The high school basketball season in the CIF Southern Section and Los Angeles City Section, respectively will host their championship games Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.
Among the most anticipated games on the menus will be Open Division titles in both sections as Harvard Westlake takes on reigning and defending campion Corona Centennial in the Southern Section and Watts King Drew collides with traditional power Fairfax in the City Section.
King Drew coach Lloyd Webster has elevated his squad to the top of the heap in the City and a few years ago had the opportunity to knock off the winningest program in City history, Westchester, but did not get it done.
“I am just praying that God has it in the plan for us to finally get it done,” Webster told Inglewood Today.
No. 1 player in City Section basketball, point guard Kalib LaCount finished with 37 points to help King/Drew defeat top-seeded Taft 72-59 in the other Open Division semifinal.
In the girls Open Division, arguably the greatest girl player in the history of high school basketball Juju Watkins, only a sophomore, will be on display when Sierra Canyon travels to undefeated Etiwanda.
Watkins went scored 23 points in an all-around performance that helped propel Sierra Canyon to an 80-53 victory over Corona Centennial and send the Trailblazers (26-1) into Feb 25 Southern Section Open Division championship game against unbeaten Etiwanda (27-0).
In City Open Division girls’ play, Birmingham will face Westchester in the final. Janna Holley scored 30 points in Birmingham’s 58-47 victory over Palisades. Westchester knocked off No. 1-seeded Granada Hills 49-42.
