CIF Southern Section high school basketball playoff pairings

The California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section announced the brackets for the boys and girls basketball postseason on Saturday.

Open Division pool play was expanded by two teams on the boys side as MaxPreps Top 25 No. 2 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), No. 7 Roosevelt (Eastvale) and No. 18 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) headline the 10-team field. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), La Mirada (La Mirada) and Heritage Christian (Northridge) round out the teams that are competing for a spot in the March 1 title game at the Toyota Center.

Harvard-Westlake looks to become the first team in state history to capture three consecutive state championships in the Open Division. The Open Division began in 2013.

On the girls side, MaxPreps Top 25 No. 1 Ontario Christian (Ontario), No. 4 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), No. 7 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) and No. 11 Etiwanda headline Open Division pool play. Only eight teams are featured in the girls Open Division with Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), Windward (Los Angeles), Fairmont Prep (Anaheim) and Sage Hill (Newport Beach) rounding out the field.

The Open Division pool play winner on the girls side will play a significant role in the national rankings ahead of state tournament play in mid-March.

The championship schedule will be announced at a later date with all title games expected to take place on Feb. 28 or March 1. BOYS BRACKETS: Open Division - Pool Play | Division 5A | Division 5AA | Division 4A | Division 4AA | Division 3A | Division 3AA | Division 2A | Division 2AA | Division 1

GIRLS BRACKETS: Open Division - Pool Play | Division 5A | Division 5AA | Division 4A | Division 4AA | Division 3A | Division 3AA | Division 2A | Division 2AA | Division 1

Defending boys champions include Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) (Open), Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) (Division 1), Marina (Huntington Beach) (Division 2A), St. Anthony (Long Beach) (Division 2AA), Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills) (Division 3A), La Habra (Division 3AA), Temecula Valley (Temecula) (Division 4A), Cerritos (Division 4AA), Firebaugh (Lynwood) (5A) and Castaic (5AA).

Defending girls champions include Etiwanda (Open), Brentwood School (Los Angeles) (Division 1), Louisville (Woodland Hills) (Division 2A), St. Anthony (Long Beach) (Division 2AA), JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) (Division 3A), Oak Park (Division 3AA), Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates) (Division 4A), Canyon (Anaheim) (Division 4AA), Antelope Valley (Lancaster) (Division 5A), Adelanto (5AA).