High school basketball: California state playoff brackets

By Aaron Williams Feb 26, 2023, 4:15pm

Reigning Open Division champions Corona Centennial, Sierra Canyon look to get to Golden 1 Center again.

The California Interscholastic Federation announced the brackets for the boys and girls state basketball playoffs Sunday. The finals will be held March 10-11 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

As expected, Centennial (Corona) grabs the top-seed in the boys Southern California Open Division regional after winning the CIF Southern Section Open Division championship over St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 58-56 on a game winning dunk from Aaron McBride. The Huskies are No. 5 in the MaxPreps Top 25 and look to repeat as Open Division champions after beating Modesto Christian (Modesto) 59-50 last season. Modesto Christian grabbed the top seed in the Northern California regional bracket.

On the girls side, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) grabbed the Open Division top seed in the south as Juju Watkins and the Trailblazers look for their second straight title. The SoCal Open Division bracket, however, features three teams in the MaxPreps Top 25, including the No. 1 Trailblazers, No. 5 La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) and No. 9 Etiwanda. In the north, No. 12 Clovis West (Fresno), No. 15 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), and No. 21 Piedmont) look to punch their ticket to Sacramento in the Open Division bracket.

BOYS BRACKETS: Open Division | Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV | Division V | Division VI (NorCal)

GIRLS BRACKETS: Open Division | Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV | Division V | Division VI (NorCal)
Jared McCain looks to lead Corona Centennial to its second straight CIF Open Division title. The CIF released postseason brackets Sunday for finals that culminate March 10-11 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. (Photo: Jerrell Jordan)
Jared McCain looks to lead Corona Centennial to its second straight CIF Open Division title. The CIF released postseason brackets Sunday for finals that culminate March 10-11 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. (Photo: Jerrell Jordan)
CIF finals schedule
Friday, March 10
10 a.m. — Division V Girls
Noon — Division V Boys
2 p.m. — Division III Girls
4 p.m. — Division III Boys
6 p.m. — Division I Girls
8 p.m. — Division I Boys



Saturday, March 11
10 a.m. — Division IV Girls
Noon — Division IV Boys
2 p.m. — Division II Girls
4 p.m. — Division II Boys
6 p.m. — Open Division Girls
8 p.m. — Open Division Boys

Defending boys champions include Centennial (Corona) (Open), Damien (La Verne) (Division I), Elk Grove (Division II), Pleasant Valley (Chico) (Division III), Scripps Ranch (San Diego) (Division IV), Stuart Hall (San Francisco) (Division V), St. Bernard's (Eureka) (Division VI, NorCal only).

Defending girls champions include Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) (Open), Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond) (Division I), Sage Hill (Newport Beach) (Division II), Oakland Tech (Oakland) (Division III), Branson (Ross) (Division IV), San Domenico (San Anselmo) (Division V), Fall River (McArthur) (Division VI, NorCal only).