Preview: SoCal Boys Finals

And then there were 48. That’s how many high school basketball teams continued practice schedules this week with dreams of a state title. The majority of that number gets cut in half on March 18 as 24 boys teams and 24 girls will attempt to take the last step to the state finals — which take place March 25-26 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. We’ll have preview glances for each of the regional championship games taking place in Northern and Southern California this Saturday. First up, the NorCal girls.

Here’s how they’ll roll out:

Thursday, noon: NorCal Girls
Friday, 8 A.M.: NorCal Boys
Friday, noon: SoCal Girls
Friday, 4 P.M.: SoCal Boys

CIF Boys Basketball Southern Regional Championship Matchups

OPEN DIVISION

Harrison Butler is one of Mater Dei’s big three. His defense will be key against sharp-shooting Montgomery. (Andrew Drennen photo via CalHiSports.com)

MATCHUP: No. 1 Bishop Montgomery-Torrance (29-2) vs. No. 2 Mater Dei-Santa Ana  (33-2), 8 p.m., March 18 at Long Beach State
HISTORY: Bishop Montgomery defeated Mater Dei, 70-55, just weeks ago in the CIF Southern Section Open Division championship game at Honda Center. The rematch features two of the most winningest coaches in California state history in Knights’ Doug Mitchell (647 wins) and Monarchs’ Gary McKnight (1,084 wins). Mitchell is in search of his fifth appearance in a state title game, while McKnight hopes to reach his 17th state final. Bishop Montgomery’s last state title came in 2014, defeating Moreau Catholic in the Div. IV championship. Mater Dei’s last state championship was also in 2014, beating Bishop O’Dowd to take the Open Div. crown.
BISHOP MONTGOMERY KEYS TO VICTORY: The Knights are always most successful when it finds itself with a balanced scoring attack. Oregon State-bound guard Ethan Thompson is the main focus offensively for Bishop Montgomery, but fellow senior Jordan Schakel, juniors David Singleton and Fletcher Tynen, and sophomore Gianni Hunt will need to put forth solid efforts for the Knights to advance.
MATER DEI KEYS TO VICTORY: The Monarchs need one of its top perimeter defenders — whether it be Harrison Butler, Justice Sueing or Matt Weyand — to keep their defensive assignment in check. Bishop Montgomery’s Thompson, Singleton and Schakel combined for 60 points in the CIF-SS Open Division title game win over Mater Dei.
PREDICTION: Bishop Montgomery 68, Mater Dei 66

DIVISION I

Matt Mitchell is averaging over 30 points per game for Roosevelt this season. (Twitter.com)

MATCHUP: No. 11 Roosevelt-Eastvale (24-8) vs. No. 12 Centennial-Corona (24-9), 2 p.m., March 18 at Long Beach State
HISTORY: Roosevelt has the opportunity to reach its first-ever state championship game. Centennial is making its fourth trip to the SoCal finals, where it is 1-2 in its previous three appearances. The Huskies only trip to the state championship game resulted in a loss to Monte Vista-Danville in the 2014 Div. I title. This will be the fifth meeting between Roosevelt and Centennial this season. Roosevelt has won the previous four by an average margin of five points per game.
ROOSEVELT KEYS TO VICTORY: Senior forward Matt Mitchell, who is committed to play at Cal State Fullerton next fall, has torched Centennial in the four previous meetings this season, averaging 29.8 points per game against the Huskies. If Mitchell can continue that dominance, look for Roosevelt to move on to its first state championship game.
CENTENNIAL KEYS TO VICTORY: As mentioned above, the Huskies have had no answer for Matt Mitchell and desperately need one —especially after losing their top wing defender, Gio Nelson, to a season-ending knee injury in late January. Centennial must take caution in putting too much of its defensive focus on Mitchell, however, as Cal-bound shooting guard Jemarl Baker (17.3 points per game) is also capable of filling up the scoring column.
PREDICTION: Roosevelt 61, Centennial 56