at Loyola Marymount

Montclair Prep has faced little resistance in defense of its Division IV-A title, winning its four playoffs games by an average of 19 points. Craig Partovich, the division’s player of the year last season, has averaged 18 points, Bobby Webb 17.5 and Anthony Green, another senior, 13 for the top-seeded Mounties. Calvary Chapel, seeded seventh, upset second-seeded San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s and third-seeded San Pedro Mary Star. Eric McNey and Spencer Nunes each scored 14 points in the 61-58 semifinal victory over Mary Star on Tuesday.

Division V-AA

Moreno Valley Calvary Chapel (23-1) vs. L.A. Ribet Academy (16-13), 3 p.m. Friday at Loyola Marymount

Sixth-seeded Ribet Academy is led by 6-5 junior swingman Bertrand Kamga and 6-9 sophomore forward Bernard Kamula, transfers from Cameroon. The Fighting Frogs also feature 6-9 junior forward Eric Neely. Fourth-seeded Calvary Chapel will counter with 6-9 center Drew Smith, a Riverside King transfer who has averaged 26.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. The Lions, who are riding a 20-game winning streak, faced their toughest test in the quarterfinals, defeating fifth-seeded L.A. Pacific Hills, 38-36.

Division V-A

La Canada Renaissance Academy (23-4) vs. Los Angeles Price (23-7), 4:45 p.m. Friday at Loyola Marymount

Top-seeded Price will be playing for an unprecedented eighth consecutive section title and the Knights have made the first seven look easy, winning by an average of 31 points. Price is led by 6-10 center Terron Sutton, who signed with Loyola Marymount. Renaissance Academy is making its second consecutive Division V-A final appearance, losing to Price by 30 points last season. The second-seeded Wildcats are led by senior point guard Archie Robb, who scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 69-54 semifinal victory over Palm Springs Desert Chapel.

CITY SECTION

Westchester (23-6) vs. Woodland Hills Taft (23-5), 7 p.m. Saturday at Sports Arena

It’s not the final most envisioned during the regular season. A championship rematch between Westchester and L.A. Fairfax was eliminated when the City playoff committee seeded the Comets fourth, placing them on the same side of the bracket as top-seeded Fairfax. Westchester then scored one of the biggest upsets of the season, soundly defeating the host Lions, 79-63, in a semifinal Friday. Dane Suttle, a junior guard, made 14 of 17 shots and finished with 32 points against Fairfax. Taft, which surprised outsiders by earning a higher seeding than Westchester, hasn’t faced a team seeded higher than sixth while advancing to its second championship game in three years. Westchester will try for its 24th consecutive postseason victory.

-- DAN ARRITT