By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
The chase begins for Damien and La Verne Lutheran’s boys basketball teams after receiving favorable seeds following Sunday’s CIF-Southern Section boys basketball pairings, with the Spartans earning the top seed in Division 3AAA and the two-time defending state champion Trojans seeded second in Division 4AA.
Glendora could make some noise in Division 2A and Covina, Northview and Wilson are hoping for deep playoff runs in Division 3A.
Lutheran, the area’s top-ranked team all season, earned the second seed in Division 4AA and more importantly, is on the opposite side of the draw behind top-ranked Serra and fourth-seed Price.
Lutheran, an at-large that competed as a freelance team after leaving the Arrowhead League, will open Wednesday’s first-round game on the road at Delphic League third-place Marshall. That actually could pay off for Lutheran, who could have more home games the rest of the way.
Montview League champion Workman is home against Don Bosco Tech on Wednesday with the winner likely meeting top-ranked Serra in the second round.
As expected, Damien earned the top-seed in Division 3AAA and will be home in the first round on Wednesday at Century at-large El Dorado.
Hacienda League champ Bonita was seeded seventh in 3AAA and will host Cerritos in the first round.
CIF-Southern Section Boys Basketball playoff Schedule
Division 1A
Friday’s first-round games
Diamond Bar at Glendale, 7 p.m.
Burbank at Chino Hills, 7 p.m.
Yucaipa at Walnut, 7 p.m.
Division 2A
Friday’s first-round games
Rowland at Don Lugo, 7 p.m.
Glendora at Whittier, 7 p.m.
Baldwin Park at Leuzinger, 7 p.m.
Division 3AAA
Wednesday’s first-round games
El Dorado at Damien, 7 p.m.
Beverly Hills at Arroyo, 7 p.m.
South Hills at Esperanza, 7 p.m.
Cerritos at Bonita, 7 p.m.
Division 3AA
Wednesday’s first-round games
Diamond Ranch at Agoura, 7 p.m.
Rosemead at Torrance, 7 p.m.
Los Altos at Gabrielino, 7 p.m.
Charter Oak at Temescal Canyon, 7 p.m.
Division 3A
Wednesday’s first round games
Tahquitz at Azusa, 7 p.m.
Bishop Amat at Santa Paula, 7 p.m.
Rubidoux at Wilson, 7 p.m.
San Dimas at South Pasadena, 7 p.m.
Santa Margarita at La Puente, 7 p.m.
Gladstone at Estancia, 7 p.m.
Yucca Valley at Northview, 7 p.m.
Pioneer at Covina, 7 p.m.
Division 4AA
Wednesday’s first-round games
Bosco Tech at Workman, 7 p.m.
La Verne Lutheran at Marshall, 7 p.m.
Sierra league at-large South Hills is at sixth-seed Esperanza and Mission Valley League runner-up Arroyo is home against 14th-seed Beverly Hills.
In Division 3AA, Los Altos was seeded 11th but will be on the road in Wednesday’s first-round at Mission Valley League champion Gabrielino.
Charter Oak was awarded a 15th seed at will be at Temescal Canyon while Rosemead is at fifth-seed Torrance.
Valle Vista league champion Covina leads Division 3A. The Colts earned the eighth seed and will host Del Rio at-large Pioneer in Wednesday’s first-round.
Northview, seeded seventh, is also at home in the first round against Yucca Valley.
Azusa and La Puente, both from the Montview League, also have first-round home games in 3A. Azusa will host 15th-seed Taquitz and La Puente will host powerful Trinity at-large Santa Margarita. San Dimas is at 13th seed South Pasadena.
Del Rey league at-large Bishop Amat was given an 11th seed and will be at Santa Paula. Wilson is hosting Rubidoux and Gladstone is on the road at 14th seed Estancia.
Glendora earned an at-large in the Division 2A playoffs but was still awarded a 13th seed. However, the Tartans will be on the road at Del Rio league runner-up Whittier in Friday’s first-round.
Also in 2A, Baldwin Park will travel to fourth seed Luezinger and Hacienda League runner-up Rowland is at eighth seed Don Lugo.
In Division 1A first-round games, Chino Hills is the seventh seed after finishing third in the Sierra and will host Burbank, a fourth-place finisher from the Pacific in Friday’s first-round game.
Walnut, seeded 15th, is home against Citrus Belt at-large Yucaipa. Hacienda third-place entry Diamond Bar will be on the road at 16th-seed Glendale.
