CIF SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

All games Friday at 7 p.m.

DIVISION 1

ST. BERNARD (18-6) AT JSERRA (19-9)

Live coverage: www.ballysports.com/watch/live/prep-zone-live

Outlook: St. Bernard defeated Del Rey League rival St. Anthony 66-64 in the semifinals Tuesday. Darius Carr (6-4, Sr., G) scored 12 points and Tyler Rolison (6-1, Jr., G) scored 11 for the Vikings. St. Bernard is 4-6 in CIF-SS boys basketball finals. Its most-recent championship was in 2015; the most-recent finals appearance was a loss in 2016. JSerra is in its second CIF-SS boys basketball final. The Lions won a CIF-SS title in the sport in 2014. They are No. 4 in the Orange County top 25. Robert Diaz (6-2, Sr., G) is averaging 19 points a game in the playoffs. Like all CIF-SS boys basketball teams that advanced to the semifinals, and like all eight CIF-SS Open Division teams, St. Bernard and JSerra qualified for the CIF Southern California Regionals that begin Tuesday. Tickets for this game and all CIF-SS championship games are at GoFan.co (prices $5-$12).

JSerra shooting guard Robert Diaz dunks the ball on a breakaway after getting a steal during a 60-44 win over St. John Bosco in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinal game between the two teams on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

DIVISION 2A

SAN JUAN HILLS (26-4) AT LA MIRADA (17-13)

Outlook: San Juan Hills, champions of the Sea View League and No. 6 in the Orange County top 25, take a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs. The senior-heavy Stallions’ most-recent loss was to county No. 1 Mater Dei. They defeated St. Paul 63-53 in the their first appearance in a CIF-SS boys basketball semifinals. John McFadden (6-7, Sr., F) scored a game-high 21 points against St. Paul with 10 rebounds. Suburban League champion La Mirada defeated Edison 67-48 in the semifinals as Julien Gomez (6-1, Fr., G) scored 16 points. It was the Matadores’ third consecutive playoffs win over a league champion and their 10th straight win overall. La Mirada is in a CIF-SS boys basketball final for the first time.

San Juan Hills guard John McFadden celebrates after the Stallions won their Sea View League game against Aliso Viejo in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, January 7, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

DIVISION 3A

DANA HILLS (19-9) AT BISHOP DIEGO (22-7)

Outlook: Dana Hills makes its CIF-SS boys basketball finals debut. The Dolphins, who finished third in the four-team Sea View League and qualified for the playoffs as an at-large team, beat Long Beach Millikan 61-56 in the semifinals. Griffin Haugh (6-1, Sr., G) scored 25 points including six 3-pointers in the win over Millikan. Bishop Diego, in Santa Barbara, takes a 12-game winning streak into the 3A final. The Cardinals, champions of the Tri-Valley League, beat St. Pius/St. Matthias in the 51-46 in the semifinals. Makaio Morphy (6-6, Sr., F) scored 21 points for Bishop Diego in the semifinals triumph.

Dana Hills guard Griffin Haugh shoots a layup during a 65-48 win over Laguna Beach in a nonleague game on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

DIVISION 4AA

FULLERTON (17-14) AT GARDEN GROVE (21-8)

Outlook: Fullerton’s most-recent appearance in a CIF-SS boys basketball final was in 1959. Garden Grove is making its CIF-SS boys basketball final debut. Fullerton, the third-place team in the Freeway League, beat top-seeded Artesia 58-56 in the semifinal Tuesday at Artesia High as Josiah Reed (6-2, Jr., G) scored 15 points with seven rebounds and Isaiah Edwards (6-2, So., G) scored 13 with three 3-pointers. It was the Indians third playoff win over a league champion. Golden West League champion Garden Grove defeated Sunny Hills 45-39 in the other 4AA semifinal in which the Argonauts’ Miguel Ortega (6-3, Sr., F) continued his string of excellent playoff performances with 21 points and 14 rebounds. The Argonauts have won 14 of their past 15 games.

Garden Grove’s Miguel Ortega Miguel scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Argonauts to a 45-39 victory over Sunny Hills in the CIF-SS playoffs Tuesday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Manny Alvarez, Contributor)

DIVISION 4A

WESTERN (18-9) AT DOS PUEBLOS (23-8)

Outlook: Orange League champion Western makes its CIF-SS boys basketball finals debut. The Pioneers take an eight-game winning streak 4A championship game including a 55-33 win over Edgewood in the semifinals. Ahmad Hammouri (6-3, Sr., F) and Jameson Labasan (5-4, Sr., G) have been among Western’s top players. Dos Pueblos, in Goleta, advanced to the semifinals with a one-point victory over Hemet before a 58-56 win over Valley Torah in the semifinals. The Chargers also carry an eight-game winning streak into the final. Four Dos Pueblos players scored in double figures against Valley Torah, led by Kael Rillie (6-1, Sr., G) who scored 16 points with four 3-pointers.

Related Articles