Girls Basketball Pairings: Cantwell gets No. 2 seed; Sonora, St. Paul get No. 3 seeds

cantwell over sm
By Stephen Ramirez
steve.ramirez@langnews.com
@SteveRRamirez on Twitter

Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary felt it left a championship on the table after receiving a top four seed and losing in the girls basketball Division 4AA quarterfinals last season.The Cardinals get another opportunity this season.
Cantwell was one of three area teams — St. Paul and Sonora are the others — to receive top four seeds when the CIF Southern Section released playoff pairings on Sunday.
The Cardinals (21-6), who won the Camino Real League title, received the No. 2 seed in Division 4A. St. Paul (15-10) is No. 3 in 4AA, with Sonora (23-3) No. 3 in 3AA.
All first round games are slated for Thursday, with the finals scheduled for March 4-5.
Cantwell, which won 10 of its last 11 to win the Camino Real League, will host Templeton (11-10), which was fourth in the Los Padres League.
“We worked real hard all year to put us in this position,” Cantwell coach Matt Zamora said. “Right now, in my opinion it’s a good draw. Everyone is a challenge, but if we take care of business, I like our chances.”
St. Paul (15-12) is looking to get back to the finals after losing to Fairmont Prep in the 4A title game last season. They will travel to La Reina (12-9) in the first round.
Sonora has been the area’s top team most of the year and received a just reward with the No. 3 seed. The Raiders, who finished a strong second in the Freeway League to Open Division entry Troy, host Gahr (12-13).
The Raiders only losses this season were to twice in league to Troy and to Foothill in December.
El Rancho (23-5), after winning its fourth consecutive Del Rio League title, did not receive a top four seed in Division 1A and will host Glendale (15-13) in the first round. The Dons could face No. 1 Mira Costa (18-8) in the second round.
Mira Costa hosts Schurr (12-13) in the first round.
La Serna (12-15) is also in 1A and is at Westminster (21-5).
In 2A, Whittier (16-10), which was second in the Del Rio League, hosts La Mirada (9-16), with La Habra (18-8) at Serrano (10-10). The Highlanders were third in the Freeway League.
Other area matchups are Pioneer (7-20) at Barstow (21-4) in 3A and Nuview (9-11) at Whittier Christian (14-11) in 4A.
CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
AREA PAIRINGS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
FIRST ROUND
THURSDAY
DIVISION 1A

Schurr at No. 1 Mira Costa
Glendale at El Rancho
La Serna at Westminster
DIVISION 2A
La Habra at Serrano
La Mirada at Whittier
DIVISION 3AA
Gahr at No. 3 Sonora
DIVISION 3A
Pioneer at Barstow
DIVISION 4AA
No. 3 St. Paul at La Reina
DIVISION 4A
Nuview at Whittier Christian
Templeton at No. 2 Cantwell Sacred Heart

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