All season long, local media members and pundits have pegged Palisades and Cleveland to clash in the LA City Section Open Division boys basketball final.
Cleveland needed a narrow victory over Fairfax in the semifinals to reach Friday’s title game. Meanwhile, No.1 Palisades has been cruising.
Nevertheless, the two will indeed face off in the almighty Open Division championship game Friday night at Southwest College. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
It’s been a two-year build-up for Cleveland, which lost to 2025 champions Westchester and Tajh Ariza in last year’s Open Division semifinals. Now, Cleveland is over the hump. But it seems like a bigger challenge might be waiting for the Cavs now.
Palisades Charter (19-11) is loaded with talent, including standout freshman Phil Reed, junior point guard Jack Levey and twin juniors EJ and OJ Popoola. Oh, and there’s 6-foot-10 center Julian Cunningham — he’s only a junior, too.
Cleveland (20-9) has potential big-time returners, too. Charlie Adams (18 ppg) and Sho Evans (12.3 ppg) are only sophomores. TJ Wansa (12 ppg) is a junior.
So, maybe, Friday night’s title tilt is the first of a few meetings to come.
However, if there’s an x-factor that can help Cleveland win the City crown this year, it’s 6-foot-9 senior Sergine Deme (16.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg), who possesses a threat Palisades doesn’t quite have an answer for inside, athletically.
If a common opponent can help to evaluate a favorite, here’s a score worth chewing on. Cleveland needed overtime to beat Fairfax 68-64 on Saturday. Palisades, which is a Western League foe of Fairfax, beat the Lions 75-28 and 75-47 this season.
BIRMINGHAM GIRLS’ PLAYING FOR 3RD OPEN TITLE
The Birmingham Charter girls basketball team will face Westchester in the City Open Division final on Saturday night at Pasadena City College at 6 p.m.
It will be the Patriots’ third Open final appearance since 2022. Birmingham won it in 2022 and 2024 — both coming in wins over Westchester.
Birmingham (27-3) went 10-0 in the West Valley League this year before receiving the No. 2 seed this postseason. Westchester (25-3) is the No. 1 seed after going 12-0 in the Western League.
Birmingham is led by a crop of underclassmen with a duo of sophomores Kayla Tanijiri (17.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.7 apg) and Kiara Wakabi (10.1 ppg), and a tandem of freshmen in Belinda Hernandez-Santiago (11.7 ppg) and Jaydin Walker (11.2 ppg).
Interestingly enough, the roster has no juniors or seniors on it.
Westchester is led by upperclassmen, highlighted by standout junior Savannah Myles, who is averaging 21 points per game.
OTHER CITY FINALISTS
The Granada Hills Charter boys will face Chatsworth in the Division I final at Pasadena City College on Saturday at 2 p.m. The West Valley League rivals played twice this year and Granada Hills won both games, 39-37 and 58-48, respectively.
Before the Division I final tips off, the San Fernando boys play Franklin at 10 a.m. in the Division IV final and Verdugo Hills faces LA Kennedy Community in the Division III boys final at noon.
Sylmar and King/Drew will play in the Division II boys final at LA Southwest College at 6 p.m. on Friday before the boys Open Division final at 8 p.m.
In girls basketball, the Division I final will feature El Camino Real and Kennedy High at Pasadena College on Saturday at 4 p.m.
On Friday at Birmingham Charter, North Hollywood is playing Harbor Teacher Prep in the girls Division II final at 6 p.m. before the boys Division 5 final tips off between Canoga Park and Van Nuys at 8 p.m.
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