Southland not holding back at Arizona girls’ tournament

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Three Southland teams will be playing in title games later today at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Ariz.

Long Beach Poly (6-1), currently ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today, will play the nation’s No. 1 team, Middleburg (Va.) Notre Dame Academy, in the championship of the marquee Black Division. The Jackrabbits finished second in last year’s tournament, and hope to restore some luster with a title this year following an earlier loss to San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral. Poly opened the season No. 1 in the nation.

-- Image from www.dnr.state.co.us

Marlborough (7-5) No. 13 in The Times’ preseason ranking, will play for the second-tier Blue Division title against Fresno Clovis West. Marlborough went into the tournament with five losses, to teams such as No. 15 Perris, Vista Murrieta, Bishop Montgomery and Santa Monica, but showed its potential with a 46-43 victory over No. 5 Brea Olinda in the semifinals. The victory over Brea is a pretty good win for the Mustangs, who opened the season overrated at No. 6 in the state, according to CalHiSports.com. They have since fallen out.

Cajon (6-1), which may be underrated at No. 19 by The Times, will play Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton in the finals of the Gold Division. Cajon has already beaten No. 10 Chatsworth and Bishop Montgomery in the tournament.

Huntington Beach (8-2) is in the finals of the Gray Division against Los Angeles Washington Prep (8-2).

-- Martin Henderson