May 18, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Mater Dei gets bye, JSerra and Fountain Valley open So Cal Regionals Tuesday night

One of JSerra’s top players Ian Martinez passes the ball off during the semifinals. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Three Orange County high school boys basketball squads are moving on to the CIF Southern California regionals.

Mater Dei, the open division runner-up, is seeded No. 2 and has a bye in the opening round. the Monarchs will face the winner of the game between No. 3 Etiwanda and No. 6 Rancho Christian Saturday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals at Mater Dei.

Sierra Canyon is seeded No. 1 and will also have a bye in the first round. Sierra Canyon will face the winner of the game between No. 4 Harvard Westlake and No. 5 Centennial on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The regional finals are Tuesday, March 10 and the state finals are Saturday, March 14.

Fountain Valley (19-9) opens the Southern California Division III regionals Tuesday night on the road against No. 2-seeded Gardena at 7 p.m. The Barons, who are seeded 15th, haven’t played since losing to Shadow Hills 82-70 in the CIF 3A semifinals on Feb. 21.

JSerra (24-8) is seeded 11th in the Division I bracket and will be on the road Tuesday night to face No. 6 Santa Clarita Christian at 8:30 p.m. at The Master’s College.

Coach Keith Wilkinson’s team has not played since losing to eventual CIF champion Windward 67-63 in the Division 1 semifinals.