Top Teams Face Each Other in Division I-A Bracket

DIVISION IV-A

Defending champion: Brethren Christian.

Top teams: Santa Monica Crossroads (24-2), Playa del Rey St. Bernard (15-3), Calvary Chapel (21-5), Santa Monica St. Monica (18-5).

Dark horse: Burbank Providence (18-4). Only two league opponeents scored more than 30 points against Liberty League champs.

Top players: Cathy Joens (Calvary Chapel), Monica Flores (St. Monica), Nicole Grady (Orange Lutheran), Marcene Guerrero (Calvary Chapel), Shannon Howell (St. Bernard), Ruth Lazzari (Connelly), Courtney Young (Crossroads).

Notes: Brethren Christian missed the playoffs, finishing fourth in the Olympic League . . . Third-seeded Calvary Chapel is seeking its first section title after winning its first two league titles this season and last season. . . . Orange Lutheran’s third-place finish in the the Olympic League probably cost it a first-round game at fourth-seeded St. Monica. . . . Crossroads has a tough one-two punch in the frontcourt with 5-10 sophomore Young, who averages 21 points and 12 rebounds, and 6-2 senior center Michelle More, who averages 17 points and 11 rebounds.

DIVISION V-AA

Defending champion: Palos Verdes Chadwick.

Top teams: Palos Verdes Chadwick (20-5), Covina Western Christian (19-4), Long Beach St. Anthony (15-6), Capistrano Valley Christian (19-4).

Dark horse: Los Angeles Pacific Hills (18-6). Finished second in the Delphic League to Crossroads, the top-seeded team in Division IV-A.

Top players: Jennifer Dyche (Western Christian), Erin Gilliland (Chadwick), Andrea Opfer (St. Anthony), Bethany Thom (Capistrano Valley Christian).

Notes: Academy League champ Capistrano Valley Christian is seeded fourth and could face Valley League champ, Canoga Park Armenian General Benevolent, in the second round. . . . Even if St. Margaret’s survives its wild-card road game Thursday at Compton Queen of Angels, the winner plays a first-round game at third-seeded Long Beach St. Anthony.

DIVISION V-A

Defending champion: Santa Maria Valley Christian.

Top teams: Los Angeles Pilgrim (20-2), Hemet Baptist Christian (18-0), Apple Valley Christian (18-1), Rolling Hills Prep (16-1).

Dark horse: Los Angeles Price (12-7). Denae Howell leads Coastal Life League champ, which gets a first-round bye.

Top players: Samantha Cortez (Big Pine), Amber Cunningham (Pilgrim), Lauren Stayton (Rolling Hills Prep), Stephanie Wu (Liberty Christian).

Notes: Liberty Christian is the only Orange County team in the field and the Minutemen host Granada Hills Hillcrest Christian in the first round. . . . Top-seeded Pilgrim won section titles in ’96 and ’97. . . . Stayton, a 5-11 sophomore, leads Rolling Hills Prep, which lost its only game to Sun Valley Village Christian, which plays in Division IV-A. . . . Defending champ Santa Maria Valley Christian could meet Rolling Hills Prep in the quarterfinals.