Look for three Inland teams to win section championships

The CIF Southern Section boys basketball playoffs begin this week with most first-round games scheduled for Wednesday.

Staff writer Eric-paul Johnson gives his predictions for each division and tabs three Inland teams to win championships.

OPEN DIVISION Last year’s championship result:

Centennial 58, St. John Bosco 56.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. Harvard-westlake; 2. Roosevelt; 3. Mater Dei; 4. St. John Bosco.

Other Inland team in the division: Centennial.

Championship prediction: Roosevelt def. Harvard-westlake.

DIVISION 1

Last year’s championship result: Mater Dei 66, Etiwanda 63.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; 2. Windward; 3. Damien; 4. Redondo

Other Inland teams in the division: Etiwanda, Rancho Christian, Rancho Cucamonga; Rancho Verde, Riverside Poly.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Crossroads at Rancho Christian.

Quarterfinal predictions: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame def. Santa Margarita; Etiwanda def. Redondo; Damien def. La Mirada; Windward def. Los Alamitos.

Semifinal predictions: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame def. Etiwanda; Windward def. Damien.

Championship prediction: Windward def. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

DIVISION 2AA

Last year’s championship result: Tesoro 54, Orange Lutheran 35.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. Crespi; 2. Campbell Hall; 3. Heritage Christian; 4. Rolling Hills Prep.

Inland teams in the division: Aquinas, Diamond Bar, Great Oak, King, Linfield Christian, Vista Murrieta.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Culver City at Vista Murrieta.

Quarterfinal predictions: Crespi def. Dana Hills; Rolling Hills Prep def. Vista Murrieta; Heritage Christian def. Trabuco Hills; St. Anthony def. Campbell Hall.

Semifinal predictions: Crespi def. Rolling Hills Prep; Heritage Christian def. St. Anthony.

Championship prediction: Crespi def. Heritage Christian.

DIVISION 2A

Last year’s championship result: Rancho Christian 63, La Mirada 55. This year’s seeded teams: 1. Pasadena; 2. Pacifica Christian-orange County; 3. Long Beach Poly; 4. Westlake.

Inland teams in the division: Ayala, Beaumont, Murrieta Valley, Redlands East Valley, San Dimas, Temescal Canyon, Upland.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Glendora at Temescal

Canyon.

Quarterfinal predictions: Pasadena def. San Gabriel Academy; Marina def. Cypress; Long Beach Poly def. Newport Harbor; Westlake def. Corona del Mar. Semifinal predictions: Pasadena def. Marina; Long Beach Poly def. Westlake.

Championship prediction: Long Beach Poly def. Pasadena.

DIVISION 3AA

Last year’s championship result: St. Pius X-ST. Matthias 79, La Serna 48.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. La Habra; 2. South Pasadena; 3. Serra; 4. Hesperia.

Inland teams in the division: Bonita, Grand Terrace, Hillcrest, Liberty, Summit, Valley View.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Troy at Liberty.

Quarterfinal predictions: La Habra def. Oaks Christian; Pilibos def. Hesperia; Serra def. Arcadia; South Pasadena def. Bonita.

Semifinal predictions: La Habra def. Pilibos; Serra def. South Pasadena.

Championship prediction: Serra def.

La Habra. DIVISION 3A

Last year’s championship result: San Gabriel Academy 66, Oakwood 64.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. San Clemente; 2. Lynwood; 3. Woodbridge; 4. Don Bosco Tech.

Inland teams in the division: Arlington; Arrowhead Christian Academy; Bethel Christian; Indian Springs; Yucaipa.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Alemany at Arlington.

Quarterfinal predictions: San Clemente def. St. Monica Prep; Northwood def. Don Bosco Tech; Woodbridge def. North Torrance; Lynwood def. Arlington.

Semifinal predictions: San Clemente def. Northwood; Lynwood def. San Clemente.

Championship prediction: Lynwood def. San Clemente.

DIVISION 4AA

Last year’s championship result: Valencia 65, St. Bonaventure 62.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. Price; 2. Western Christian; 3. Cerritos; 4. Burbank Burroughs.

Other Inland teams in the division: Canyon Springs, Chino, Diamond Ranch, Don Lugo, Fontana, Jurupa Hills, Jurupa Valley, Lakeside, Orange Vista, Santa Rosa Academy.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Orange Vista at Don Lugo.

Quarterfinal predictions: Price def.

Milken Community; Burbank Burroughs def. Yeshiva; Cerritos def. Highland; Valley Torrah def. Western Christian.

Semifinal predictions: Price def. Burbank Burroughs; Valley Torah def. Western Christian.

Championship prediction: Price def.

Valley Torah. DIVISION 4A

Last year’s championship result: Jordan 68, Sage Hill 57.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. Temecula Valley; 2. Northview; 3. Irvine; 4. Santa Paula.

Other Inland teams in the division: Carter, CSDR, Loma Linda Academy, Norte Vista, Pomona, United Christian Academy.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Long Beach Cabrillo at Carter.

Quarterfinal predictions: Temecula Valley def. La Salle; Long Beach Cabrillo def. Santa Paula; Irvine def. Mary Star; Northview def. Rancho Mirage.

Semifinal predictions: Temecula Valley def. Long Beach Cabrillo; Irvine def. Northview.

Championship prediction: Temecula Valley def. Irvine.

DIVISION 5AA

Last year’s championship result: Don Bosco Tech 88, Lynwood 81.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. El Segundo; 2. Dunn; 3. Godinez; 4. Buckley.

Inland teams in the division: Bloomington, Cal Lutheran, Calvary Baptist, Heritage, Montclair, Redlands Adventist Academy, San Bernardino, San Jacinto, Temecula Prep.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: Heritage at Granite Hills.

Quarterfinal predictions: El Segundo def. Westminster; Hoover def. Buckley; Godinez def. Castaic; Dunn def. Ventura.

Semifinal predictions: El Segundo def. Hoover; Dunn def. Godinez.

Championship prediction: Dunn def.

El Segundo. DIVISION 5A

Last year’s championship result: Blair 84, Santa Paula 59.

This year’s seeded teams: 1. Ontario; 2. Notre Dame; 3. Big Bear; 4. Firebaugh.

Other Inland teams in the division: Colton, Noli Indian, Packinghouse Christian, River Springs-hemet, River Springs-magnolia, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, West Valley.

Best first-round game involving an Inland team: West Valley at Ontario.

Quarterfinal predictions: Ontario def. Rancho Alamitos; Los Amigos def. Firebaugh; Serrano def. Big Bear; Notre Dame def. La Puente.

Semifinal predictions: Ontario def. Notre Dame; Notre Dame def. Serrano.

Championship prediction: Notre Dame def. Ontario.

TERRY PIERSON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Centennial’s Markee White, left, defends Roosevelt’s Darnez Slater in the championship game of the inaugural Big VIII League tournament on Friday at Santiago High in Corona.