CIF Girls Basketball Finals Preview

Division IIIA Final – Foothill vs. Inglewood
Thursday, March 5th at 6:30pm; Mater Dei H.S.

Foothill (28-1, 10-0) – 1st in the Sea View League, #1 overall seed in division IIIA

Currently ranked #7 in the state, Foothill has dominated their competition this season with only five teams coming within ten points of the Knights. That trend has continued through Foothill’s playoff run with easy second and quarterfinal round games before being tested by Monrovia in a 78-69 semi-finals victory. In their three playoff wins, the Knights have prevailed by an average score of 66-43.

Road to the Finals:

1st Round: BYE
2nd Round: Foothill 64, Cerritos 24
Quarterfinals: Foothill 57, Sonora 35
Semi-Finals: Foothill 78, Monrovia 69

Inglewood (16-15, 9-1) – 1st in the Ocean League, #2 overall seed in division IIIA

To say it has been the tale of two seasons for Inglewood would be an understatement. After starting the season 0-14 (due to forfeits), the Sentinels have won 16 of their last 17. Like Foothill, the Sentinels had little trouble in their second and quarterfinal playoff wins before holding off the #3 seed Muir 48-45 to reach Thursday’s final. So far in the playoffs, Inglewood has won by an average score of 60-38.

Road to the Finals:

1st Round: BYE
2nd Round: Inglewood 71, Rosemead 23
Quarterfinals: Inglewood 62, Barstow 46
Semi-Finals: Inglewood 48, Muir 45
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Division VAA Final – St. Joseph/SM vs. Serra
Saturday, March 7th at 1:00pm; Mater Dei H.S.

St. Joseph/Santa Maria (27-2, 12-0) – 1st in the Los Padres League, #1 overall seed in division VAA

Having won 8 in a row dating back to January 31st (56-50 loss to Bell-Jeff), St. Joseph comes into Saturday’s final having easily dispatched their first four playoff opponents. In addition to an average margin of victory in those four playoff wins of 36 points, no team has come closer than 20 points to the Knights.

Road to the Finals:

1st Round: St. Joseph/SM 80, Arrowhead Christian 32
2nd Round: St. Joseph/SM 83, Calvary Chapel/SA 28
Quarterfinals: St. Joseph/SM 69, Flintridge Prep 48
Semi-Finals: St. Joseph/SM 39, Valley Christian/C 19

Serra (18-13, 3-5) – At-Large in the Del Rey League, #2 overall seed in division VAA

Any team that judges Serra solely on their record or 4th place finish in the Del Rey league would be sorely mistaken. Just ask any of Serra’s first four opponents in the division VAA playoffs who have fallen to the Cavaliers by an average score of 75-40.

Road to the Finals:

1st Round: Serra 74, Alverno 11
2nd Round: Serra 82, Calvary Murrieta 35
Quarterfinals: Serra 74, La Salle 57
Semi-Finals: Serra 73, St. Bonaventure 55