Prep basketball playoffs are just around the hot corner

Tip-off for the 2025 San Diego Section basketball playoffs is closer than one may think.

Hardwood action in seven divisions starts Feb. 18-19 and wraps up with championship games Feb. 27 to March 1.

Frontwave Arena in Oceanside will get a chance to showcase itself at the high school level with Open Division championships for both boys and girls teams on Feb. 28. Quarterfinal action in the section’s elite division starts Feb. 20 (boys) and Feb. 21 (girls).

MiraCosta College has been tabbed to host the Division V-AA boys and girls games on Feb. 27 while Mater Dei Catholic High School will host the Division V finals. Sage Creek High School will host the Division IV finals, also on Feb. 27.

Venue sites for Division I, Division II and Division III finals have yet to be announced.

However, the playoffs in all three of those divisions tip off Feb. 18 for boys teams and Feb. 19 for girls teams. Both gender fields tip off Feb. 18 in Division IV and Feb. 18 in Division V-AA. The Division V playoffs tip off Feb. 18 (boys) and Feb. 19 (girls).

All eight Open Division teams advance to the state regional playoffs while the four Division I semifinalists advance. The champion and runner-up in both Division II and Division III get the opportunity to play for a state title while only the champions in Division IV and Division V advance to the regional playoffs.

Who’s on first?
The Montgomery Lady Aztecs advanced as far as the state championship game last year and don’t be surprised if the Montgomery boys go on a lengthy playoff run this year.

And don’t forget about the Olympian boys team as well.

The Aztecs have been perched on top of the section’s boys rankings all season and remained there entering the week despite a Metro-Mesa League loss to Olympian (53-47 on Jan. 17).

Montgomery is ranked No. 1 among Division I teams and therefore a likely Open Division entrant while Olympian is the top-ranked Division II team.

The Montgomery boys finished 28-4 last year, 8-0 in Metro-Mesa League play, with three games in Open Division play, including a 56-47 loss to Carlsbad in the championship game.

The Aztecs ended the season with an 84-69 loss to Redondo Union in the regional playoffs.

Montgomery defeated Mission Hills (49-41) and St. Augustine (56-39) in the Open Division quarterfinals and semifinals as a bonus.

Olympian’s boys team also posted a 28-4 final record in 2023-24 with a 4-0 run to the Division III championship title following a 50-36 win over Monte Vista.

The Eagles ended their season with a 57-46 loss to Bishop Alemany in the regional playoffs.

Other South County boys teams with favorable division rankings this year include Southwest (No. 4 in Division III), Chula Vista (No. 4 in Division V) and Bonita Vista (No. 5 in Division III).

Bonita Vista and Southwest are currently battling for the 2024-25 Metro-South Bay League crown.

Some exciting games appear on the horizon.

Seniors J.J. Sanchez (18.3 points per game), Xair Mendez (16.8) and Devin Hamilton (16.7) are this year’s team scoring leaders on the juggernaut Aztecs.

J.J. Sanchez (6.6 rebounds per game), Hamilton (5.1 rpg) and senior Alek Sanchez (4.7 rpg) are the team leaders on defense.

Olympian’s top trio on offense include sophomore Tristan Anderson (18.6 ppg) and juniors Jordan Walker (13.3 ppg) and Sammell Humphries (11.5 ppg).

Junior Yaseen Chemsi and Humphries are the team leaders on defense with 5.5 and 5.1 boards per game averages.

The Metro Conference’s top-ranked girls teams include Otay Ranch (No. 3 in Division II) and Southwest (No. 4 in Division V).

Otay Ranch entered the week No. 14 overall in the section.

Team leaders on the Lady Mustangs include senior Maleah Porch (11.2 ppg) and freshman Elisa Cruz (10.3 ppg).

Southwest’s leaders include juniors Pilar Carrera (12.6 ppg) and Jazlyn Martinez (11.3 ppg).

Other South County girls hoops teams with favorable rankings include Montgomery (No. 4 in Division II), Hilltop (No. 9 in Division IV), Ocean View Christian Academy (No. 5 in Division V-AA).

Montgomery team leaders include junior Paula Zumstein (17.3 ppg), senior Cary Brown (12.9 ppg) and junior Genevieve Whitehead (11.9 ppg).

ALUMNI NIGHT

Hall of Fame: Five new Sweetwater Basketball Hall of Fame inductees will be added to highlght Saturday’s non-league varsity game against El Cajon Valley (6 p..m tipoff). Girls inductees include April Cadua (2011), Jessica Bautista (2011). Boys inductees include Mendel Nafarette (1991), Matt Simmons (1986) and Tom Slavinsky (1979). The boys JV game tips off at 3 p.m., followed by the girls varsity game at 4:30 p.m. A meet and greet will take place at 5 p.m. in the old gym.

San Diego Section Basketball Rankings

MaxPreps through Jan. 26

Top Boys Teams

1. Montgomery 19-2
2. Carlsbad 16-4
3. San Marcos 19-3
4. Olympian 17-2
5. Torrey Pines 17-5
6. Mission Bay 15-6
7. Santa Fe Christian 18-4
8. Cathedral Catholic 14-7
9. Francis Parker 14-10
10. La Jolla Country Day 12-10
11. Mira Mesa 17-3
12. San Diego 17-3
13. St. Augustine 9-13
14. Sage Creek 12-7
15. Christian 15-5
16. Rancho Buena Vista 13-9
17. Madison 16-6
18. Mission Hills 14-8
19. Victory Christian Academy 10-9
20. El Camino 10-11
21. La Costa Canyon 11-11
22. Bonita Vista 13-8
23. University City 10-10
24. Del Norte 11-11
25. Pt. Loma 16-4

