Do or Die: High School Hoops Playoffs Begin Tonight

It’s a huge week in high school basketball, as the Southern Section playoffs start tonight, and two area schools are among the No. 1 seeds.

Harvard-Westlake is No. 1 in Div. III, and Valley Torah is top-seeded in Div. VI-AA.

Harvard-Westlake (22-4) takes on visiting Beckman (8-18) of Irvine tonight at 7:30, and Valley Torah plays host to Newbury Park Adventist (11-9) at 7 at Montclair Prep in Van Nuys.

Also, Campbell Hall (17-9) takes on visiting Cypress (16-10) in a Div. III opener at 7.

Valley Torah (17-4) is trying to win a section title for the first time in school history, and the Wolfpack figure to have a good shot behind 6-foot-8 Aaron Liberman and new coach Robert Icart.

“Everyone has a tough game, and that’s how I look at it,” Icart said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about some of the other teams in the brackets like Bishop Diego, Temecula Prep, Rolling Hills Prep, a few others.”

If Valley Torah wins, it could play Friday at Avalon on Catalina Island in the second round.

“That would involve taking a boat. That would be interesting,” Icart said.

The Wolfpack have played a beefed-up nonleague schedule that included losses to large public schools Etiwanda and Reseda.

Can McBroom Carry Campbell Hall?

Campbell Hall has a dynamic talent in high-scoring Austin McBroom, who committed to Central Michigan last week, but the Vikings continue to miss injured post player Cole Huff, a 6-7 senior who has signed with San Diego State but is out with a knee injury.

“Huff is out for the season, but we’re looking OK,” Campbell Hall coach Steve Wachs said. “We’ve kind of filled the void by committee, but over the last few games Zack Klein has done a great job and has really improved his offensive production. He’s stepping up and hitting tough shots.”

McBroom’s late scholarship offer came a week after national signing day, and Wachs said McBroom “seems pretty happy.”

“I’m going to miss him, but he better buy some parkas because I don’t think he realizes how cold it’s going to be up there,” Wachs said.

McBroom is the only link to Campbell Hall’s championship reign with Jrue Holiday that included three state titles over a four-year period ending in McBroom’s freshman year.

Harvard-Westlake looks to renew success

Harvard-Westlake has won eight section championships and two state titles during coach Greg Hilliard’s successful 26-year reign, but the Wolverines are coming off a semifinal exit last year, so they feel like they’re on the comeback trail.

It didn’t help that the Wolverines lost two of the past three regular-season games, so they don’t plan to take anyone lightly.

Few teams can match up with Harvard-Westlake’s height, as 6-8 Zena Edosomwan and 6-7 Josh Hearlihy and 6-7 Damiene Cain are the key starters.

In the City

In the City Section, North Hollywood is the No. 8 seed in Div. III, as the Huskies (11-16) take on Manual Arts (9-18) in the first round Thursday at 7. In the City Small Schools division, East Valley (14-5)  plays host to Central City (11-11).

North Hollywood has had its ups and downs but has won four of five heading into the playoffs, while East Valley looks to shake off a 36-point loss Friday to Sherman  CES that cost the Falcons the Valley League championship.