CIF-SS Championships: Open Division Preview
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We’ve reached championship week in the CIF Southern Section boys basketball playoffs and the game that everyone across the Southland has their eye on is the Open Division matchup between the top two teams in the region: Harvard-Westlake and Eastvale…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve reached championship week in the CIF Southern Section boys basketball playoffs and the game that everyone across the Southland has their eye on is the Open Division matchup between the top two teams in the region: Harvard-Westlake and Eastvale Roosevelt. Below we take a closer look at how each of these teams got here, their key players, and what they need to do to take home the Southern Section Open crown.
Harvard-Westlake | 29-3 | Mission League Champions
How They Got Here: The Wolverines won Pool A of the Open Division with wins over Corona Centennial (61-51), Sierra Canyon (72-38) and St. John Bosco (64-40).
Major Non-Playoff Wins: St. Pius X-St. Matthias (72-71); Perry (AZ) twice (61-53, 78-56); McEachern (GA) (60-59)
Key Players: Trent Perry Trent Perry 6'4" | PG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #70 Nation CA-S | 6-3 | PG | the USC-bound McDonald’s All-American has the ability to control a game both as a primary scorer and playmaker; Nik Khamenia Nik Khamenia 6'7" | SF Harvard-Westlake | 2025 State #18 Nation CA-S | 6-8 | F | one of the top juniors in the country is a difficult cover for most teams as his inside-out offensive skill-set, combined with his size and basketball IQ lend to his versatility; Robert Hinton Robert Hinton 6'4" | CG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #147 Nation CA-S | 6-4 | WF | a dynamic slasher and finisher who also has a lethal mid-range pull-up jumper. Hinton, a Harvard-signee, is the glue-guy that ties up the loose ends and defends and rebounds at a high level. Christian Horry Christian Horry 6'4" | SF Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State CA-S | 6-3 | SG | your prototypical “three-and-D” high school player who can knock down open shots in big moments and is a solid team and individual defensive player; Dominique Bentho Dominique Bentho 6'8" | C Harvard-Westlake | 2026 State CA-S | 6-8 | C | the sophomore big man has made positive strides all season. His presence on the glass will be a crucial component of this game; Isaiah Carroll Isaiah Carroll 6'7" | PF Harvard-Westlake | 2025 State CA-S | 6-5 | F | the junior wing has grown into a sixth-man type of role and could see some time defending Brayden Burries Brayden Burries 6'4" | SF Roosevelt | 2025 State #13 Nation CA-S . Any type of scoring punch – especially from three-point range – will be an added bonus for Harvard-Westlake.
How They Win: The key for Harvard-Westlake will be to limit Roosevelt’s transition opportunities – Good offense will be their best defense. The Mustangs are at their best when forcing turnovers which turns into easy points on the other end because of their ability to score in a variety of ways in the open floor. Burries and Myles Walker Myles Walker 5'9" | PG Roosevelt | 2025 State CA-S are elite slashers and finishers, Isaac Williamson Isaac Williamson 6'1" | SG Riverside Poly | 2025 State #351 Nation CA-S has the green light from three-point range and the volume in which he can make shots can really deflate an opponent and Darnez Slater Darnez Slater 6'1" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State #216 Nation CA-S can do both of those things.
Roosevelt | 30-2 | Big VIII League Champions
How They Got Here: The Mustangs won Pool B of the Open Division with wins over JSerra (64-51), St. Pius X-St. Matthias (64-59) and Mater Dei (80-76 in OT)
Major Non-Playoff Wins: Archbishop Riordan (77-72); Branson (68-64); Owyhee (ID) (71-66); Damien (76-71); St. John Bosco (68-65); St. Joseph (62-61); St. Pius X-St. Matthias (59-54); Coronado (NV) (75-51); Corona Centennial (63-50)
Key Players: Brayden Burries Brayden Burries 6'4" | SF Roosevelt | 2025 State #13 Nation CA-S | 6-5 | WF | the top junior in the state is one of the more dynamic athletes and scorers on the west coast. His combination of explosiveness, physicality and skill make him an extremely difficult cover at the high school level; Darnez Slater Darnez Slater 6'1" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State #216 Nation CA-S | 6-3 | CG | the Colorado State-commit not only has the ability to be a solid decision-maker and creator for others with the ball in his hands but he can also take over as a primary scorer when needed | Isaac Williamson Isaac Williamson 6'1" | SG Riverside Poly | 2025 State #351 Nation CA-S | 6-2 | CG | the junior guard is a high level shot-maker from three-point range both off the catch and off the bounce. Williamson has also proved that has elite on-ball defensive instincts and competitiveness; Myles Walker Myles Walker 5'9" | PG Roosevelt | 2025 State CA-S | 5-9 | PG | Walker might not get the credit he deserves playing alongside the guys we mentioned above but his two-way impact will be key for the Mustangs to pull out a win. He’s on the smaller side but is still an elite defender whose quick hands and smarts create turnovers and is a crafty finisher who can knock down mid-range jumpers; Tochi Anigbogu Tochi Anigbogu 6'10" | C Roosevelt | 2024 State CA-S | 6-10 | C | the senior center is a physical interior defender and rim protecting presence. If he can be impactful on the offensive boards, and earn a few second-chance opportunities for his team, it would be a huge boost.
How They Win: Harvard-Westlake is a team that thrives in their structure and tempo and it is difficult to get them out of it because of how well-balanced the team is. Roosevelt needs to find a way to make the Wolverines uncomfortable – whether it’s speeding them up with full-court pressure or ball-pressure in the half-court. Turning the Wolverines over and getting out in transition will be a big tone setter for the Mustangs.