Playoff Favorites Are More Than Holding Their Own

As high school basketball teams begin the final three weeks of the regular season, the playoff picture in the City and Southern Sections is coming into focus.

Many of the postseason participants in the two City and 10 Southern Sections divisions will not be determined until the final week. But the favorites have asserted themselves during the preseason and through the first part of league play.

Here is a look at the teams to watch:

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BOYS

CITY SECTION

Fairfax, Westchester and Crenshaw have established themselves as leading contenders for the title. The question: Which team will step up and grab the fourth spot in the semifinals? Defending City champion Manual Arts, Fremont and Woodland Hills Taft are candidates.

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BOYS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division I--With Lakewood Artesia deciding to remain in Division II, the door is open in I-AA for Long Beach Poly, Rialto Eisenhower, Chino Hills Ayala and Glendora.

Santa Ana Mater Dei is the team to beat in I-A, though Corona Centennial became a prime challenger when Erik and Lance Soderberg left Mater Dei and transferred to the school closer to their home.

Division II--Defending champion Compton Dominguez, with 7-foot junior Tyson Chandler, probably faces its biggest challenge from Redondo Union in II-AA. Artesia, meanwhile, could be challenged by Mayfair, Huntington Beach Ocean View and Pasadena Muir in II-A.

Division III--Torrance Bishop Montgomery, led by Errick and Derrick Craven, made a statement Saturday by defeating defending Division III state champion Fresno Washington. The Knights are the team to beat in a division that also includes transfer-laden Compton Centennial and San Dimas.

Division IV--Playa del Rey St. Bernard and Gardena Serra are battling for supremacy in the Del Rey League and in IV-AA. Pasadena Marshall Fundamental of the Alpha League is also a contender.

In Division IV-A, Santa Monica Crossroads has played like the team to beat, with Orange Lutheran and Verbum Dei expected to challenge.

Division V--North Hollywood Campbell Hall, Burbank Bellarmine-Jefferson and Pacific Hills are favorites in V-AA; Price, Heritage Christian and Antelope Valley Christian are front-runners in V-AA.

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GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Harbor City Narbonne probably will maintain its No. 1 national ranking for the rest of the season unless it stumbles in the state tournament. Washington prepared for a possible City playoff showdown with the Gauchos by playing Chino Don Lugo on Monday. The Generals lost, 67-51.

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GIRLS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division I--Lynwood made a statement Monday with a victory over Riverside J.W. North. The Knights will be challenged by Chino Hills Ayala, San Clemente and El Toro in I-AA. North, Ventura Buena, Ventura, Chino Don Lugo and Troy will slug it out in I-A.

Division II--Brea Olinda remains the team to beat in II-AA. Santa Margarita, Pasadena Muir and La Puente Bishop Amat look like front-runners in II-A.

Division III--Mission Hills Alemany, Bishop Montgomery, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, Fullerton Rosary and Inglewood Morningside are in the mix for the title.

Division IV--Morro Bay is the team to beat in IV-AA, St. Bernard in IV-A.

Division V--Downey Calvary Chapel is a front-runner in V-AA with Palos Verdes Chadwick, San Pedro Mary Star and Pasadena Poly contenders in V-A.