Previewing all six CIF San Diego Section boys basketball championship games
The boys basketball championships in the CIF San Diego Section get started on Thursday with Division 3 and Division 5. Divisions 2 and 4 will be played on Friday and Division 1 and the Open Division will be played on Saturday.
Scorebook Live California reporter Bodie DeSilva previews all six games below.
OPEN DIVISION
Saturday, February 29th at 7:30 PM
Rimac Arena at UCSD
- (1) Cathedral Catholic (23-7) vs. (3) Torrey Pines (26-4)
Previous matchup:
December 23rd, Cathedral Catholic won 58-51
Torrey Pines and Cathedral Catholic return to UCSD after
both were crowned champions in 2019, the Falcons in the open division and the
Dons in division one. The Dons won the Western League, beating St. Augustine
twice but a loss at Christian kept them from being unbeaten in league play. They
redeemed that loss in the first round by beating the Patriots for the second time
this season and then imposed their will against Parker in the semifinals to move
to the championship game. The Falcons claimed an undefeated league title in the
Avocado West League and won their first-round game by taking down Poway for the
second time on the season. A late defensive stop at St. Augustine in the semifinals
advanced them to their second straight open division championship appearance.
DIVISION ONE
Saturday, February 29th at 1pm
Rimac Arena at UCSD
- (1) Santa Fe Christian (22-9) vs. (2) Carlsbad (24-7)
Previous matchup:
January 8th, Santa Fe Christian won 65-56
Santa Fe Christian is into their third division one championship
game in the last four years, having claimed the title in 2017 and 2018. Carlsbad’s
program resurgence started last season when the Lancers took down Rancho Buena
Vista for the division two crown. Santa Fe Christian began the season 8-0 but
dealt with major injuries throughout and ended up at 7-5 in third place in the
very competitive Coastal League. The Lancers were 8-2 in the Avocado West
League with both losses coming against Torrey Pines. Carlsbad has dealt with
their own injury issues of late but have a healthy Jailen Nelson, who’s coming
off a 42-point performance against El Camino in the semifinals, his third game
of 40-plus points this season.
DIVISION TWO
Friday, February 28th at 7:30pm
At San Marcos HS
- (2) San Diego (20-10) vs. (5) University City (20-8)
Previous matchup: None
San Diego enters looking for their third consecutive CIF Championship, winning division four and division three the past two seasons. It’s been a while since University City has been to the CIF Championship, the Centurions were the division three runners-up in 2008 and the champions in 2011. The Cavers come in as the Eastern League co-champions alongside Scripps Ranch. After starting out 1-3, San Diego ended with four straight wins in league and have increased their winning margin in each of their three playoff games so far. The Centurions come in having won nine of ten since late January, their lone loss coming against undefeated league champion Coronado. University City won their first two playoff games by four and two points, respectively, before shutting down Orange Glen for a 28-point win in the semifinals.
DIVISION THREE
Thursday, February 27th at 7:30pm
At Montgomery HS
- (1) San Ysidro (23-8) vs. (2) Coronado (21-9)
Previous matchup: None
Both the Cougars and Islanders come into the finals after cruising through their respective leagues undefeated. The two best newcomers in the San Diego Section this season will square off with San Ysidro freshman guard Mikey Williams and Coronado junior guard Wayne McKinney. Williams comes in averaging 31 points per game along with teammates Jurian Dixon and Kailen Rains who are averaging 25 and 21 points per game, respectively. The Cougars are winners of 14 in a row since a loss to nationally ranked Rancho Christian on January 10th. McKinney, who transferred in from Oregon this offseason, has been the do-it-all guy for the Islanders leading them in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He’s led Coronado to 13 wins in a row, dating back to an overtime loss to Otay Ranch on January 3rd.
DIVISION FOUR
Friday, February 28th at 7:30pm
At Serra HS
- (1) Calexico (26-3) vs. (5) El Capitan (14-14)
Previous matchup:
December 13th, Calexico won 58-53
It’s been an up and down season for El Capitan, but the
Vaqueros find themselves getting into the groove at the right time. A 2-6
record in the Grossmont – Valley League saw them finish fourth. El Capitan
finished the regular season with two straight wins and have parlayed that into
three playoff wins, with two of those coming on the road. Jacob Pfitzner has led
the charge for the Vaqueros with four games of 30-plus points this season as he
closes in on 1,500 career points. Calexico went nearly two months during the
season without a loss until dropping a league game to Southwest El Centro. The Bulldogs
have recovered and enjoyed the home court advantage, winning by 13 and 23
points in the first two rounds, before taking down rival Central by three
points in the semi’s.
DIVISION FIVE
Thursday, February 27th at 7:30pm
At Carlsbad HS
- (3) Calvin Christian vs. (5) Classical Academy
Previous matchups:
January 22nd, Calvin Christian won 47-37
February 7th, Classical Academy won 43-38
The two Ocean League foes split their season series with the
visiting team coming out victorious each time. Classical Academy pulled off a
significant upset in the semifinals when they took down top-seeded Fallbrook on
the road. The Caimans come in winners of seven in a row while holding all seven
opponents to under 50 points. The Crusaders ended the regular season a bit
shaky with losses to Mar Vista and the aforementioned loss to Classical
Academy. They got revenge against Mar Vista in the semifinals, will they be
able to continue the revenge tour against the Caimans?
