Damien coach Matt Dunn talks about how the Baseline prepared his team for the title run.
There are some strong leagues in Southern California when it comes to boys basketball. But it is the Baseline League looking like the best of all of them.
Not one, but two teams will be going for state championships this weekend as Damien takes on Campolindo for the Division 3 title at 4 p.m. Friday at Haas Pavilion at Cal-Berkeley.
Later in the day Chino Hills faces San Ramon Valley at 8 in the Division 1 final.
There easily could have been a third team in Etiwanda which competed with the elite of the elite in the Open Division and stayed in the Open for the state portion of the playoffs. The Eagles got to the semifinal before losing to LA Fairfax. It is the Eagles who boasted a rare win over Mater Dei AT Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section.
The Baseline League was one of three leagues that got three teams into the Open Division for the Southern Section playoffs. The other two were the Trinity League (Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, Orange Lutheran) and the Del Ray (Cathedral, Bishop Montgomery, Cantwell Sacred Heart).
But to have two get to the final and another make the open semifinal, well that’s quite a feat.
All three local teams have something in common. They played very tough -schedules. They also had the benefit of great league games. So they’re battle tested. That has to be a factor in them advancing this far and playing in to April. Well, within a few days of April anyway.
We in the Inland Empire have always known how good the talent is here. This just might be what it takes for those outside out own little bubble to recognize it.
