What to Watch for in the CIF-SS D1 Chamionship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game will feature tow programs who were in the Open Division bubble conversation all season long. JSerra of San Juan Capistrano will take on Crean Lutheran of Irvine at 4 p.m. at Ontario Arena and it will feature a good mix of shot-making guards and wings along with big men with traditional feels to their game. Below we take a look at how each team reached the title game, the key players and forecast the outlook for each program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Crean Lutheran</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall Record + League Record:</strong> 25-7 overall; 7-1 Crestview League (1st)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How They Got Here: </strong>The Saints defeated Santa Barbara (87-61), Corona Santiago (87-80), Village Christian (83-53) and [player_tooltip player_id='2763310' first='Rancho' last='Christian'] (67-55) to reach the Division 1 title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2888673' first='Chadrack' last='Mpoyi'] </strong>(6-10, C, Sr., signed with Minnesota) - Mpoyi's combination of size, physicality, skill and touch around the basket allow him to impact the game with force or finesse in the paint; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2435386' first='Hunter' last='Caplan']</strong> (6-3, G, Jr.) - the combo guard is a difference-maker both as a scorer and playmaker. Caplan is one of the region's best perimeter shooters but he also has great feel as a playmaker, passer and off-dribble creator; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2622343' first='Nick' last='Giarrusso']</strong> (6-5, G, Sr.) - Giarrusso's high basketball IQ and passing accuracy and timing make him one of the premier playmakers in Southern California. He is also a mismatch type of player with his positional size and ability to rebound, push the break and make smart decisions with the ball; <strong>Jacob Majok</strong> (6-6, F, Sr., signed with UC Riverside) - Majok's combination of physical and athletic gifts make him a multi-positional defender at the high school level and a tough cover in transition where he uses his length, vertical explosiveness and body control to fill lanes and score as a transition slasher; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2436262' first='Caden' last='Jones']</strong> (6-2, G, Jr.) - Jones is a steady ball-handler and decision-maker who organizes the Crean offense and is a physical point of attack defender; <strong>Bryce Coleman</strong> (6-4, WF, Sr.) - Coleman is an important sixth-man who provides defensive versatility and physicality off the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Look for Crean Lutheran to go inside to Mpoyi early and often to establish an interior scoring presence then work its way out to the perimeter with Caplan's three-point shooting ability. JSerra has one body that can match the strength and physicality Mpoyi brings to the floor and forcing the Lions to defend at the rim without fouling could set the tone early in the game. Caplan's jumper being dialed in will be an important factor. He will be the best shooter on the floor and stretching the defense will be key to keeping driving lanes open for Giarrusso, Jones and Majok to be able to get to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">JSerra</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overall Record + League Record:</strong> 23-12 overall; 3-2 Trinity League (3rd)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How They Got Here: </strong>The Lions defeated Pasadena (72-66), Loyola (75-46), Rolling Hills Prep (66-49) and Inglewood (103-91) to reach the Division 1 title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956616' first='Jaden' last='Bailes'] </strong>(6-2, G, Sr., signed with Seattle University) - a gifted scoring guard whose three-level shot-making and ability to score in bunches make him one of the most dynamic combo guards in the region; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2435392' first='Earl' last='Bryson']</strong> (6-3, G, Jr.) - Bryson is the engine and energy on both ends of the floor for JSerra. The junior guard is fast, physical and athletic which makes him an automatic paint touch in transition. Bryson defends and finishes at the rim at a high clip; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2750220' first='Ryan' last='Doane']</strong> (6-8, F, So.) - Doane is one of the most skilled young big men in the state and his ability to stretch the floor to the three-point line, face-up in the mid-range and score with touch at the rim lends to his scoring versatility. Doane upped his rebounding and physicality late in the season and into the playoffs and the Lions will need him to bring his hard hat against Crean; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2435391' first='Godschoice' last='Eboigbodin']</strong> (6-5, F, Jr.) - the basketball player turned football player and back to basketball is one of the most physically-imposing front-court players in the region and he uses his frame and fluid athleticism to defend, rebound and score on high percentage finishes at the rim; <strong>Hunter Frates</strong> (6-3, G, Sr.) - Frates' three-point shooting ability is crucial to JSerra's offense. The senior is a consistent perimeter shooter off the catch which helps balance the off-dribble attack of Bailes and Bryson; <strong>Micah Cunningham</strong> (6-4, WF, So.) - Cunningham is an athletic slasher and finisher and multi-positional defender who provides a good spark of energy and effort off the bench.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>JSerra is at its best when Bailes gets off to an aggressive start on the offensive end and that shouldn't be an issue in this game because the senior guard is one of the best - and most confident - scorers in the class. The matchup of Egboigbodin and Mpoyi will be the most interesting battle to follow. Eboigbodin gives up five or six inches in height but can match Mpoyi's physicality and limiting Mpoyi around the basket could be the deciding factor of this game. The three-point shooting of Doane and Frates is also a crucial component as those two knocking down perimeter jumpers will force the Crean Lutheran defense to play them honest and not load up to stop Bailes and Bryson off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->