Let the Races Begin for League Titles

League play in girls’ basketball opens tonight with a key Pacific Coast League game, Estancia hosting Costa Mesa. Because Laguna Hills was sent to the Sea View League, there is no defending PCL champion, and Costa Mesa, Estancia and Corona del Mar are expected to battle for the title.

Costa Mesa won its tournament last week and the Mustangs appear to be the league’s most physically gifted team. But don’t count out the Eagles.

Most of the county girls’ races are up for grabs:

* Empire League: Either Century or El Dorado has won the last five titles, and it probably will work out that way again. The teams play tonight at Century, but El Dorado won’t be at full strength until the return of Carly Wade (knee).

* Garden Grove League: Pacifica, led by senior Diana Barreras, has won the last five league titles but might get a challenge from Santiago.

* Sea View League: Ninth-ranked Irvine is the favorite, but can expect battles from Laguna Hills, which has played a tougher schedule, and up-and-down Woodbridge.

* South Coast League: Fourth-ranked San Clemente is a fine example of team play. No. 8 El Toro is led by Giuliana Mendiola, the county’s most prolific scorer. * Sunset: Sixth-ranked Esperanza and No. 7 Edison are even favorites. Marina and Huntington Beach are dark horses.

Top-ranked Brea Olinda, No. 2 Troy, No. 3 Mater Dei, No. 4 Foothill, Westminster and Cerritos Valley Christian are heavy favorites to win titles in their leagues.

BOYS’ RACES WIDE OPEN

It’s one of the most competitive boys’ basketball seasons in recent memory, though top-ranked Mater Dei stands well above the crowd and should roll through the Serra League.

Likewise, second-ranked Ocean View (Golden West) and Bolsa Grande (Garden Grove) figure to have an easy time.

Here’s a rundown on some of the more interesting league races:

* Century League: Villa Park’s only challenge is expected to come from Foothill (7-9), and the fifth-ranked Spartans host the Knights on Friday. Villa Park will be without its 6-8 junior center, Kyle Egkan, who re-injured an ankle in Tuesday’s game against Woodbridge. * Empire League: Katella is rebuilding and El Dorado, led by Sonora transfer Quinn Hawking (17.8 points), figures to battle Cypress and Loara for the title.

* Freeway League: Robert Abreu’s career-high 40 points and 10 rebounds in a 73-63 loss to Esperanza Tuesday night was impressive for co-defending champion Sonora, but fourth-ranked Troy is expected to drive off with the title. Fullerton (12-2) has won more games than it did in either of its past two seasons.

* Olympic League: Never overlook defending champion Calvary Chapel, but Orange Lutheran has the county’s leading scorer in Jason Whieldon (28.5 points). * Orange League: Play starts next week. Magnolia and Anaheim have good records against so-so competition, but with No. 10 Brea Olinda playing far below expectations and Savanna still trying to find itself, this race might come down to the last game of the season.

* Pacific Coast League: This is also likely to be a fight to the wire among Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar, University, Estancia and Laguna Beach, which won the Century tournament.

* Sea View League: Woodbridge, a preseason top-10 pick, has been inconsistent. So has ninth-ranked Newport Harbor, despite outstanding performances by senior forward Dustin Illingworth, MVP of the Carson City (Nev.) tournament. Aliso Niguel and Laguna Hills could be spoilers.

* South Coast League: This is almost a toss-up, with eighth-ranked El Toro rating a slim edge over San Clemente.

* Sunset League: Is sixth-ranked Marina a playoff-caliber team behind high-flying swingman Dustin Kaatz (22.5 points, 10.1 rebounds)? It won’t take long to find out. The Vikings host Edison tonight and next week play at Fountain Valley. Third-ranked Los Alamitos, the league favorite, opens league play Friday at Esperanza, a preseason No. 6 pick.

Staff writers Ben Bolch and Paul McLeod contributed to this story.

If you have an item or idea for the prep basketball report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com or paul.mcleod@latimes.com or ben.bolch@latimes.com