Southern Section Boys Open Division
This is a premier lineup of teams that features powerhouses in Sierra Canyon, Chino Hills, Mater Dei and Bishop Montgomery, with the Ball brothers, Marvin Bagley III and Bol Bol leading a cast of players bound for the next level.
First-round matchups:
Sierra Canyon vs. Heritage Christian
Corona Centennial vs. Damien
Santa Margarita vs. Esperanza
Oak Park vs. Bishop Montgomery
Mater Dei vs. Crossroads
Redondo Union vs. Roosevelt
Alemany vs. Long Beach Poly
JSerra Catholic vs. Chino Hills
Sleeper team: Oak Park enters the Open Division bracket with six losses, but sports experienced upperclassmen and could be a tough test for Bishop Montgomery, one of the favorites. If they advance to the semifinals, look for them to make a run to the top.
Predicted title game outcome: Chino Hills over Sierra Canyon
Southern Section Boys Division 1AA
Seven teams have byes in the first round, leaving the remaining teams hungry for a spot in the next round.
Beverly Hills vs. Etiwanda
Hart vs. Village Christian
Serra vs. Lynwood
Calabasas vs. Santa Ana Foothill
J.W. North vs. Great Oak
La Mirada vs. Cantwell-Sacred Heart
Edison vs. Inglewood
Maranatha vs. Viewpoint
Santa Barbara vs. St. John Bosco
Sleeper team: Edison did not grab a first-round bye, but is ranked as the 47th best team in the state and should cruise over Inglewood. They will be a team to watch in this bracket.
Predicted title game outcome: Rancho Verde over Tahquitz
Southern Section Boys Division 1A
Harvard-Westlake vs. West Ranch
Kalser vs. Riverside Poly
Bonita vs. Tesoro
Anaheim Canyon vs. Martin Luther King
Walnut vs. Loyola
Milikan vs. Huntington Beach
San Clemente vs. Downey
Peninsula vs. Thousand Oaks
Redlands East Valley vs. Jordan
Mayfair vs. Chaminade
Corona del Mar vs. El Toro
Beaumont vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Sleeper team: Beaumont could be a team to watch in this bracket. They should have an easy pass in the first round over Rancho Cucamonga and will draw Pasadena in the second round, a winnable game.
Predicted title game outcome: La Canada over Beaumont
Southern Section Boys Division 2AA
Cypress vs. Woodbridge
San Marcos vs. Mira Costa
St. Joseph vs. Burroughs
Buena Park vs. Yorba Linda
Northwood vs. Newport Harbor
Crescenta Valley vs. Whittier
Perris vs. Westlake
Valencia vs. Upland
Highland vs. Valley View
Oaks Christian vs. Camarillo
Tustin vs. Los Osos
Windward vs. Lawndale
Sleeper team: St. Joseph, which finished second in the Pac-8, wasn’t awarded a bye in the first round but will be a tough task for Cajon, Villa Park and Mission College Prep to handle.
Predicted title game outcome: Cajon over Mission College Prep
Southern Section Boys Division 2A
Trabuco Hills vs. Valencia
La Salle vs. Eisenhower
Muir vs. Simi Valley
Claremont vs. Citrus Hill
Leuzinger vs. Lakewood
Vista Murrieta vs. Redlands
Aliso Niguel vs. Corona
Palm Springs vs. Cerritos Valley Christian
Saugus vs. Mark Keppel
Sunny Hills vs. Palm Desert
Sleeper team: Look out for La Salle, which finished second in a tough Citrus Belt division.
Predicted title game outcome: Oxnard over Pete Christian
Southern Section Boys Division 3AA
El Dorado vs. North Torrance
Bishop Amat vs. Mission Viejo
Godinez vs. Diamond Bar
Gabriellno vs. Brentwood
Royal vs. Whittier Christian
Capistrano Valley Christian vs. San Gabriel Academy
La Serna vs. Righetti
Rancho Mirage vs. Grand Terrace
Santa Fe vs. San Juan Hills
Ocean View vs. Glendora
Schurr vs. Buena
La Quinta vs. Burbank
La Sierra vs. St. Francis
Laguna Beach vs. Pioneer
Sleeper team: Gabriellno placed first in Mission Valley and matches up well with the teams in the bracket.
