CIF Open Division boys basketball watch: Mission League likely to earn three berths, again
The last few weeks have changed things in the landscape of the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs.
Corona Centennial defeated Eastvale Roosevelt (82-78), which bolstered the Huskies' berth chances to the almighty division. JSerra has fallen to St. John Bosco (twice) and Mater Dei, likely dashing the Lions' hopes.
Etiwanda knocked off Damien (49-39) earlier this week in a result that could put both teams in the Division 1 playoffs due of Damien's lack of quality wins and Etiwanda's losses to West Ranch (74-60) and Windward (55-44).
However, the biggest results involved No. 1 Harvard-Westlake. The Wolverines lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2021, falling to Notre Dame (59-54) Wednesday and Sierra Canyon (74-68) Friday this past week.
- Mercy Miller leads Notre Dame to victory over HW
- Justin Pippen gets hot in second half in win over HW
Harvard-Westlake (20-3), the defending CIF State Open champions, are so revered and talented, the two losses pretty much cement Notre Dame (22-0) and Sierra Canyon (21-1) into the Open Division playoffs in February.
When looking at talent, quality of victories (and even losses), and putting the best tournament possible together, it looks like the Mission League will have three teams in the Open Division playoffs for a third straight year.
Barring catastrophe, Sierra Canyon will be the only boys basketball program to earn a berth to the Open Division every year since its creation in 2014.
Here is a clearer look at what the Open Division could look like:
(Alphabetical order)
- Corona Centennial (17-8)
- Toughest schedule in CA; win over Roosevelt
- Eastvale Roosevelt (22-2)
- Won the Classic at Damien (Platinum); wins over St. John Bosco, St. Pius
- Harvard-Westlake (20-3)
- Les Schwab Invit. finalist; wins over Perry (AZ), St. Pius, McEachern (GA)
- Mater Dei (20-1)
- Unbeaten in Trinity League, including 21-point win over SJB.
- Notre Dame (22-0)
- Only unbeaten team; wins over De La Salle, Harvard-Westlake
- Sierra Canyon (21-1)
- Unbeaten in Mission League; wins over St. Pius, Harvard-Westlake
- St. John Bosco (20-4)
- Wins over Windward, DeMatha (MD), JSerra (x2), Santa Margarita
- St. Pius X-St. Matthias (18-5)
- Won the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas
Outside looking in: Windward (20-3), Etiwanda (20-3), Damien (18-4)
Out: JSerra, West Ranch, La Mirada, Santa Margarita, Redondo Union
WHAT IS THE OPEN DIVISION?
The Open Division is a field made up of eight teams split into two four-team pools. The field is selected by a committee that seeks to find the eight best basketball teams in the Southern Section.
Any team from any division can be pulled into the Open if the committee deems it good enough based on criteria that includes win-loss record, quality of wins-losses, common opponents, strength of schedule and basketball evaluation of each committee member.
The teams in each pool play one another one time (three games) and the top teams in each pool play in the Open Division final on Feb. 23 or 24.
