Prep teams begin postseason

The third portion of the prep basketball season gets underway this week with the beginning of CIF Southern Section playoff action.

Eight local teams are included in the postseason, including Ocean View High teams that won a boys’ and girls’ championship, as well as a Huntington Beach High girls’ squad that shared the Sea View League title.

Girls’ Basketball

Today, Division IIIA

Arroyo vs. Ocean View

(at Ocean View High, 7:30 p.m.)

Golden West League champion Ocean View opens the playoffs facing an Arroyo team with a losing record. The Knights lost 10 of their first 13 games but won six of their final eight to finish 11-14 overall. They were third in the Mission Valley League standings. Senior guard Rizza Magno, who has scored in double figures in 18 of their 25 games, is the Knights’ leading scorer at just under 12 points per game. Six-foot senior forward Amanda Ragains also averages double figures in scoring at 10.8 per game.

Ocean View brings a record of 15-9 and the division’s No. 9 seed into the playoffs.

The winner moves on to play a second-round game Saturday against the winner of today’s first-round game between Chaffey and Barstow.

Saturday, Division IA

Mayfair vs. Huntington Beach

(at Huntington Beach High, 7:30 p.m.)

Huntington earned a share of the Sea View League title but comes into the playoffs having dropped its last two regular-season games. Those two were played on the road, but the Oilers (20-5), who are seeded No. 11, begin the postseason at home against a Mayfair team that is 11-14 overall. The Monsoons are the No. 4 team out of the Suburban League and enter the playoffs having dropped four of their last five games.

“We don’t know much about them,” Huntington Coach Russell McClurg said of the Monsoons. “It’s a new season and we’re starting over. We’ll have an entire week to prepare for this game, and I have high expectations of our team in this game.”

The Oilers are led in scoring by junior center Jasmine Erving (15 points per game.) and sophomore point guard Noelani Viloria (14.9). Erving also averages nine rebounds and Viloria tallies 4.5 assists a game.

Saturday, Division IIAA

Marina vs. Santa Monica

(at Santa Monica High, 7:30 p.m.)

Marina, the No. 3 team out of the Sunset League, will take to the road for its playoff opener against a red-hot Santa Monica team that went undefeated in Ocean View League play. The team ended the regular season on an 11-game winning streak and earned a No. 6 seed in the playoffs.

Sophomore guard Rita Sitivi leads Marina in scoring, rebounding and steals and is second behind team leader Michelle Walker in assists.

Santa Monica played a rigorous nonleague schedule that saw the Vikings begin league play with a 7-7 record.

Coach Marty Verdugo’s squad is paced by senior center Ebony Sissac and junior forward Katy Keating.

“We’ve been playing well and everything has been clicking, but I’m a little concerned about our conditioning. Our last two wins have been lopsided and we played a lot of girls, so we haven’t had a lot of continuity on the court.

“I don’t know much about Marina but do expect them to be a very tough first-round opponent for us.”

Also on Saturday, Sunset League runner-up Edison will host the winner of a Division IIAA wild card game played Wednesday between Upland (14-12, Baseline at-large) and Culver City (12-13, Ocean at-large).

The Chargers are seeded eighth in the division.

“We’re happy with our draw and our seed and excited to begin the playoffs,” Edison Coach Cory Kelly said.

Boys’ Basketball

Friday, Division IA

Villa Park vs. Edison

(at Edison High, 7:30 p.m.)

Edison won four of its final six Sunset League games to finish in a second-place tie with Newport Harbor. However, it heads into the playoffs as the league’s No. 2 entry.

The Chargers (14-12) are led in scoring by freshman guard Kyle Boswell (18.2). Other leaders are senior guard Corey Ferraro (9.2), junior guard Eric Ferraro — the team leader in assists and steals and second in rebounds — and senior forward Mike Hoida who’s the team’s top rebounder.

Villa Park finished a game behind champion Canyon in the Century League. The Spartans are 19-6 overall and are seeded eighth in the tournament. They are led by the one-two senior guards combo of guard Brian Law (11 points per game) and Kertd Elisaldes (10.8).

Both Marina and Huntington Beach qualified for the IA playoffs and both played wild-card games on Wednesday. The scores weren’t available at press time.

The winner of Wednesday’s wild-card game between Marina (16-10, Sunset League at-large ) and Culver City (13-13, Ocean League at-large) will travel Friday to face Ivy League champion and No. 2-seed Martin Luther King (24-3).

The winner of Wednesday’s wild-card game between Huntington (13-12, Sea View at-large) and Tustin (17-9, Century League at-large) will advance to play Friday at Sunset League champ and No. 3-seed Los Alamitos (22-4).

Division IIA

Ocean View, winner of the Golden West League, will host either Nipomo (16-8, PAC 7 No. 4) or Antelope Valley (15-11, Golden League at-large) on Friday.

Nipomo and Antelope Valley played a wild-card game on Wednesday. The Seahawks are seeded fifth in the division.

In other CIF playoff action

Girls’ Water Polo

Division I

Edison begins play at 3 p.m. today with a road match at Almont League champion Montebello, the division’s third-ranked team.

Huntington (Sea View League No. 3) also qualified for the playoffs and took on Laguna Hills (Pacific Coast League No. 3) in a wild-card match Wednesday. The score was not available at press time. The winner of that match will play today at Sunset League champ and fourth-ranked Newport Harbor.

Girls’ Soccer

Marina, runner-up in the Sunset League, drew a first-round Division I home assignment and will face Palos Verde (Bay League No. 2) at 3:15 p.m. Friday.

Ocean View, which finished second in the Golden West League, travels Friday to play Bishop Montgomery (Del Rey League No. 2) in a Division IV match at 3 p.m.

Boys’ Soccer

Huntington begins the Division II playoffs Saturday (3 p.m.) at Montclair. The Oilers, ranked fifth in the division, finished third in the Sea View League. The unranked Cavaliers won the Mt. Baldy League title.