Girls’ basketball: State title is within reach for Chaminade or Long Beach Poly

Saturday’s Open Division Southern California Regional girls’ final between Chaminade and Long Beach Poly at 5 p.m at The Pyramid has taken on added significance.

Not only is it a rematch of the Southern Section Open Division final won by Chaminade, 72-63, but the winner will become the favorite to take the state title next weekend in Sacramento after the stunning loss in the Northern California Regionals by Stockton St. Mary’s, the No. 1-ranked team in America whose 57-game win streak came to an end.

Chaminade will once again turn to its one-two punch of USC-bound Valerie Higgins and Duke-bound Leaonna Odom. Both were selected for the Jordan Brand all-star game in New York on April 15.

Poly, led by 6-1 junior Jasmine Jones, will try to learn from its last game against Chaminade and reverse the score.

It will be the final game on the championship schedule at The Pyramid before the arena is cleared for the boys’ Open Division final between Chino Hills and Bishop Montgomery.

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