Locals set for regional semis
Only a few remain.
The CIF State boys and girls basketball regional playoffs continue today with all teams just two wins away from earning a spot in the CIF State finals in Sacramento next weekend.
Harvard-Westlake's boys have a rematch with St. John Bosco in the CIF State Open Division regional semifinal. The Wolverines will look to avenge their loss to the Braves 62-55 on Feb. 14 in Southern Section Open Division pool play at home. This time, HarvardWestlake will be at St. John Bosco in Bellflower.
Harvard-Westlake's goal to win a CIF State title is still intact despite being stopped from winning a section crown. The winner of tonight's game will play the winner of Corona Centennial and San Diego's St. Augustine, which knocked off West Ranch on Thursday night 63-60.
The Sierra Canyon girls basketball team will take on Mater Dei in a CIF State Open Division regional semifinal at home. The game will be played at 4 p.m. so traveling Mater Dei fans can get to the boys basketball game at Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks at 7 p.m. The Trailblazers (30-0) have not played since winning the CIF Southern Section Open Division title over Etiwanda on Feb. 25. Juju Watkins scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Trailblazers in that win.
If Sierra Canyon wins Saturday, it will face the winner of La Jolla Country Day and Etiwanda in the regional final Tuesday night — two teams the Trailblazers have beaten this season.
Watkins was named Friday the James Naismith National girls basketball Player of the Year.
In a Division I regional semifinal, the No. 1-seeded Notre Dame boys basketball team will take on Mater Dei at home tonight. The Knights have beaten Fairfax (84-68), thanks to Dusty Stromer's 21 points, and Mira Costa (58-39), thanks to Caleb Foster's 28 points, in the state playoffs.
On the other side of the Division I regional bracket, Sierra Canyon will have a rematch at Bishop Montgomery. Senior Bronny James had a game-high 21 points in the team's 61-55 win over Etiwanda Thursday night, which marked coach Andre Chevalier's 400th career win as a high school coach. James, a 2023 McDonald's All-American, hasn't had the best performances this postseason and saw the Trailblazers go 0-3 in CIF-SS Open Division pool play. Sierra Canyon is expected to be without star junior Isaiah Elohim (ankle) for the remainder of the season.
Others still alive
Valencia's boys team will host Long Beach Jordan at home tonight in the Division IV regional semifinals. The trio of Mikah Ballew, Bryce Bedgood and Kai Davis have carried the Vikings through a historic season.
Ballew is averaging 20 points per game. Bedgood is notching 16 points and 10 rebounds per contest, and Davis is hovering around 13, 5 and 5. The winner of today's game will take on the team left standing when St. Bonaventure and San Pedro face off.
The Oak Park and Sun Valley Poly girls basketball teams are also still alive. In regional semifinals today, Oak Park will play at Redondo in Division III and Sun Valley Poly will be at Campbell Hall in Division IV.
Soccer regional finals
Birmingham Charter, the City Section Division I boys soccer champion, will play at JSerra in the CIF State SoCal Regional Division I championship today at 3 p.m.
The Hart girls soccer team, the CIF Southern Section Division 2 champions, will host San Marcos in the CIF State SoCal Regional Division II championship today at 3 p.m.