There was a clean sweep for City Section boys' basketball teams from the area when playoff pairings were released Saturday at Roybal Learning Center.

Taft, El Camino Real and Grant were awarded the top seed in Divs. I, II and III, respectively. All are favored to win City championships.

The playoffs begin Friday and continue with quarterfinal games Feb. 22.

"I think the San Fernando Valley is really starting to get some resepct," ECR coach David Rebibo said. "It is more spread out now. There really aren't just a few good teams anymore. There are good players everywhere. I would love the opportunity to play in Div. I."

Taft will have the toughest road because of the depth of its division.

Fairfax, Westchester and Palisades, all of which shared the Western League title, took the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 seeds. Coliseum League champion Crenshaw was seeded No. 5 and Marine League champion Washington, which owns an impressive victory against Crespi, was No. 6.

Taft is looking to win its fourth championship since 2004. The Toreadors won titles in 2004, 2008 and last year with a victory against Westchester at the Galen Center.

"The playoffs are going to be exciting," said Toreadors first-year coach Jason Hart, who replaced Derrick Taylor after he left following last year's championship run to coach at St. John Bosco.

"We have to play our best every night. We'll be ready for the challenge."

The Toreadors open Friday


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with No. 16 West Adams Prep and could face West Valley League rival Birmingham, the No. 8 seed, which really helped itself with a 70-67 victory Friday against Cleveland to secure third place.
"We're really playing well right now. I think we're starting to come together as a team," Taft forward Brandon Perry said. "Coming into the playoffs, we're excited about making a run for the City title again - and the state playoffs."

Birmingham plays host to No. 9 University in the first round Friday. Cleveland, the No. 10 seed, opens at No. 7 Dorsey. The Cavaliers won a thriller last year against Dorsey after erasing a 19-point lead.

If Cleveland can pull off the upset, a potential quarterfinal matchup against Fairfax awaits.

"I am going back to my home," Cleveland coach Damon Charlot said. "That's where I came from."

ECR will play host to No. 16 Van Nuys in the first round.

An interesting matchup could develop in the semifinals when ECR might play host to No. 4 Kennedy.

The Conquistadores feature sophomores Julian Richardson, Maleke Haynes and Evan Wardlow.

Kennedy clinched a share of the Valley Mission League championship Friday and features juniors Dom Vargas, Jordan Taylor and Danny Jiron.

Granada Hills was seeded No. 3 and could face second-seeded Garfield in the semifinals, with the possibility of an all-valley final against ECR or Kennedy.

Grant (24-5) easily took the top spot in Div. III, and should hardly be challenged.

The Lancers feature 6-foot-7 forward Gor Plavchyan, Tullio Parry and Gurgen Harutyunyan.

Grant plays host to No. 16 Bravo Medical Magnet in the first round and could face the winner of No. 9 Chatsworth and No. 8 Panorama in the quarterfinals.

Chatsworth (9-22), the reigning Div. III champion, could surprise because they have played a tough schedule.