Tonight's prep hoops' predictions

Here we go . . . my picks on tonight's CIF Southern Section boys' basketball quarterfinal playoff games, starting with the . . .

I-AA
Mater Dei over Los Alamitos (this one will be "competitive" -- just not enough so that the Griffins will be in position to win it late in the game)
Rancho Verde over Upland (too much Kyle Fuller is can be lethal for opponents, as the Lakewood Lancers will attest)
Etiwanda over Corona Centennial (Etiwanda will slow down Centennial's transition attack)
Poly over Los Osos (the Jackrabbits will have to click on all cylinders in this one to beat a team with the best pair of players they have faced on on team this season)

I-A
Santa Monica over Chino Hills (No. 1 seed bites the dust)
Tesoro over Colony (No. 4 goes out as well)
Leuzinger over Corona Roosevelt (there sure are a lot of good programs in Corona these days, eh?)
Loyola over Mission Viejo (pace -- slow for MV, fast for Loyola -- dictates winner of this one)

II-AA
Saugus over Summit (another No. 1 goes by wayside)
Alta Loma over Murrieta Valley
Canyon/Canyon Country over Burbank
Compton over Edison (but only if Tarbabes don't turn it over much and can exploit a big size advantage)

II-A
Eisenhower over Mayfair (Eisenhower is just too relentless)
Damien over Irvine University
Baldwin Park over Mark Keppel
Pasadena over Mira Costa

III-AA
Ocean View over La Habra
Palm Springs over Sonora
Santa Margarita over Elsinore
Foothill over Arroyo Grande

III-A
Serra over Golden Valley
Gahr over Corona del Mar (but not if the Sea Kings slow things down and exploit the Gladiators gambling defense)
Compton Centennial over La Canada (the Apaches will have to beat this team in a half-court setting)
Harvard-Westlake over Calabasas (a Valley Affair)

IV-AA
Price over Morningside (by a large margin)
Bishop Amat over Lawndale
Inglewood over Atascadero
El Segundo over Orange Lutheran (Upset Special)

IV-A
Oaks Christian over Alemany
Woodcrest Christian over Paraclete
Pacific Hills over Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks
Crespi over LaSalle

V-A
Renaissance Academy over Holy Martyrs
St. Anthony over Sierra Canyon (The fun will end Friday vs. Renaissance)
Brethren Christian over Linfield Christian
Besant Hill over Bell-Jeff