West Ranch controls destiny in Open playoffs

For the West Ranch, Bishop Montgomery and Corona Centennial boys basketball teams it’s simple: win and advance. For others, it’s not as simple.

The CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs will have a dramatic final day of pool play tonight, particularly in Pool B when Harvard-Westlake hosts West Ranch and St. John Bosco hosts St. Bernard.

West Ranch, which is 2-0 in pool play, just needs to beat Harvard-Westlake to win the pool and advance to the Open Division final. Harvard-Westlake (1-1), which lost to St. John Bosco (1-0) Tuesday, needs to beat West Ranch and St. Bernard (0-2) to beat St. John Bosco in order to advance.

A Harvard-Westlake win and St. John Bosco victory will created a three-way tie in Pool B with West Ranch, forcing a tiebreaker that will fall in the favor of St. John Bosco and advance the Braves to the Open Division final at Honda Center on Feb. 25.

In Pool A, Corona Centennial (2-0) and Bishop Montgomery (1-1) will face off for an unofficial semifinal. The winner will advance to the final. The result of Notre

Dame (1-1) and Sierra Canyon (1-1) will have no bearing on the outcome of Pool A, other than final placement, which could impact CIF State placement.

Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo said the team’s ultimate goal is to win a CIF State title, which is still attainable no matter what happens tonight.

The Wolverines were 1 of 15 from the 3-point line in the 62-55 loss to St. John Bosco on Tuesday night. The team’s top players, Brady Dunlap and Trent Perry, combined for 8-of-31 shooting. It wasn’t their night.

“The harsh reality is we see teams like Washington

State beat Arizona at the McKale Center, we see the Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks. These things happen at the highest level,” Rebibo said. “These are teenagers we’re talking about . ... that said, I’m completely inspired and proud of their winning spirit and competitive nature.”

Sierra Canyon could go winless

Sierra Canyon will likely be missing players in tonight’s game at Notre Dame due to a scuffle toward the end of the Bishop Montgomery game. Players left the bench and ran onto the floor, which will result in a suspension.

The details of which players will be out for tonight’s game is not clear year, but the Trailblazers could be missing up to five players.

Sierra Canyon will play Notre Dame for the third time this season after losing in the first two matchups. Another loss would make the Trailblazers 0-3 in pool play and could drop them down to the CIF State Division I playoffs, which start on Feb. 28.

Junior guard Isaiah Elohim has not played this postseason with an ankle injury, but he could return for the state playoffs.

Jazz Gardner and West Ranch will take on HarvardWestlake tonight.