Mike Guardabascio
The CIF Southern Section boys’ basketball brackets were released on Sunday afternoon, with five Long Beach teams making the postseason. St. Anthony, Jordan, Long Beach Poly, Lakewood, and Wilson will all compete in games starting on Wednesday, with the Moore League champion Panthers hosting the only home game in Long Beach that night. Teams that advance would play a second round game on Friday.
Division 1
St. Anthony (15-13) earned the third seed out of the Del Rey League thanks to excellent play down the stretch, and the unofficial city champs (who went undefeated against the Moore League) will try to upset some teams in 2023 just like they did in 2022. The Saints open up on the road against Damien. If they can pull off a win, the Saints would face the winner of Colony and Los Altos on Friday.
Long Beach Poly (12-15) didn’t win the Moore League title for the first time since 2009, but the young Jackrabbits improved throughout the year and earned the Moore League’s second-place seed in Division 1. They got a tough draw and will open up on Wednesday on the road against longtime rival Mater Dei. If Poly wins they’d see the winner of Crean Lutheran and San Juan Hills on Friday.
Division 2AA
In Division 2AA, Lakewood also has the Moore League’s second-place seed (since they’re in a different division from Poly and Wilson). The Lancers are 12-13 on the season and will travel to Crescenta Valley for a first-round game, trying to pull off an upset. If they do they’ll face the winner of Tesoro and Marina on Friday.
Division 4AA
Wilson is also the Moore League’s second seed and will also open on the road, as the Bruins travel on Wednesday to San Andreas League champ Jurupa Hills. Wilson (18-10) would face St. Monica or Edgewood on Friday with a win.
Division 4A
Jordan (16-12) won the Moore League championship and are looking to add to the trophy case. The Panthers are the two-seed in Division 4A and have a strong chance to make a deep run and win a CIF-SS title. They will host Montclair (12-15) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Ron Massey Court, and would then face the winner of Liberty and San Bernardino on Friday if they advance.
