Teams take first step

Three teams that finished in second place in their respective leagues began preparations Monday for the CIF Southern Section boys’ basketball playoffs.

Edison, Ocean View and Brethren Christian each begin their drive this week for a postseason championship. First-round games began Wednesday and continued Friday.

•Ocean View, which tied for second place in the Golden West League, started its postseason journey Wednesday. The Seahawks (12-14 overall) played host to No. 13-seed Buena Park (10-17, Freeway League at-large) in a first-round Division 3A game but the score wasn’t available at press time.

The winner of the Buena Park-Ocean View game moves on to play a second-round game at 7 p.m. Friday against either No. 4-seed Oak Park (Tri-Valley tie-No. 2) or Covina (Valle Vista League at-large).

The 3A Division quarterfinals are 7 p.m. Tuesday.

•Brethren Christian, which last year reached the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 5AA playoffs, headed into this year’s division tournament with the No. 3 seed. The Warriors played host to Helendale Academy of Careers and Exploration (1-7, Cross Valley League at-large) in an opening-round game Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

The winner advances to at 7 p.m. second-round game Friday against either No. 14-seed Pilibos (Westside League No. 3) or Thacher (Condor League No. 3).

The 5AA Division quarterfinals are at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

BC claimed second place in the Academy League and completed league play Feb. 14 with a 63-35 win at Downey Calvary Chapel. Sophomore forward Cameron Griffin scored 21 points to go with eight rebounds, junior guard Brandon Bryson contributed 14 points, eight assists and seven steals, and junior forward Josh Duren hit a pair of three-point shots and finished with 10 points.

“Our team is playing well as we head into the playoffs,” said Coach Jon Bahnsen whose Eagles went 10-2 in league and took a 22-4 overall record into the postseason. “We had multiple injuries and illnesses during the last two weeks of the season, but we seem to be completely healthy now and ready for a good run in the playoffs.”

•Edison landed the No. 2 seed in the Division 1A tournament. The Chargers, second to Los Alamitos in the Sunset League, play host to the San Andreas League’s No. 3 team, Rialto, at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Knights went 5-5 in league play and 6-17 overall during the regular season.

Edison brings a 21-5 record into its playoff opener.

“They are athletic and well-coached,” Edison Coach Rich Boyce said of Rialto. “We need to be at the top of our game.”

Edison tuned up for the postseason by ending Sunset League play Feb. 13 with a 74-52 home win over rival Fountain Valley. Junior guard Brae Ivey led the scoring with 20 points as the Chargers capped an 8-2 league season.

The Rialto-Edison winner moves to a Division 1A second-round game at 7 p.m. next Tuesday.