Boys’ basketball: First Open Division playoffs begin Saturday for City Section
It’s a new era in City Section basketball, with the first round of the first Open Division boys’ playoffs beginning on Saturday.
These are supposed to be the best eight teams in the section. The big question is whether the seeds will hold up.
Fairfax is No. 1 and hosts Gardena in a 7 p.m. game. The Lions stumbled the last week of the season, losing to Westchester.
Dorsey is No. 2. The Dons have lots to prove and face a challenging home opener from Taft, which has an outstanding guard duo in Damian Wilson and Darrius Henderson. Dorsey is led by Tommie Groce, who became eligible in January.
No. 3 Westchester hosts Crenshaw. The Comets have been coming on strong behind Keith Fisher. Standout guard from last season, Akil Hall Reese, who has missed this season while recovering from a torn ACL, was cleared to play on Thursday. Coach Ed Azzam doesn’t think he’ll play much in this game, but after a week of practice next week, beware.
And, in what figures to be the most competitive game of the night, No. 4 Narbonne hosts defending Division I champion El Camino Real.
The winners advance to a semifinal doubleheader next Saturday night at Roybal. The losers go into a consolation bracket.
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