Crean Lutheran, JSerra and Santa Margarita earn high seeds in CIF boys basketball playoffs

Crean Lutheran, led by first-year head coach Austin Loeb, is top-seeded in Division 1 for the CIF boys basketball playoffs.

The Saints (21-7), the Crestview League champions, host Channel League champion Santa Barbara (19-8) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

JSerra, the No. 3 team from the Trinity League, is seeded second in Division 1. The Lions (19-12) will host Pasadena (19-8) Wednesday.

CIF officials also announced that the open division will include 12 teams. Trinity League co-champion Santa Margarita is seeded No. 2.

Santa Margarita opens Wednesday at home vs. No. 10 Damien.

Sierra Canyon is seeded first, Redondo Union third and Notre Dame Sherman Oaks fourth in the open division. Open division will once again have a pool play format.

Sunset League champion Corona del Mar (27-1) is seeded eighth in the open division and will host Crespi Friday night in its opening game.

The divisional finals will be held on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario and Azusa Pacific University.

There are 300 teams in the CIF boys basketball playoffs, according to CIF officials. All the divisions, except for open,have 32-team brackets.

Mater Dei, an at-large team from the Trinity League, is seeded third in Division 2. The Monarchs (17-14) will open play hosting Providence (20-7). Canyon from the Crestview League and Servite from the Trinity League earned at-large berths in Division 2.

In Division 3, Newport Harbor (16-12) is one of three teams who received an at-large berth.

In Division 5, Empire League runner-up Tustin is seeded third. The Tillers (14-14) will open the playoffs at home Wednesday vs. Pilibos (13-14).

In Division 6, North Hills League runner-up Troy (14-14) is seeded second and will host Ocean View (11-17).

In Division 7, Golden West League’s No. 3 team Garden Grove (17-12) is seeded third and will host Notre Dame Riverside.

OC match-ups include:

Division 1:

Loyola at Los Alamitos

St. Bernard at La Habra

Cypress at San Gabriel Academy

Tesoro at Inglewood

Fairmont Prep at Crossroads

Orange Lutheran at Aradia

Division 2:

San Clemente at Hesperia

Edison at North Hills League champion Esperanza

Silverado at Canyon

Fountain Valley at Freeway League champion El Dorado

Maranatha at Servite

Division 3:

Villa Park at Ontario Christian

La Canada at PCL champion Woodbridge

Sea View League champion Aliso Niguel at Newport Harbor

Portola at Glendora

Division 4

Chino at Trabuco Hills

Godinez at Moorpark

Beckman at Colony

Jordan at Coast League champion Los Amigos

Division 5:

Valley Torah at Northwood

Apple Valley at San Juan Hills

Irvine at Calvary Baptist

Indian Springs at Brea Olinda

Division 6:

Laguna Hills at Temecula Prep

Valencia at Vistamar

Kennedy at Moreno Valley

Division 7:

Co-Grove League champion Estancia at Orange Coast champion Segerstrom

Anaheim at Gabrielino

Division 8:

Banning at Orange League co-champion Bolsa Grande

Santa Ana at Barstow

Tarbut V’ Torah at South El Monte

Orange League co-champion Loara at Palm Valley

Rancho Alamitos at Silver Valley

Division 9:

Magnolia Science at Santa Ana Valley

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com