CIF champion Mater Dei top seed in open division for So Cal Regional girls tourney (brackets)

Alyssa Durzao-Frescas (No. 12) helped Mater Dei win the CIF Open Division title in 2020. The Monarchs are out to bring home the Southern California Regional title this week.(File photo Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone)

Mater Dei’s girls basketball team, the CIF Open Division champion, is the top seeded team in the open division for this week’s CIF SoCal Girls Basketball Championships.

The tournament begins Tuesday for most teams but Mater Dei (20-0) gets a first-round bye.

There will not be a state championship tournament this year, officials announced earlier. The second round is Thursday and the finals are on Saturday at home sites. Game are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. unless noted.

The SoCal Championships includes teams from Central, Los Angeles County, San Diego and the Southern Section competing in 12, eight team divisions. Complete brackets are available online at https://cifstate.org/sports/basketball/SC_brkts_2021/index. 

DIVISIONS WITH OC TEAMS:

OPEN

Top-seeded Mater Dei, coached by Kevin Kiernan, has a bye in the first round and will move on to the second round Thursday to face the winner of the Cathederal Catholic vs. Harvard-Westlake game at Mater Dei.

1AA

Orangewood Academy (12-8) is seeded fourth and will host Carlsbad (16-5) Tuesday.

1A

Esperanza (21-3) is seeded fourth and will host No. 5 Carathers (20-1) Tuesday.

Rosary (17-5) is seeded sixth and will play at No. 3 Palasades (13-6) Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Fairmont Prep (16-7) is seeded seventh and will play at No. 2 Mount Miguel (19-5) Tuesday.

2A

CIF champion Sage Hill (18-6) is seeded fourth and will host No. 5 seeded Westview (17-7).

Sonora (19-5) is seeded No. 2 and will host No. 7 El Camino Real (5-5) Tuesday

3AA

CIF champion Newport Harbor (18-2) is seeded third and will host No. 6 La Quinta (13-4) Tuesday.

4A

Division 5A runner-up Pacifica Christian (15-5) is seeded sixth and will play at No. 3 Academy of Our Lady of Peace (16-5) on Tuesday.

5AA

CIF runner-up Capistrano Valley Christian (8-7) is seeded fourth and will host No. 5 Fallbrook (21-8) Tuesday.

No. 7 Calvary Chapel (17-4) will play at No. 2 Strathmore (18-6) Tuesday.