High School Basketball Begins Season Tonight

The high school boys’ basketball season begins tonight with first-round games in the Buena Park, Pacific Shores and National Sports Grill Invitational tournaments.

Servite, one of the top teams in the Golden West League, and Pacifica, the defending champion in Southern Section Division III-A, are among those entered in the National Sports Grill Invitational at Loara and Savanna highs.

The Brea-Olinda, Mission Viejo and Daily Pilot Tip-Off Classic tournaments begin Tuesday. Katella, a preseason favorite to win the Empire League title, opens against Whittier Christian in the first round of the Brea-Olinda tournament Tuesday.

Santa Ana Valley, which features one of the nation’s top juniors, Olujimi Mann, opens with nonleague games on Wednesday at Sonora and on Friday against visiting Tustin.

Mater Dei, which has won section titles in nine of the past 12 seasons, begins its season next week.

The girls’ basketball season also begins tonight with five nonleague games scheduled. In a key nonleague game, Ocean View plays at Edison Tuesday before county tournaments begin on Wednesday.