Predicted title game outcome: Valley Christian over Crean Lutheran
Southern Section Boys Division 3A
Alta Loma vs. Palos Verdes
Temescal Canyon vs. Pacifica
San Dimas vs. Charter Oak
Twentynine Palms vs. Alhambra
Arroyo Grande vs. West Covina
Yucalpa vs. Helmet
Savanna vs. Atascadero
San Bernadino vs. Compton Centennial
Oak Hills vs. Antelope Valley
Cabrillo vs. Artesia
Rialto vs. Paraciete
St. Bonaventure vs. Eastside
Sleeper team: Temescal Canyon finished 17-8 during the regular season and may be able to get to Hesperia in a future matchup.
Predicted title game: Adelanto over St. Paul
Southern Section Boys Division 4AA
Katella vs. Garden Grove
San Marino vs. Covina
Barstow vs. Jurupa Hills
Rio Mesa vs. Segerstrom
Woodcrest Christian vs. Morena Valley
Santiago vs. Costa Mesa
Pomona vs. South Torrance
Hillcrest vs. Victor Valley
Workman vs. Jurupa Valley
Westminster vs. South Hills
Flintridge Prep vs. Quartz Hill
Blair vs. Ontario
Sleeper team: Workman owns the best record out of all the teams at 20-5, but somehow did not receive a bye. While not entirely a sleeper, look for it to come out with a vengeance from the get-go.
Predicted title game: West Torrance over Workman
Southern Section Boys Division 4A
Garey vs. Santa Maria
Sage Hill vs. Chadwick
Heritage vs. Desert Hot Springs
Salesian vs. Rosemead
Santa Ynez vs. Pacifica
St. Margarets Episcopal vs. Loma Linda Academy
Lancaster vs. Aquinas
Bishop Diego vs. Nipomo
Pasadena Poly vs. Vista Del Lago
Mary Star of the Sea vs. Oxford Academy
Riverside Prep vs. Burroughs vs. Ridgecrest
Yeshiva vs. Santa Clara
Sleeper team: Pasadena Poly claimed the top spot in the Prep division and should be tough to handle for the likes of Pacific and Shalhevet
Predicted title game: Riverside Notre Dame over Pacific
Southern Section Boys Division 5AA Championships
Rolling Hills Prep vs. Winner of San Gorgonio/Silver Valley
Santa Clarita Christian vs. Winner of Morro Bay/Highland Hall
Burbank Providence vs. Winner of Vistalmar/Magnolia
Hesperia Christian vs. Winner of Sierra Vista/Arrowhead Christian
Holy Martyrs vs. Winner of Big Bear/Nogales
Fairmont Prep vs. Winner of Pacific Hills/Malibu
Mountain View vs. Edgewood
Valley Torah vs. Winner of Temecula Prep/Marshall
Sleeper team: Hesperia Christian enters the postseason with a 19-5 record that included wins over teams in higher divisions, including Compton Christian (Division 3A) and is poised to make noise in the bracket.
Predicted title game outcome: Hesperia Christian over Fairmont Prep
Southern Section Boys Division 5A Championships
Besant Hill vs. California Academy Math/Science
Faith Baptist vs. Southlands Christian
Pillibos vs. Southwestern Academy
Academy Careers and Exploration vs. Joshua Springs
San Jacinto Valley Academy vs. Tarbut V Torah
Riverside County Education Academy vs. Lycee International
Avalon vs. Newburry Park Adventist
Thacher vs. Laguna Blanca
Los Angeles Adventist vs. Canoga Park AGBU
Trona vs. California Military
Sleeper team: Trona owns a 16-5 record and could be a team to watch from the outset.
Predicted title game: Coast Union over Apple Valley Christian
