SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASKETBALL FINALS

DIVISION I

Lynwood (31-0) vs. Harbor City Narbonne (27-3)

6 p.m., Long Beach Arena

Lynwood is quicker and applies exceptional full-court pressure; two-time defending state champion Narbonne is taller. Lynwood scores in transition; Narbonne in the half-court set. It will be critical for Narbonne to handle the ball effectively. The Gauchos’ three losses were to teams similar to Lynwood, and against another similar team, Long Beach Poly, in the regional semifinal, they committed 28 turnovers in a 58-52 victory. If Lynwood forces 28 turnovers, Janice Bright, Sade Wiley-Gatewood & Co. probably will have a field day.

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DIVISION II

Fullerton Troy (29-3) vs. Redondo Union (25-7)

2 p.m., Long Beach Arena

Ever since halftime of the Southern Section Division II-A championship, at which point Redondo led North Torrance, 9-8, the fourth-seeded Sea Hawks have been on a tear. They outscored North Torrance in the second half, 33-22, then beat Spring Valley Mount Miguel, 69-26, and top-seeded Ventura, 50-34, in Ventura--no easy feat. The latter got the attention of third-seeded Troy, which lost to Ventura, 61-43, in the Division II-AA finals. Redondo’s success hinges on its defense, which has limited its two previous regional opponents to 20.8% shooting. Troy, with victories over Escondido Orange Glen and a come-from-behind 57-54 victory over second-seeded Bakersfield Stockdale, needs a big game from its pressure defense in order to set up easy baskets in transition and avoid a half-court game.

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DIVISION III

Lakewood Artesia (26-5) vs.

Torrance Bishop Montgomery (26-5)

10 a.m., Long Beach Arena

Second-seeded Bishop Montgomery, the Southern Section III-A champion, has won the last two state titles. Junior guard/forward Noelle Quinn is one of the most talented athletes in the Southland. Quinn’s passing is phenomenal and her shooting is terrific. Guard Nykia Peace is a similarly competent scorer. The Knights also have some size in 6-0 Melissa Loera, who will try to negate Artesia’s 6-2 center, Cacie Pope, whose role has expanded since 6-3 Lauren Ervin quit the team. Brittany Thomas has scored 63 points in the last two games, and Brittany Imaku and Christian Jackson are averaging 12 points in the playoffs for top-seeded Artesia.

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DIVISION IV

La Jolla The Bishop’s (26-3)

vs. Playa del Rey St. Bernard (23-7)

5 p.m., Long Beach City College

Second-seeded St. Bernard, led by Georgia-bound 5-6 guard Alexis Kendricks and 6-1 junior post player Shannon Clay, will be looking to improve upon last year’s showing against top-seeded The Bishop’s, which defeated the Vikings, 57-45, in the semifinals and went on to win the state title. This year’s Knights are a different team, with only one senior. Mallorie Winn, a 5-11 point guard and the daughter of The Bishop’s Coach Fentriss Winn, has made an oral commitment to play at Georgia Tech next season.

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DIVISION V

La Jolla Country Day (25-5) vs. Los Angeles Pilgrim (28-3)

1 p.m., Long Beach City College

It might be a tall order for third-seeded Pilgrim to beat top-seeded Country Day, the defending Division V state champion. Pilgrim has won Southern Section Division V-A titles six of the last seven years, including the last four. But the Patriots lost to Country Day, 72-38, in the second round of the state playoffs last year and may not match up this time, either. The Patriots’ best player is 5-foot-8 senior forward Amber Cunningham, who is averaging 19.4 points and 8.9 rebounds. The key for Pilgrim will be stopping 5-11 sophomore guard Candice Wiggins, who averages 29.8 points, 13 rebounds, seven steals and five assists.

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Staff writers Martin Henderson and Lauren Peterson contributed to this report.