Sierra Canyon, Ontario Christian Draw Top Seeds in Open Division Basketball Playoffs

Trailblazers and Knights have been No. 1 teams in Southland since start of season, but face tough competition for Southern Section titles.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Sierra Canyon High boys' basketball team and Ontario Christian girls' team received the No. 1 seeds for the Southern Section Open Division playoffs. Sierra Canyon and Ontario Christian have been the top-ranked teams in their respective divisions since the start of the season, but both face formidable competition to reach the championship games at Toyota Arena on February 28.

Why it matters

The Open Division playoffs feature the top high school basketball teams in Southern California, with the winners advancing to the state playoffs. Sierra Canyon and Ontario Christian have been dominant all season, but will be challenged by other elite programs like Santa Margarita, Redondo Union, and Etiwanda as they try to capture section titles.

The details

The boys' and girls' Open Division playoffs will use a pool play format, with each team guaranteed three games. The boys' quarterfinals are set for February 20, followed by the semifinals on February 24 and the finals on February 28. The girls' playoffs follow a similar schedule. Two teams in each division will not advance to the state playoffs.

  • The boys' Open Division pool play begins on Wednesday, February 12.
  • The girls' Open Division pool play begins on Thursday, February 13.
  • The boys' Open Division quarterfinals are scheduled for February 20.
  • The boys' Open Division semifinals are scheduled for February 24.
  • The boys' and girls' Open Division championship games are set for February 28 at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

The players

Sierra Canyon High School

The Sierra Canyon Trailblazers boys' basketball team received the No. 1 seed in the Open Division playoffs. They have been the top-ranked team in the Southland since the start of the season.

Ontario Christian High School

The Ontario Christian Knights girls' basketball team received the No. 1 seed in the Open Division playoffs. They have also been the No. 1 team in the Southland since the beginning of the season.

Santa Margarita High School

The Santa Margarita Eagles boys' basketball team is seeded No. 2 in the Open Division and has proven capable of winning big games against top opponents.

Redondo Union High School

The Redondo Union Sea Hawks boys' basketball team is seeded No. 3 in the Open Division and owns wins over top teams like Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Phoenix Sunnyslope.

Etiwanda High School

The Etiwanda Eagles girls' basketball team is seeded No. 2 in the Open Division and is the defending state champion, known for playing its best in the playoffs.

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What’s next

The boys' and girls' Open Division quarterfinals are scheduled for February 20, with the semifinals on February 24 and the championship games on February 28 at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

The takeaway

The Sierra Canyon boys and Ontario Christian girls have been the top teams in their respective divisions all season, but they face stiff competition from other elite programs in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs as they try to capture section titles and advance to the state playoffs.