Boys’ basketball: Mission, Trinity, Alpha leagues begin this week

It’s time to get serious in high school basketball. The experimentation phase is over. League play begins in three very competitive leagues _ the Mission, Trinity and Alpha. And that means loud crowds and intense games.

In the Mission, Loyola (13-0) wil enter as the favorite, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. The Cubs have been favored before and found out winning league can be a difficult path. The good news is that Loyola has a healthy Parker Jackson-Cartwright and as long as he stays that way, the Cubs will be tough to stop. Loyola faces a big home match against Chaminade (12-1) on Friday.

“I think Loyola is the best team the Mission League has had since I’ve been around,� Crespi Coach Russell White said.

Crespi has been a quick starter the last couple of years in league play and opens against Harvard-Westlake on Wednesday.

“You play 12 games against 12 quality opponents in 30 days, and it’s a grind,� White said.

In the Trinity, it’s all about whether any team can stop No. 1-ranked Santa Ana Mater Dei (14-0) and Stanley Johnson. Or, it’s about who’s going to finish in second place. On Jan. 15, the Monarchs host St. John Bosco.

In the Alpha League, Sierra Canyon (13-1) has emerged as a likely pick for the Open Division and the clear favorite, but Brentwood, Windward, Campbell Hall and Viewpoint all have quality teams, making every night an interesting battle. Brentwood hosts Windward on Tuesday night in an early league showdown.

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