Long Beach Poly in good position to win fifth consecutive state title
The Southern Section girls’ basketball pairings are out, so no more talk about potential or promise. It’s time to perform and show what’s been learned over the last three months. Play begins Thursday. Here’s the rundown:
Division 1AA
Top-seeded teams: 1. Long Beach Poly (23-2), 2. Corona Santiago (25-2), 3. Troy (23-3), 4. Etiwanda (21-6).
The scoop: Long Beach Poly has won four consecutive state titles, and with six Division I prospects, the Jackrabbits will probably win another state championship. Corona Santiago, led by the Lister twins, has a strong team. Troy, which lost to Brea Olinda by five points despite having a slew of injured players, could definitely stir things up.
Upset threat: Cajon.
The pick: Long Beach Poly.
Division 1A
Top-seeded teams: 1. Canyon Springs (23-3), 2. Santa Monica (20-6), 3. Ayala (19-6), 4. Summit (20-5).
The scoop: Santa Monica recently defeated Troy and Inglewood and lost a close game against Mater Dei. With both of the Vikings’ Arizona transfers eligible and UCLA-bound Thea Lemberger, Santa Monica’s prospects are looking excellent. Canyon Springs hasn’t lost since Dec. 22 but has been untested since. The first half of Ayala’s season was rocky, but with UCLA-bound Rhema Gardner and Ariel Marsh back from knee-ligament injuries, the Bulldogs could make some noise.
Upset threat: Corona Centennial.
The pick: Santa Monica.
Division 2AA
Top-seeded teams: 1. Brea Olinda (24-2), 2. Villa Park (20-6), 3. Edison (20-4), 4. Esperanza (14-11).
The scoop: Brea Olinda is The Times’ top-ranked team in the Southland and the No. 2-ranked team in the nation according to MaxPreps. After upsetting Mater Dei last year in the Southern California regional final and again Jan. 18 at the Tony Matson Memorial Classic, it is likely that the Ladycats will go all the way this year. Villa Park has a good squad, but after a 77-42 loss to La Jolla Country Day at the Nike Extravaganza on Feb. 5, it is questionable whether the Spartans can compete against an elite opponent.
Upset threat: Ventura.
The pick: Brea Olinda.
Division 2A
Top-seeded teams: 1. Mater Dei (24-1), 2. Diamond Ranch (23-2), 3. Woodbridge (23-5), 4. Laguna Hills (23-3).
The scoop: Mater Dei, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times and No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps, should dominate this division with sharpshooter Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who is bound for Connecticut, and phenomenal sophomore point guard Jordan Adams.
Upset threat: Beverly Hills.
The pick: Mater Dei.
Division 3AA
Top-seeded teams: 1. Agoura (26-0), 2. Inglewood (22-5), 3. Bishop Amat (20-6), 4. Buena (18-8).
The scoop: It should be interesting to see what happens in this division considering that the top-seeded team has been relatively untested. Inglewood is a tough team that has played a hard schedule, and the Sentinels could pull off an upset. Bishop Amat is a well-coached team that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Upset threat: Arroyo Grande.
The pick: Inglewood.
Division 3A
Top-seeded teams: 1. Santa Margarita (19-6), 2. Barstow (20-2), 3. Muir (17-7), 4. Bonita (22-4).
The scoop: With UC Santa Barbara-bound Melissa Zornig averaging 25 points a game, this division is Santa Margarita’s for the taking.
Upset threat: Palos Verdes.
The pick: Santa Margarita.
Division 4AA
Top-seeded teams: 1. Harvard-Westlake (26-1), 2. Bishop Montgomery (22-6), 3. Orange Lutheran (21-5), 4. La Canada (23-3).
The scoop: Led by Princeton-bound Nicole Hung and UC Santa Barbara-bound Nicole Nesbit, it will be a surprise if Harvard-Westlake does not go all the way. Bishop Montgomery has a great team and a skilled post player in sophomore Devon Brookshire. Orange Lutheran has talented junior guard Natalie Luzar.
Upset threat: Alemany.
The pick: Harvard-Westlake.
Division 4A
Top-seeded teams: 1. Bell-Jeff (22-5), 2. Santa Maria St. Joseph (22-4), 3. Oaks Christian (22-4), 4. Windward (15-9).
The scoop: Bell-Jeff won its school’s first state championship last season, and the team is looking great going into the playoffs. The Guards have a lot of talented contributors and gave perennial powerhouse Long Beach Poly a run for its money in a 62-57 loss Jan. 23.
Upset threat: Sierra Canyon.
The pick: Bell-Jeff.
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