PREP BASKETBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS : Mater Dei, Brethren Christian Receive Top Seedings

Mater Dei is the top-seeded team in the Southern California Division I boys’ regional playoffs and will play host to Poway of the San Diego Section Tuesday night at the Bren Center in the opening round.

Mater Dei (31-1), the defending regional champion, scored an impressive 63-41 victory over Huntington Beach in the Southern Section Division I-A championship. Huntington Beach (28-4) is seeded sixth in the eight-team field and will travel to Vista on Tuesday.

Poway (24-6) lost to Vista (28-2) in the San Diego Section Division I championship game, 64-52. Poway won the section championship in 1991 and ’92.

Los Angeles Crenshaw (24-2), the City Section 4-A division champion, is seeded second in the regionals. Crenshaw and Mater Dei have met three times in the regional finals in the past 11 years with Crenshaw winning twice.

Corona del Mar (17-12) is seeded fourth in the Division IV playoffs and will play host to Corcoran (21-6) in the first round. Corcoran is 50 miles south of Fresno and plays in the Central Section. Corona del Mar defeated Playa del Rey St. Bernard, 47-46, in the Southern Section Division IV-AA championship.

Brethren Christian (24-6) is top-seeded in the Division V playoffs and will play host to Riverdale (13-13) Tuesday at a site to be announced. Riverdale is 30 miles south of Fresno and competes in the Central Section.

All games will begin at 7:30 p.m. Second-round games are scheduled Thursday and the Division I, II and III championship games will be Saturday at the Sports Arena. The Division IV and V championship games will be Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The winners will advance to the State championships March 19-20 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

COMPLETE PAIRINGS: C18