2014 CIF state championship girls basketball previews

After winning five of six games last season, the Southern California girls again figure to close the deficit in career matchups against the north at the CIF State Championships this weekend at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.

The north holds a 77-69 edge since the championships began in 1981. Last season was the first year the Open Division was added to the five-division format and Bishop O'Dowd prevailed over Windward in a showdown of Top 5 national teams.

Here are capsule looks at the six divisions:

Open Division: 6 p.m. Saturday
Long Beach Poly (26-3) vs. Salesian (Richmond) (30-6)

Win streaks: Poly 3, Salesian 3
State record: Poly 5-1, Salesian 0-2
Points per game (allowed): Poly 68.4 (33.7), Salesian 66.0 (44.0)
Terrific trios: Long Beach Poly — C Lajahna Drummer, G Arica Carter, C Ayanna Clark. Salesian — F Mariya Moore, G Kian McNair, C Zoe Correal
Notes: Carter and Moore have each signed to Louisville. … Poly's losses have been two to Windward (Los Angeles) and to Mater Dei (Santa Ana). … Eleven Poly players average between 4-11 ppg. ... Correal, a 6-4 post headed to Colorado, must contend with Poly's massive front line. ... Poly, the defending champion, won a Division I record four straight titles starting in 2006. ... Drummer and Moore are McDonald's All-Americans.
Predicted winner: Salesian

Division I: 6 p.m. Friday
Canyon Springs (Moreno Valley) (24-6) vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (24-9)

Win streaks: Canyon Springs 4, Pleasant Grove 4
State record: CS 0-1, PG 0-0
Points per game (allowed): CS 60.4 (44.2), PG 50.4 (40.8)
Terrific trios: Canyon Springs — G Jordyn Penniman, G Cheyenne Greenhouse, G Kimari Hollis. Pleasant Grove — G Brittany Nguyen, G Kim Schmelz, C Aaliyah Pena
Notes: Greenhouse, a 5-10 senior, averages 21.4 ppg and has taken 444 shots. … Canyon Springs averages 12.1 steals per game. … Canyon Springs is ranked 35th in the state, Pleasant Grove is No. 75.
Predicted winner: Canyon Springs

Division II: 2 p.m. Saturday
Chaminade (West Hills) (28-4) vs. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (20-11)

Win streaks: Chaminade 4, Mitty 5
State record: Chaminade 0-0, Mitty 5-4
Points per game (allowed): Chaminade 60.6 (42.3), Mitty 56.0 (47.7)
Terrific trios: Chaminade — F Natalie Valenzuela, G Valerie Higgins, C Devin Stanback. Mitty — G Kelli Hayes, G Jahnay Anderson, F Taylor Todd
Notes: Mitty has won more section titles than any girls basketball team in the state (28). … Chaminade lost in the Southern Section quarterfinals to Long Beach Poly 75-57. … The Chaminade boys are in a different classification and play Drake (San Anselmo) in the D-III state finals Friday. …. Stanback's brother is a 6-10 post Trevor Stanback, considered one of the best sophomores in the country. ... Mitty coach Sue Phillips has led the Monarchs to five state titles.
Predicted winner: Chaminade

Division III: 2 p.m. Friday
Santa Barbara (30-5) vs. Modesto Christian (26-8)

Win streaks: SB 12, MC 11
State record: SB 0-0, MC 0-2
Points per game (allowed): SB 58.8 (42.0), MC 61.5 (40.5)
Terrific trios: Santa Barbara — F Amber Melgoza, PG Desirea Coleman, F Jada Howard. Modesto Christian — G Lexi Tubbs, G Stephanie Moore, F Lailoni Gaines
Notes: Melgoza is the highest-scoring girl in the tournament at 22.1 ppg. … Santa Barbara coach Andrew Butcher has been the team's head coach for 32 years and has sent 21 players to NCAA D-1 programs. … Modesto Christian last lost in the state finals in 2009 to Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista), 54-51.
Winner: Santa Barbara

Division IV: 10 a.m. Saturday
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) (27-4) vs. Justin-Siena (Napa) (29-6)

Win streaks: SC 4, JS 4
State record: SC 1-0, JS 0-1
Points per game (allowed): SC 60.4 (44.2), JS 54.0 (38.7)
Terrific trios: Sierra Canyon - G Kennedy Burke, F Cheyanne Wallace, F Shivon Ganther. Justin-Siena — C Haley Cremen, G Sadie Irvine, G Morgan Malloy.
Notes: Sierra Canyon won last year's D-V title game over Pinewood, 47-33 behind 15 points by Burke. … SC has won nine straight state playoff games over two seasons. … Justin-Siena lost 59-57 in overtime to Woodlake in the 1985 state finals at the Oakland Coliseum. That's a 29-year span between appearances. ... Justin-Siena won its NorCal final game over Arcata 47-26, the least amount of points allowed in any of the 24 regional title games.
Predicted winner: Sierra Canyon.

Division V: 10 a.m. Friday
La Jolla Country Day (20-11) vs. Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) (29-3)

Win streaks: LJCD 4, Pinewood 4
State record: LJCD 3-3, Pinewood 5-2
Points per game (allowed): LJCD 57.4 (46.5), Pinewood 61.9 (39.5)
Terrific trios: La Jolla Country Day — G Mai-loni Henson, F Sabrina Callahan, G Mariana Ecija. Pinewood — G Marissa Hing, F Chloe Eackles, G Leeana Bade.
Notes: It's a great matchup of two highly respected coaches in Pinewood's Doc Scheppler (five state titles) and LJCD's Terri Bamford. … LJCD starts two 6-footers. … Pinewood has nobody taller than 5-10.
Predicted winner: Pinewood