Division I: 1. Montgomery (19-2), 2. Carlsbad (16-4), 3. San Marcos (19-3), 4. Torrey Pines (17-5), 5. Mission Bay (15-6), 6. Santa Fe Christian (18-4), 7. Cathedral Catholic (14-7), 8. Francis Parker (14-10), 9. La Jolla Country Day (12-10), 10. San Diego (17-3). Others: 11. St. Augustine (9-13)

Division II: 1. 1. Olympian (17-2), 2. Mira Mesa (17-3), 3. Christian (15-5), 4. Madison (16-6), 5. Bonita Vista (13-8), 6. Bishop’s (12-9), 7. Poway (15-7), 8. La Jolla (15-6), 9. Eastlake (8-12), 10. Vincent Memorial (9-6). Others: 12, Steele Canyon (12-9)

Division III: 1. Pt. Loma (16-4), 2. Maranatha Christian (12-10), 3. Calexico (15-6), 4. Southwest (16-5), 5. Rancho Bernardo (12-9). 6. Central Union (11-8), 7. Fallbrook (13-8), 8. Valhalla (12-8), 9. Coronado (9-13), 10. Oceanside (9-11). Others: 11. Mt. Miguel (10-9)

Division IV: 1.Crawford (17-4), 2. Tri-City Christian (9-7), 3. Brawley (15-8), 4. Kearny (16-6), 5. Escondido Charter (10-12), 6. Foothills Christian (14-9), 7. Army-Navy Academy (10-9), 8. Del Lago Academy (9-10), 9. Granite Hills (10-10), 10. Caipatria (7-9). Others: 11. Mar Vista (10-10),

Division V: 1. Pacific Ridge (20-1), 2. Escondido (14-5), 3. High Tech Mesa (9-5), 4. Chula Vista (16-5), 5. Santana (11-9), 6. Preuss UCSD (14-7), 7. O’Farrell Charter (12-9), 8. Sweetwater (8-11), 9. High Tech North County (9-5), 10. Bayfront Charter (9-6). Others: 11. Castle Park (7-11), 13. Hilltop (7-12)

Division V-AA: 1. Southern California Yeshiva (8-5), 2. Cambridge School (9-6), 3, San Diego Academy (11-4), 4. Escondido Adventist Academy (6-10), 5. Warner (7-5), 6. Monarch (3-8), 7. CVLCC (6-7), 8. Horizon Prep (9-8), 9. Ocean View Christian Academy (5-11), 10. Liberty Charter (5-14)

Top Girls Teams

1. Francis Parker 12-8
2. Mission Hills 15-7
3. La Jolla Country Day 12-8
4. Cathedral Cathoic 15-4
5. Westview 13-7
6. Lincoln 12-9
7. Grossmont 17-3
8. Rancho Bernardo 18-4
9. El Capitan 19-4
10. Bishop’s 14-6
11. Imeprial 17-4
12. Rancho Buena Vista 15-7
13. Torrey Pines 16-6
14. Otay Ranch 15-5
15. Christian 15-4
16. Scripps Ranch 12-5
17. Victory Christian Academy 8-13
18. Montgomery 14-6
19. San Marcos 13-8
20. Carlsbad 11-10
21. Mater Dei Catholic 9-9
22. West Hills 14-6
23. Vincent Memorial 13-5
24. Fallbrook 11-9
25. Escondido Charter 14-8

Division I: 1. Francis Parker (12-8), 2. Mission Hills (15-7), 3. La Jolla Country Day (12-8), 4. Cathedral Catholic (15-4), 5. Westview (13-7), 6. Grossmont (17-3), 7. Rancho Bernardo (18-4), 8. El Capitan (19-4), 9. Rancho Buena Vista (15-7), 10. Torrey Pines (16-6). Others: 12. Victory Christian Academy (8-13), 15. Mater Dei Catholic (9-9)

Division II: 1. Bishop’s (14-6), 2. Imperial (17-4), 3. Otay Ranch (15-5), 4. Montgomery (14-6), 5. West Hills (14-6), 6. Vincent Memorial (13-5), 7. St. Joseph Academy (12-8), 8. Granite Hills (9-10), 9. University City (11-11), 10. Mira Mesa (13-8)

Division III: 1. Lincoln (12-9), 2. Christian (15-4), 3. Escondido Charter (14-8), 4. Central Union (12-9), 5. San Dieguito Academy (10-6), 6. Valley Center (10-8), 7. La Jolla (15-9), 8. High Tech High San Diego (11-10), 9. Hoover (10-11), 10. Santa Fe Christian (9-12)

Division IV: 1. 1. Tri-City Christian (8-3), 2. Horizon Prep (12-2), 3. Patrick Henry (15-5), 4. El Cajon Valley (11-7), 5. Canyon Hills (12-8), 6. Cambridge School (11-3), 7. Escondido Adventist Academy (10-6), 8. Brawley (10-11), 9. Hilltop (11-6), 10. Kearny (11-10). Others: 13. Chula Vista (7-11)

Division V: 1. Coronado (11-2), 2. Santana (17-5), 3. Del Lago Academy (9-7), 4. O’Farrell Charter (11-7), 5. Southwest (10-7), 6. San Pasqual (5-6), 7. Mountain Empire (6-3), 8. Coastal Academy (8-5), 9. High Tech Mesa (5-3), 10. Castle Park (8-10)

Division V-AA: 1. Warner (11-2), 2. San Diego Academy (7-4), 3. E&T (7-5), 4. Foothills Christian (7-30, 5. Ocean View Christian Academy (5-5), 6. San Diego Jewish Academy (1-4), 7. Liberty Charter (3-12), 8. CVLCC (3-6), 9. Borrego Springs (1-12), 10. West Shores (4-8)

Photo gallery by Jon Bigornia
Montgomery at Eastlake

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