CIF Southern Section boys basketball; previewing each division final
The CIF Southern Section will host 10 boys basketball championship games on Friday and Saturday, including the marquee game of the weekend: the Open Division final at Cal Baptist University.
- OPEN PREVIEW: Harvard-Westlake vs. Eastvale Roosevelt
Here's a quick look at each divisional final from Division 1 down to Division 5A.
(The previews are revealed in location and chronological order)
at Azusa Pacific University - Friday, Feb. 23
BOYS D5AA: El Segundo vs. Castaic, 4 p.m.
El Segundo will play in its first CIF final since 2002 and look to capture its first CIF title since 1963. First-year coach Scott Martin has navigated the championship run with the help of three transfers in Shane Biscaya (Redondo), Darreson Naruse (Loyola) and Vitor Dorn (Mira Costa).
Castaic will play in the program's first-ever CIF final after taking down Dunn High in the semifinals. Castaic High opened its doors in 2019. Boys basketball is only the second team sport to reach a CIF final after baseball won the Division 6 final in 2023.
BOYS D2AA: St. Anthony vs. Rolling Hills Prep, 8 p.m.
Coach Harvey Kitani is at it again. The longtime coach has won four City titles at Fairfax before winning four CIF Southern Section crowns at Rolling Hills Prep - the last coming in 2AA in 2019.
Junior guard Mateo Trujillo is leading the charge.
St. Anthony is battle-tested after finishing second in the Del Rey League behind St. Pius, an Open Division qualifier. Senior Quincy Phillips and sophomore JoJo Wicker are the Saints top player.
St. Anthony is back in a CIF final for the first time since 2000.
at Toyota Arena (Ontario) - Saturday, Feb. 24
BOYS 3AA: La Habra vs. St. Bonaventure, 2 p.m.
La Habra is making its first CIF final appearance after a standout performance from Jaedon Anderson, who knocked down five 3s in the team's semifinal victory.
It's a back-to-back performance for St. Bonaventure after falling short in the Division 4AA final last year. The Seraphs are 0-3 all-time in CIF finals.
Senior Dylan Benner, averaging 18 points per game, will try to change that.
BOYS D4A: Temecula Valley vs. Northview, 4 p.m.
Northview is embracing the next-man-up mentality after seeing top player Sam Osi go down to injury in January. Seniors Adrian Almaraz and Nick Santillan will look to help the Vikings lift their first CIF title.
Temecula Valley is led by standout freshman Jeremiah Profit, a 6-foot-5 wing already attracting high-major college interest.
Sophomore Liam Hodgkinson poured in 27 points with five 3s in the team's semifinal win.
Saturday's game will be the program's second all-time appearance in a CIF final after losing in its Division 1A appearance to Santa Monica in 2016.
BOYS D1: Windward vs. Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, 8 p.m.
Two Open Division bubble teams will make up the Division 1 final Saturday night. Both rosters loaded with talent.
Notre Dame is led by Houston commit Mercy Miller, averaging 30 points per game, along with speedy junior point guard Lino Mark and wiry, athletic sophomore wing Zach White.
Windward junior point guard Gavin Hightower is the engine that runs the Wildcats, along with a bevy of talented juniors on the perimeter in JJ Harris, Jeremiah Hampton and Louis Bond. Senior Nasir Luna is capable of a big game, too.
The key matchup will be Hightower vs. Mark.
It's Windward's seventh all-time CIF finals appearance and Notre Dame's third. Windward is 3-3. Notre Dame is 1-1.
at Edison High (Huntington Beach) - Saturday, Feb. 24
BOYS D2A: Long Beach Poly vs. Marina, 3 p.m.
Poly is making its 14th CIF finals appearance since 1990, and attempting to win its first section title since 2014 (D1AA). The Jackrabbits are on a 10-game winning streak heading into Saturday's final thanks to the play of juniors Jovani Ruff and Austin Unegbu.
Marina, led by Julius Robinson (28 ppg), will make its fifth CIF finals appearance and first since 2021 after falling in the Division 3A final.
BOYS D4AA: Cerritos vs. YULA, 8:30 p.m.
Cerritos and YULA will each be making CIF finals appearances for the first time in program history.
Cerritos has been hot, winning 14 straight games. Cerritos' Shay Pema is averaging 14 points per game. Junior Alex Gabbay is averaging 21.6 points per game for Yeshiva.
at Colony High (Ontario) - Saturday, Feb. 24
BOYS D5A: Big Bear vs. Firebaugh, 2 p.m.
Big Bear is back in the CIF finals for the first time since 1975 and 1976 - both resulting in losses. Almost 50 years later, the school is still looking for its first boys basketball victory.
Firebaugh is making its first-ever appearance.
BOYS D3A: Bosco Tech vs. Alemany, 6 p.m.
Bosco Tech is back in a CIF final after winning the Division 5AA crown last year over Lynwood, 88-81. Junior Jaden Erami is averaging 22 points per game.
Alemany is making its third CIF finals appearance (1-1) and first since 2012 when former coach Tray Meeks won the 3A title en route to a CIF State crown.
The Warriors have forged their path with the help of impact transfers in Logan Dorsey, 6-foot-7 Bourgeois Tshilobo and 6-foot-9 Samuel Mbingazo.
