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Dan Albano reacts to the first week of the girls basketball playoffs and looks toward Wednesday’s games:
1. What teams surprised the most in the first week of the playoffs?
Several but Villa Park, Portola and Sunny Hills stand out.
Villa Park has impressed with its resolve in Division 1. The Spartans entered the playoffs after a gut-wrenching loss in the final seconds at Esperanza as they attempted to claim a share of the Crestview League title.
Coach Brad Willis’ team responded to the setback by shaking off the demons of a first-round exit in Division 1 last season. Villa Park has coolly advanced to Wednesday’s quarterfinals at No. 2 seed La Salle.
Portola’s track record and formation in the Pacific Coast League suggested it wouldn’t be an easy out in Division 2. But the Bulldogs’ 44-34 win against top-seeded Glendora in the second round still opened eyes.
Portola, an at-large entry from the PCL, plays at Saugus in the quarterfinals on Wednesday for a spot in the semifinals and the CIF Southern California Regional.
Last season, the Bulldogs and coach Brian Barham reached the Division II SoCal regional semifinals.
And for those keeping score, the Pacific Coast League foursome of Portola, Sage Hill, Rosary and St. Margaret’s went a combined 7-0 last week.
Sunny Hills defeated another top seed in Tesoro with a 48-19 victory in Division 5. The Lancers, under veteran coach Jae Byun, have shown their resiliency to reach Wednesday’s quarterfinals at Bishop Diego.
Sunny Hills lost to Brea Olinda in its Freeway League opener and against Yorba Linda in a league playoff for third place.
2. What players surprised with their performance in the opening rounds?
Trabuco Hills’ Ellie Tapper is a sophomore guard who continues to excel.
Tapper is a strong shooter but also athletic and aggressive driving to the basket. She fits the Mustangs’ up-tempo style, which faces visiting Oxnard in the Division 3 quarterfinals.
But perhaps Tapper’s rise shouldn’t be too surprising. She’s a standout QB in flag football.
Kennedy freshman Ta’Niya Paul remains a breakout performer.
The 6-foot Paul recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a 65-35 win against San Jacinto Leadership Academy in a Division 7 first round game. In a 47-46 win against Long Beach Poly, she had 17 points and 16 rebounds to help the Fighting Irish rally from a 12-point deficit in the first quarter.
Kennedy travels to Cajon for the quarterfinals Wednesday. The Fighting Irish reached the Division 4A semifinals last season.
3. What matchup Wednesday looks the most exciting?
Easy. Sage Hill-Mater Dei in the Open Division. The game is at Sage Hill at 7 p.m.
It’s a clash between No. 1 vs. No. 2 in Orange County and for important seeding implications in the quarterfinals.
The storylines extend well beyond the marquee. Sage Hill has been trying to knock off Mater Dei for years and come up empty. Will this be the season the Lightning break through?
It won’t be easy. Mater Dei has hung tough without injured Kaeli Wynn, a South Carolina signee. The Monarchs lean on their defensive pressure and a combination of experience and youth. They’re also pushed by coach Jody Wynn, a former Division I collegiate coach.
And the game pits two of the county’s best guards in junior Harmony Golightly of Mater Dei and Texas signee Amalia Holguin of Sage Hill.
In the big picture, both teams are underdogs in the Open Division but this one is for local pride.