CIF SS Open Playoffs: Opening match-ups, Part I

<p>  The “rematch”, of sorts, should showcase some terrific head-up battles Friday night during the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff game pitting Mater Dei and host Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth.</p> <p>   The programs met in the Open championship games last March 3, with the <strong>Spencer Freedman</strong>-led Mater Dei Monarchs prevailing, 56-53.</p> <p>   Freedman and three other starters from that <strong>Gary McKnight</strong>-coached squad are in college, with only 6-foot-8 sophomore <strong>Wilhelm Breidenbach</strong> the only starter from that team still on hand for the Friday night (7:30) clash.</p> <p>   Guards <strong>Scotty Pippen Jr.</strong> and <strong>Cassius Stanley</strong> and forwards <strong>K.J. Martin </strong>and <strong>Terren Frank</strong> are returning starters from the Sierra Canyon team that went on to with the State Open title after the Monarchs were upset at home in the first round of the Southern Open Regional.</p> <p>   Among the cool things to watch for in the game between the No.’s 2 (the Trailblazers) and 7 seeds in the first round of the first-ever “pool play” used in Southern Section playoffs will be Pippen being challenged by sophomore <strong>Devin Askew</strong> (PICTURED).</p> <p>   Pippen (who committed to Vanderbilt last month) is the best point guard in the Southern California senior class. He’ll have his hands full against Askew, the top sophomore at the position in the Southland.</p> <p>   And watch from a nifty confrontation anytime the high-flying Martin is going head up against Breidenbach.</p> <p>  In the other “Pool B” in the eight-team field Friday night, No. 6 St. John Bosco (the co-champion in the Trinity League with Mater Dei) visits Corona to take on No. 3 Centennial at 7 o’clock.</p> <p>   The host Huskies’ only losses have come to top-seed Rancho Christian (twice, at home and during the Classic at Damien Platinum title game) and at Sierra Canyon in December.</p> <p>    The Braves will present a group of skilled perimeter players in seniors <strong>Christian James</strong> and <strong>Joshua Adoh</strong>, as well as junior <strong>Josh Camper</strong>, in an attempt to successfully counter the Centennial all-Class of 2020 trio of <strong>Jaylen Clark, D.J. Davis</strong> and <strong>Paris Dawson</strong>.</p>