Golden West Women Are Top Seeded in the Regional Basketball Playoffs

Golden West, the two-time defending state champion and three-time Orange Empire Conference winner, was named the top - seeded team in the 16-team Southern California Regional women’s basketball playoffs when the pairings were announced Sunday.

The Rustlers (25-5) play host to No. 16 College of the Canyons (16-15) in a first-round game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Saddleback (25-5) was seeded No. 5 and plays host to No. 12 Santa Monica (22-7), and Orange Coast (17-12) was seeded No. 14 and travels to No. 3 Long Beach (22-6). Both games begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The regional finals are Saturday , with the four winners advancing to Merritt College in Oakland with the four winners from Northern California for the state tournament March 5-7.