After the long, cold, seemingly endless winter of pre-league basketball games and tournaments, the season turns this week to the start of games that really count.
The Empire and San Joaquin leagues are underway this week, with the Garden Grove, Orange and Golden West league sstarting soon after.
Looking at the Garden Grove-Stanton-Westminster area, two teams have emerged as the strongest-looking in their respective categories.
Among boys, Western (12-3) looks to be the top team and a strong contender for the Empire League title, although it will have to overcome Tustin (12-3), the sixth-ranked team in Orange County.
Pacifica (9-4) also looks like a tough team in the EL, and should be in the thick of the fight for a CIF playoff berth, if not the league crown.
The Garden Grove League could be a real dogfight, with Los Amigos at 9-4 and Garden Grove at 7-5.
On the girls’ side, Westminster (14-2) is looking like the Golden West League favorite, along with Segerstrom (12-3). Other strong local teams are Orangewood Academy (8-2), and Pacifica (9-5).
Boys’ Empire play started Wednesday night (results too late for our deadline) with Western at Cypress and in gitls’ play, Cypress at Western.
Today (Thursday) in the San Joaquin League for boys, Orangewood will visit Avalon and stay for a Friday game, too.In non-league contests, Oxford Academy will be at Bolsa Grande and Century at Orange,
On Friday in the Empire League for boys, Pacifica will host Kennedy, while Western will host Yorba Linda. Non-league play will see La Quinta at Santa Ana, Garden Grove at Anaheim and Tesoro at Westminster.
Monday action in the EL will see Pacifica visit Tustin and Western host Valencia.
