Ontario Christian, Archbishop Mitty receive Open Division top seeds in respective regionals in girls basketball state playoffs

Following a fourth consecutive CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division girls basketball crown and the 33rd section championship in program history Friday, Archbishop Mitty (25-3) secured the top seed in the Northern California Regional Open Division playoffs in pursuit of reaching a record 16th state final.

Archbishop Mitty secured a 59-51 victory in the section championship against Pinewood of Los Altos Hills (23-4) and earned a bye in the six-team Open Division regional bracket, with quarterfinal games scheduled Wednesday, semifinal contests Saturday and the regional championship held March 11.

The Open Division state final will be held March 15 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, with Archbishop Mitty seeking a fourth straight appearance in the championship.

Ontario Christian (29-1), which won its first CIF-Southern Section Open Division crown Saturday at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, received the top seed in the Southern California Regional Open Division playoffs.

The Knights, who held off two-time Open Division state champion Etiwanda by a 63-60 margin to capture the title, also earned a bye in the six-team Open Division regional playoffs, with quarterfinal contests also held Wednesday, semifinal games scheduled Saturday and the regional final held March 11.

Ontario Christian and Archbishop Mitty have already played twice this season, with the Monarchs winning the Vincent Cannizzaro Division title Dec. 21 with a 59-34 victory at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona.

The Knights responded Jan. 4 with a 61-44 win at the Sabrina Ionescu Showcase at Carondelet High in a game overshadowed by Archbishop Mitty junior McKenna Woliczko suffering a season-ending ACL injury in her right knee.

Etiwanda (25-5), which is attempting to become the first girls program to win three consecutive Open Division state championships, grabbed the No. 2 seed in the Southern California Regional Open Division bracket and also secured a bye.

The Eagles have prevailed against Archbishop Mitty the past two years in the Open Division state final.

Archbishop Mitty girls basketball team | Photo courtesy of Archbishop Mitty

Mater Dei (28-3) is the No. 3 seed and squares off Wednesday against No. 6 Bishop Montgomery (22-5), with Sierra Canyon (27-2) earning the No. 4 seed and playing host to No. 5 Mission Hills (23-8), the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division champion.

Clovis West (32-0), the CIF-Central Section Division 1 champion, captured the No. 2 seed and received a bye in the Northern California Regional Open Division playoffs.

San Ramon Valley (27-3), the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division winner, took the No. 3 seed and plays Wednesday against No. 6 Pinewood.

Acalanes (28-2), the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division runner-up, was awarded the No. 4 seed and competes against No. 5 McClatchy (24-6), the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 champion.

Fairmont Prep (21-10) earned the top seed in the Southern California Regional in the Division 1 state playoffs and plays Tuesday against No. 16 Birmingham (22-7).

Folsom (26-4) captured the No. 1 seed in the Southern California Regional in the Division 1 state bracket and competes Tuesday against No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial (22-6).

Both top regional seeds in the Division 2 state playoffs earned first-round byes.

Caruthers (22-6) is the No. 1 seed in the Northern California Regional, with Monache (23-8) the top seed in the Southern California Regional.

Palisades (15-15) received the No. 1 seed in Division 3 in the Southern California Regional and competes against No. 16 El Toro (19-11) at Birmingham High.

Immanuel (27-5) secured the top seed in the Northern California Regional in Division 3 and squares off with No. 16 East Union (23-7).

Cantwell-Sacred Heart (22-8) captured the No. 1 seed in the Southern California Regional in Division 4 and will face No. 16 La Mirada (20-11).

Liberty Ranch (29-2) earned the top seed in the Northern California Regional in Division 4 and matches up against No. 16 Colusa (23-7).

La Palma Kennedy (17-13) is the No. 1 seed in Division 5 in the Southern California Regional and takes on No. 16 Santana (25-6).

Summit Shasta (17-6) was awarded the top seed in Division 5 in the Northern California Regional and plays host to No. 16 Oakland Skyline (19-10).

The eight-team Northern California Regional Division 6 playoffs begin Wednesday, with the final held March 11.

Ferndale (17-9), which won the North Coast Section Division 6 championship, received the top seed.