A preview of Thursday’s regional playoff games

High School Basketball Regionals

Thursday

BOYS

Lawndale Leuzinger (25-6) at Woodland Hills Taft (25-5), 7 p.m.: Three months ago, in a semifinal of the Westchester tournament, Taft defeated Leuzinger, 60-59. This rematch is in a Division I quarterfinal. Taft barely got past Los Angeles Loyola, 66-65, on Tuesday and needs to find a way to regain its energy and pressure on defense. Leuzinger won the Southern Section 1A championship and routed Los Angeles Washington on Tuesday behind point guard Aqeel Quinn, who scored 31 points.

Long Beach Poly (27-4) at Etiwanda (24-9), 7 p.m.: This Division I quarterfinal is a rematch of a Southern Section Division 1AA semifinal won by Etiwanda, 58-55. Expect another grueling defensive struggle. Junior Byron Wesley of Etiwanda has emerged as a late-season player of the year candidate. Poly’s guards were effective Tuesday in an 87-62 win over Los Angeles Crenshaw.

Eric Sondheimer

GIRLS

La Puente Bishop Amat (24-7) at Agoura (30-1), 7 p.m.: A tough defensive team meets a potent offense in this Division III quarterfinal. Agoura, which is appearing in the state playoffs for the first time, has the offense. The Chargers, who lost in the Southern Section 3AA final, are led by Brittany Oster, who averages 16.0 points. Sasha Borenstein (15.5) and Kylie Cunningham (14.5) also can score. Bishop Amat has played a tougher schedule, with wins over Etiwanda and Torrance Bishop Montgomery. The Lancers are paced by Arielle Wideman, who averages 16.0 points.

Melissa Rohlin