Dominguez is top seeded in a loaded division

The talent at Lakewood Artesia might ebb and flow, but the Compton Dominguez and Santa Ana Mater Dei boys’ basketball programs have no trouble keeping their teams stocked.

The Dons are the top-seeded team in the Division I-AA playoffs, getting the nod over second-seeded and undefeated Mater Dei. Artesia, the division’s defending champion and one of the top teams in the nation last season, will stage a wild-card game tonight.

While the two best returning players for the Pioneers transferred over the off-season -- Renardo Sidney to Los Angeles Fairfax and Malik Story to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, originally, but now at L.A. Ribet Academy, where he is ineligible -- Dominguez welcomed in 6-foot-7 forward Jordan Hamilton from L.A. Dorsey, and Mater Dei broke in sophomore point guard Gary Franklin, who hasn’t missed a step while taking over for the graduated Kamyron Brown.

Dominguez and Mater Dei were on a collision course two years ago in Division II-AA, but Villa Park scored a one-point upset over the Dons in a semifinal game.

CITY SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Defending champion: Fairfax

Seeded teams: 1. Woodland Hills Taft (21-3); 2. Westchester (26-3); 3. Fairfax (20-3); 4. L.A. Fremont (19-6).

Outlook: Taft is looking for its second City title, winning its first when current Lakers guard Jordan Farmar was a senior in 2004. The three losses for the Toreadors this season have come against out-of-state opponents. They have twice defeated Dominguez, the top-seeded team in Division I-AA, and have a seven-point victory over Westchester, making them a favorite to represent Southern California at the Division I state finals next month in Sacramento. . . . Fairfax, the defending City and state champion, has proved to be even with Westchester this season, splitting their Western League games.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I-AA

Defending champion: Artesia

Seeded teams: 1. Dominguez (23-2), 2. Mater Dei (27-0), 3. Simi Valley (25-1), 4. Compton (22-5).

Outlook: Mater Dei finished the regular season undefeated, but a comparably soft nonleague schedule probably kept the Monarchs from being the top-seeded team in California’s toughest division. . . . Dominguez, with its two losses coming in nonleague games against the City Section’s top-seeded team, Taft, features one of the state’s most dynamic players in Hamilton. . . . Mater Dei, led by North Carolina-bound junior forwards Travis and David Wear, hasn’t played Dominguez this season, but the teams have a common opponent in fifth-seeded Santa Margarita. The Dons defeated Santa Margarita by four points Feb. 2 at the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei. During Trinity League play last month, Mater Dei knocked off the visiting Eagles by 13 points and won by seven in their gym. . . . Dominguez also owns a narrow victory over third-seeded Simi Valley, winning by one point at the San Diego Torrey Pines tournament in December. Simi Valley defeated fourth-seeded Compton by 24 points at the same tournament.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I-A

Defending champion: Los Alamitos

Seeded teams: 1. Riverside King (24-2), 2. Etiwanda (26-1), 3. Lake Forest El Toro (25-1), 4. Anaheim Canyon (22-4).

Outlook: Not much separates the top three teams in this division. King has played a slightly more challenging schedule with its losses coming by single digits to Dominguez and Mater Dei. . . . Etiwanda and El Toro play hard-nosed defense. Etiwanda gives up an average of 51 points and the Chargers give up an average of 45 points. . . . Canyon has won 13 consecutive games, including a 62-50 victory against Los Alamitos at the Nike Extravaganza on Feb. 2. The Comanches are led by point guard Jerime Anderson who is bound for UCLA.

[email protected]

ON THE WEB

For the rest of the divisions, go to latimes.com/highschools.

--

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Times’ rankings

Dan Arritt’s final regular-season boys’ basketball top 25:

*--* Rk School (Rec.) Division LW ----- 1. Mater Dei (27-0) Div. I-AA 1 2. Taft (21-3) City 2 3. Dominguez (23-2) Div. I-AA 3 4. Westchester (26-3) City 5 5. Fairfax (20-3) City 4 6. Campbell Hall (22-5) Div. III-AA 6 7. Santa Margarita (23-4) Div. I-AA 7 8. Simi Valley (25-1) Div. I-AA 8 9. Riverside King (24-2) Div. I-A 9 10. El Toro (25-1) Div. I-A 10 11. Compton (22-5) Div. I-AA 11 12. Etiwanda (26-1) Div. I-A 12 13. Renaissance Aca. (22-2) Div. III-A 13 14. Eisenhower (24-3) Div. II-AA 17 15. Pasadena (21-5) Div. II-AA 15 16. Capistrano Valley (22-5) Div. I-AA 18 17. JSerra (17-10) Div. I-AA 16 18. Anaheim Canyon (22-4) Div. I-A 19 19. Price (25-2) Div. III-AA 22 20. Corona Centennial (24-4) Div. II-A 21 21. Gardena Serra (21-4) Div. II-AA 23 22. Perris (22-5) Div. III-A NR 23. Loyola (19-7) Div. I-AA NR 24. Palisades (24-6) City 24 25. Redlands (24-2) Div. II-AA 14 *--*