Dixon still gives L.B. Poly an edge
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' BASKETBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Rutgers-bound guard will try to help the Jackrabbits to their seventh consecutive section final.
Long Beach Poly Coach Carl Buggs says there is a direct correlation between his team's success in the postseason and the arrival of Jasmine Dixon on campus.
When Dixon turned up as a freshman, the Jackrabbits won their first Southern Section title since 1995. During her sophomore and junior seasons, Poly won back-to-back state championships.
Dixon, a guard/forward who will attend NCAA power Rutgers in the fall, leads Poly into the Division I-AA playoffs Saturday, when the Jackrabbits begin their bid to reach the championship game for the seventh consecutive season.
Championship games in all divisions of the Southern and City section playoffs will be contested Feb. 29-March 1.
CITY SECTION
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Defending champion: Taft
Seeded teams: 1. Chatsworth (20-5), 2. Washington (24-5), 3. Narbonne (24-4), 4. Fairfax (24-7)
Outlook: The seeding was thrown for a loop when Reiko Thomas was injured and Narbonne blew a six-point fourth-quarter lead and lost to Washington, 48-47. That misstep by Narbonne, which beat Washington in an earlier meeting, gave the No. 1 position to inconsistent Chatsworth. The Chancellors lost their last three to high-level Southland opponents, but should breeze into the title game for lack of significant competition.... Sisters Kimberly and Gennifer Brandon, who are 6-feet-1 and 6-3 respectively, have each averaged 13 points and about 10 rebounds for Chatsworth.... Ashely Wakefield and Mykiea Russell each have averaged 10 points for Washington.... Narbonne is still the class of the field, with notable victories over Brea Olinda, Redondo, Mira Costa and La Jolla Country Day. Narbonne has three players averaging between 15 and 10 points: Thomas (14.9), Gabrielle Clark (11.0) and Danielle LeNoir (9.9). The Gauchos were excluded from last year's playoffs for violation of section rules, opening the door for Taft to beat Washington, 39-36, and become the first team from the San Fernando Valley to win the major division championship.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Defending champion: View Park
Seeded teams: 1. View Park (20-5), 2. L.A.CES (15-7), 3. Harbor Teacher Prep (10-4), 4. Sherman Oaks CES (15-5).
