Tologs begin defense of CIF championship
The following are previews of today’s CIF Southern Section division playoff games involving local teams.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy at Capistrano Valley, 3 p.m.: The Tologs (13-4-3) will begin their quest to repeat as CIF Southern Section Division I champions by entering their opening-round match riding a five-match unbeaten streak. Flintridge Sacred Heart, which finished second in the Mission League behind Harvard-Westlake, is the lone second-place finisher out of eight in the division to take part in a road contest.
Capistrano Valley (11-4-6) placed second in the Sea View League behind third-seeded Dana Hills.
The winner will meet Villa Park or Santa Margarita on Wednesday in a second-round match.
Millikan at Crescenta Valley, 3 p.m.: Fresh off winning their fourth consecutive Pacific League title, the Falcons (13-4-2) will look to get past the first round of the Division II playoffs. They figure to have a tough task in Millikan (17-2-6), which took third in the Moore League.
The winner will advance to the second round against top-seeded Sunny Hills or Newbury Park in a second-round contest Wednesday.
Cypress at Flintridge Prep, 3 p.m.: Flintridge Prep (15-2-1) turned to its defense to win the Prep League championship for the third straight season. The Rebels, who have registered 12 shutouts, enter the postseason riding a seven-match winning streak.
Chino Hills (16-4-5) took third in the Sierra League.
The winner will meet La Mirada or Cypress on Wednesday in the second round.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Colton at Crescenta Valley, 7 p.m.: After finishing second in the Pacific League, fourth-seeded Crescenta Valley (23-4) will start the Division IA playoffs having won seven of its previous eight contests.
Colton (11-11) received an at-large berth out of the San Andreas League after finishing sixth.
The winner will battle La Quinta or Warren on Tuesday in a second-round game.
Diamond Bar at Glendale, 7 p.m.: Glendale, which earned the Division IA 16th seed, placed third in the Pacific League. The Nitros (13-13) will make their first playoff appearance in two seasons.
Diamond Bar (13-15) finished third in the Hacienda League.
The winner will face top-seeded Mission Viejo or La Sierra in a second-round game Tuesday.
Covina at St. Francis, 7 p.m.: Tenth-seeded St. Francis (11-16) began its Division III-A journey Wednesday with a 64-33 road victory against Mountain View. In the process, the Golden Knights, who received an at-large berth out of the Mission League, lost starting guard Emerson Castaneda to a knee injury. St. Francis co-Coach Ray O’Brien said it wasn’t clear if Castaneda would play today.
Eighth-seeded Covina (20-8), which won the Valle Vista League championship, began the playoffs Wednesday with a 63-58 win against Pioneer.
The winner will take on second-seeded St. John Bosco or Ridgecrest Burroughs in a quarterfinal game Tuesday.
Renaissance Academy vs. Lancaster Bethel Christian at Antelope Valley Christian, 7 p.m.: The top-seeded Wildcats (20-6) cruised to an easy 83-15 Division VI first-round win against St. Monica Academy. Renaissance, which took third in the Harbor League, received a team-high 15 points from Gerrick Uneau and 12 from Jessy Cantinol.
Bethel Christian (8-7) posted a 55-38 upset road win against 16th-seeded Big Pine. Bethel Christian finished third in the Cross Valley League.
The winner will face eighth-seeded Trinity Classical or ninth-seeded Arshag Dickranian in a quarterfinal contest Tuesday.
