Montgomery boys basketball team receives top seed in CIF-San Diego Section Open Division playoffs, with Jake Hall and reigning champion Carlsbad at No. 2

Montgomery High is hoping the third time’s the charm in its pursuit for the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division boys basketball championship.

The Aztecs (26-2), who were awarded the top seed in the eight-team Open Division playoffs, have advanced to the final the past two years, but lost in 2023 to Saint Augustine and suffered another setback last year against Carlsbad.

Montgomery, led by seniors JJ Sanchez, Alek Sanchez, Xair Mendez and Devin Hamilton, is seeking its first section title since winning the Division 2 crown in 1996.

JJ Sanchez is the all-time leading scorer for Montgomery with more than 2,200 career points.

The Aztecs, who enter the postseason having won eight in a row, play host Friday to No. 8 Francis Parker (18-10).

Montgomery boys basketball team | Photo courtesy of Montgomery High

Semifinal contests are scheduled for Feb. 25, with the final held Feb. 28 at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside.

Montgomery rebounded from a six-point loss Jan. 17 against Olympian by producing a 71-56 victory Jan. 22 against Francis Parker to begin its current winning streak.

Carlsbad (23-5), the reigning Open Division champion, received the No. 2 seed and squares off against No. 7 Santa Fe Christian (22-6).

Carlsbad is attempting to become only the second boys basketball program to win back-to-back Open Division championships, following Saint Augustine in 2022-23.

The Lancers won the Division 2 title in 2019, followed by a Division 1 championship in 2022, before capturing their first Open Division crown last season.

Jake Hall surpassed 3,000 career points for Carlsbad by scoring 29 in a 90-59 victory Friday against Oceanside El Camino in the regular-season finale.

Jake Hall of Carlsbad boys basketball | Photo courtesy of Carlsbad

San Marcos (25-3) secured the No. 3 seed and earned a matchup against No. 6 Cathedral Catholic (19-9).

The Knights, led by junior Jalen Williams and sophomore Richie Ramirez, outlasted Cathedral Catholic – featuring seniors PJ Jourdain and Patrick O’Brien – by a 71-64 margin in overtime Dec. 27 in an American Division showdown at the Holiday Classic.

Cathedral Catholic won the Open Division boys basketball title in 2020 and San Marcos is still seeking its first section championship in any division.

Mission Bay (20-8) grabbed the No. 4 seed and plays No. 5 Torrey Pines (23-5).

The Buccaneers cruised to a 67-44 victory Dec. 28 against host Torrey Pines in the American Division semifinals at the Holiday Classic.

Mission Bay, led by juniors Caleb Newton and Clay Grebing along with senior Pablo Balderas, won the Division 1 championship last year.

The Buccaneers secured their lone Open Division crown in 2018.

Torrey Pines, featuring senior Cody Shen and junior Tevaris Green, won Open Division titles in 2019 and 2021, in addition to reaching the final in 2020.

The Falcons remain the only boys basketball program to reach three consecutive Open Division championship games since the section added the bracket for the first time in 2014.

La Jolla Country Day (15-12) received the top seed in Division 1, seeking its second title in three years.

Olympian (22-6) earned the No. 1 seed in Division 2, looking to capture consecutive championships after winning the Division 3 crown last season.

Southwest High (22-6) was awarded the top seed in Division 3, hoping to rebound after losing in the Division 4 final last year.

Tri-City Christian (15-9) is the No. 1 seed in Division 4 after capturing the inaugural Division 5-AA title last season.

Pacific Ridge (25-2) secured the top seed in Division 5, along with a first-round bye.

The Cambridge School (11-10) grabbed the No. 1 seed in Division 5-AA, also receiving a first-round bye.