Orange County high school boys basketball teams received top four seeds in the CIF playoffs that begin this week. There are 298 entries in 10 divisional playoffs beginning with first-round play on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
The tournament wraps up with finals on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Azusa Pacific University and Edison High School in Huntington Beach. This is the first year of using current regular season data in determining playoff groupings, CIF officials said Saturday while releasing the playoff pairings.
OPEN DIVISION
Harvard Westlake, Roosevelt, St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita are the top seeds. St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita were Trinity League co-champions.
The open division includes 10 teams in a pool-play format.
Key match-ups:
No. 8 JSerra at No. 5 Notre Dame Sherman Oaks Wednesday, Feb. 12
No. 8 JSerra at No. 4 Santa Margarita, Friday, Feb. 14
DIVISION 1
Crespi, Mira Costa, Mater Dei and Rancho Cucamonga are top seeds. Coach Gary McKnight’s Mater Dei team (20-8) is an at-large entry from the Trinity League.
Chaminade and Alemany earned at-large berths.
Key matchups:
San Clemente at Crean Lutheran
Vista Murrieta at Los Alamitos
Fountain Valley at Mater Dei
Damien at Canyon
Edison at Crespi
DIVISION 2AA
Camarillo, Chino Hills, Viewpoint and Calabasas are top seeds. Newport Harbor (17-11) is an at-large entry.
Key matchups:
South Pasadena at Newport Harbor
Santiago Canyon at San Juan Hills
Yorba Linda at Chino Hills
Tesoro at Rancho Verde
Capistrano Valley at Viewpoint
Pacifica Christian at Saugus
DIVISION 2A
Canyon from Canyon Country, Verbum Dei, Pasadena and Lawndale are top seeds. Doe Pueblos and ML King are at-large entries.
Key match-ups:
Bishop Amat at Irvine
El Dorado at Canyon Country
DIVISION 3AA
Linfield Christian is top seeded, Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer’s Tustin team, Empire League champion, is seeded second. Academy League champion Capistrano Valley Christian is seeded third and Price fourth. Jordan and El Toro earned at-large berths.
Key match-ups:
Liberty at Tustin
Sunny Hills at Linfield Christian
Adelanto at Northwood
Kennedy at Capo Valley Christian
Desert Christian Academy at Beckman
DIVISION 3A
Summit, Quartz Hill, Salesian and Aquinas are top seeds. Burbank, Torrance and Pioneer earned top seeds.
Key matchups:
Redlands East Valley at Woodbridge
Ontario Christian at Esperanza
DIVISION 4AA
Elsinore, Pacifica, Valencia Placentia and Whittier earned top seeds. Cantwell Sacred Heart earned an at-large berth.
Key match-ups:
Santiago GG at Los Amigos
Tarbut V’ Torah at Western Christian
Calvary Baptist at Costa Mesa
Providence/SB at Pacifica
DIVISION 4A
Garden Grove, Geffen Academy, Santa Rosa Academy and California earned top seeds. Citrus Hill and Santa Clarita earned at-large berths.
Key match-ups:
Alhambra at Garden Grove
Excelsior at Katella
DIVISION 5AA
Sequoyah, Thatcher, San Gabriel and Anaheim earned top four seeds. Diamond Ranch earned an at-large berth.
Key match-ups:
Desert Hot Springs at Anaheim
Buena Park at Thatcher
Webb at La Quinta
DIVISION 5A
Western, San Fernando Valley Academy, Sherman Indian and Saddleback earned top four berths. Western (10-15) was Grove League runner-up while Saddleback (11-13) was Orange League runner-up.
Key match-ups:
Arroyo at Western
Legacy Prep at Saddleback
Duarte at Orange
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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