Harvard-Westlake is attempting to become the first boys basketball team in California prep history to win three consecutive Open Division state titles, but it will be a challenging journey for the Wolverines (30-2) in the Southern California Regional in order to return to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Eastvale Roosevelt (32-2), which captured its first CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship Saturday with a 74-67 win against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Toyota Arena in Ontario, received the top seed and earned a bye in the six-team Open Division regional playoffs.
The Mustangs, who won the Division 1 state crown in 2017, will play Saturday against the winner of Wednesday’s matchup involving No. 4 Harvard-Westlake and No. 5 St. John Bosco (26-6).
Eastvale Roosevelt boys basketball team | Photo courtesy of Eastvale Roosevelt
Santa Maria St. Joseph (31-1) – the CIF-Central Section Division 1 champion featuring California’s all-time leading scorer in Tounde Yessoufou – secured the No. 2 seed and a bye, with a Saturday showdown looming against No. 3 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (26-7) or No. 6 Montgomery High (30-2), the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division winner.
The regional final is scheduled for March 11, with the Open Division state championship held March 15 at the Golden 1 Center.
Archbishop Riordan (27-1), the CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division winner, was awarded the top seed in the five-team Northern California Regional Open Division playoffs and plays Saturday against either No. 4 Richmond Salesian (26-3) or No. 5 Modesto Christian (24-8).
The Crusaders produced a 64-38 victory Friday against St. Ignatius to secure back-to-back Central Coast Section Open Division crowns.
Concord De La Salle (27-4), the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division champion, captured the No. 2 seed and plays Saturday against No. 3 Folsom (28-3), the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 winner.
Harvard-Westlake produced a 50-45 victory against Richmond Salesian in last year’s Open Division state final.
Archbishop Riordan is seeking its first state championship since winning the Division 3 crown in 2002.
Sierra Canyon (22-7) received the top seed in Division 1 in the Southern California Regional and plays Tuesday against No. 16 Corona Centennial (18-17).
Inderkum (28-2) achieved the No. 1 seed in Division 1 in the Northern California Regional and competes Tuesday against No. 16 California High of San Ramon (23-7).
Riverside Poly (22-10) is the top seed in the Southern California Regional playoffs in Division 2 and squares off Tuesday with No. 16 Sage Creek (21-9).
Rocklin (24-8) grabbed the No. 1 seed in the Northern California Regional in Division 2 and will take on Fresno Bullard (18-11) in Tuesday’s opener.
Palisades (19-11) secured the top seed in Division 3 in the Southern California Regional and earned a first-round matchup with No. 16 Righetti (20-12).
King’s Academy (23-4) was awarded the No. 1 seed in Division 3 in the Northern California Regional playoffs and plays host to No. 16 Pleasant Valley (17-11).
Fresno Christian (26-6) captured the top seed in the Southern California Regional in Division 4 and is scheduled to face No. 16 Citrus Hill (19-13).
Woodside Priory (21-6) is the No. 1 seed in Division 4 in the Northern California Regional and competes against No. 16 George Washington of San Francisco (21-10).
Hacienda Heights Wilson (19-13) secured the top seed in the Southern California Regional in Division 5, in addition to receiving a first-round bye.
University Prep of Redding (24-8) collected the No. 1 seed in Division 5 in the Northern California Regional and plays host to No. 16 Durham (25-5).
The eight-team Northern California Division 6 regional playoffs are led by top seed Redding Christian (27-3), with the final scheduled for March 11.