A round after knocking out a fellow City Section team, the Birmingham Patriots look to be the last standing Div II team in the bracket. While, in Div III, no City teams remain despite being seeded as #1 and #2.

Open Division preview is HERE.
Division I preview is HERE.

After winning two road games, #13 Birmingham remains on the road to take on the top seeded Eagles in just a couple of hours. And it won’t be an easy affair.

Brentwood’s record provides a lot more aesthetic pleasure than that of the Patriots, and they have delivered with quality wins over teams like El Camino Real and Rolling Hills Prep. A win here sets them up for a date against Crossroads, who they dropped both games this year by a combined 8 points.

Led by Devonaire Doutrive, the Patriots had a roller-coaster of a season, struggling against some sides they should probably have beat, while splitting against El Camino Real and Granada Hills. Losing twice to Taft remains the most painful part of the year for the Patriot Faithful.

Birmingham’s split and loss to Windward , the two common sides the Eagles ousted.

Prediction: The Patriots put up a tough fight, battling the Eagles until the end, losing by a narrow 58-53 margin.

A rematch of a February 23rd match-up, which Crossroads won 84-64 is built to be a nice one.

Led by Shareef O’Neal, the Roadrunners dispatched their first two opponents, beating Selma by 27 and then La Jolla Country Day by 16. On par with their home record, sitting with 11 victories and a goose egg on the loss side. Coach Anthony Davis gave his a team a tough non-league slate, with games against Taft, Red Mountain (AZ), Chaparral (AZ), St. John’s Jesuit (OH) & Bishop O’Connell (VA).

Cajon stayed more in state and took care of business, dispatching teams they should while sticking close in most of their defeats. Coach Randy Murray had his Cowboys net a 9-1 record on away matches (not including “neutral” dates) and will need that fire to continue.

Taft was able to beat both of these sides while they both took care of Beverly Hills.

Prediction: Crossroads takes this one going away, 71-59.

Division 3 boasts no City Section sides but provides us with two solid match-ups. Notre Dame Riverside outlasted George Washington Prep by three in the quarter finals to net their 31st win. Knight (Palmdale) outlasted St. Anthony in the quarters by just four points to make it this far.

Both sides dropped an away game to Los Altos and hope they can continue their seasons. My prediction here is the Knights outlasting the Hawks 78-74 in overtime.

On the bottom half, we have a battle between two double digit seeds, as #10 Bishop Amat went into #7 Twentynine Palms and #2 University, beating both teams by seven. #11 Murrieta Mesa went into Santa Fe Christian and then ousted Crean Lutheran to earn their slot.

Both sides lost to Notre Dame (Riverside) while beating Adelanto and Downey. I like the Bishop Amat Lancers to take the next step.