The Southern Section’s second weekend of playoff basketball produced a pair of stunning upsets in the Open Division, setting up a title game that was unexpected but is sure to entertain. That wasn’t all, though, as Harvard-Westlake and Pasadena edged Loyola and Peninsula to earn a date with each other March 3 in the Division 1A title game, and a surprise will face off against a favorite in the Division 1AA championship.
Open Division - Mater Dei 83, Chino Hills 80; Bishop Montgomery 70, Sierra Canyon 63
A division that was expected to pit Sierra Canyon against Chino Hills in the title contest gets the opposite, as Mater Dei battled back to win in overtime, and Bishop Montgomery was just too much for Sierra Canyon to overcome. The Ball family show won’t see its full potential in 2017, with Chino Hills on the shelf and senior LiAngelo headed to UCLA. LaMelo will have two more cracks at another CIF title, but 2017’s final is instead all about Mater Dei’s Justice Sueing, Spencer Freedman and Bol Bol. The trio will take on an experienced Bishop Montgomery team that was powered by seniors Ethan Thompson and Jordan Schakel in the semifinal win over Sierra Canyon.
Division 1AA: Rancho Verde 61, Etiwanda 56; Marantha 52, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 50
Marantha had lost to Cantwell-Sacred Heart by nine early in the season and didn’t have many wins that would indicate a postseason run was imminent, but here the Minutemen are in the title game after upsetting the Cardinals in the semifinal. Rancho Verde, meanwhile, earned a first-round bye and powered through the postseason until meeting Etiwanda, who the Mustangs squeaked past by just five points.
Division 3AA: Brentwood School 69, North 60; Burbank 76, Rancho Mirage 71
North’s upset win over Saddleback Valley Christian in the second round opened the door for chaos, which the Saxons rode to the semifinal, where they finally met defeat in the form of Brentwood School. Burbank stunned Rancho Mirage in the other semifinal, setting up a what should be an interesting final between the two schools.
Southern Section title games (all divisions):
Open Division: Mater Dei vs. Bishop Montgomery
Division 1A: Harvard-Westlake vs. Pasadena
Division 1AA: Rancho Verde vs. Marantha
Division 2A: Oxnard vs. Capistrano Valley
Division 2AA: Colony vs. Villa Park
Division 3A: St. Paul vs. Twentynine Palms
Division 3AA: Brentwood School vs. Burbank
Division 4A: Milken vs. Shalhevet
Division 4AA: West vs. Blair
Division 5A: Sherman Indian vs. Desert Christian Academy
Division 5AA: Rolling Hills Prep vs. Holy Martyrs Armenian
Division 6: Carnegie Schools-Riverside vs. Orange County Pacifica Christian
