PREP BASKETBALL is starting this week. Above, Bolsa Grande and Santiago mix it up in a Garden Grove League game last year (Tribune file photo).

The high school football playoffs are still underway, with two local teams – Garden Grove and Western – in semifinal games this Friday.

But, believe it or not, high school basketball is getting started now. The first day for authorized interscholastic contests was Monday, but since that’s the day that most schools close for observance of Veteran’s Day, the real start may be today (Tuesday).

In the brave new world of prep hoops, playoff divisions and groupings are no longer determined by attendance, but by a complex formula that emphasizes the previous two years’ on-court performance.

Put another way, the better you do, the tougher the division you eventually find yourself in.

Here are the “initial” divisions for local teams, first for boys, then girls.

       BOYS:

• Division 1: Edison.
• Division 3AA: Marina, Ocean View.
• Division 3A: Huntington Beach, Pacifica, Ocean View, Westminster.
• Division 4AA: Garden Grove, Santiago.
• Division 4A: Bolsa Grande, La Quinta, Western.
• Division 5AA: Magnolia, Orange.
• Division 5A: Los Amigos.
• GIRLS:
• Division 2AA: Huntington Beach, Orangewood Academy.
• Division 2A: Edison, Westminster.
• Division 3AA: Ocean View.
• Division 3A: Bolsa Grande, Garden Grove, Pacifica, Marina.
• Division 4AA:La Quinta, Western.
• Division 4A: Rancho Alamitos, Santiago.
• Division 5AA: Los Amigos.
• Division 5A: Orange, Magnolia.

The Justus Leagues ….

As you may recall, this fall was the debut of two four-team football leagues involving local teams: the Big 4 and the Pac 4.

Garden Grove won the former and there was a three-way tie for the latter.

Now we’re getting into basketball season, and four of our locals are in the Golden West League now for non-football. They are Garden Grove, Ocean View, Western and Westminster. Marina is back in the Sunset League for hoops.

Speaking of football ….

As was mentioned above, Garden Grove and Western are both in CIF-SS semifinal games this Friday. As of this writing, we don’t know the precise locations of the games but – alas – it appears that both the Argonauts and Pioneers will be on the road.

GARDEN GROVE and Western are in CIF-SS semi-final contests on Friday.

Grove (11-1) will face San Gorgonio (9-3) of San Bernardino. The Spartans finished second in the San Andreas League. SGHS is led by senior quarterback Jordan Pachot, who has passed for 3,161 yards and 28 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted twice.

Elijah Hall is the Spartans’ top rusher. Hall has gained 1,676 yards on the ground and rushed for 22 touchdowns. He’s also caught 35 passes for 545 yards and five scores.

Western (10-2) will face Beaumont High of Beaumont (8-4). The Cougars placed fourth in the Mountain Pass League. This is mostly a passing team, with two QBs – Devin Dillard and Edward McCulloch – combining for 2,461 yards and 28 scores. However, they have been intercepted nine times and their combined completion percentage is just a bit above .500.

Top rushers are Rawleigh Holmes (440 yards, eight TDs) and Sadiq Randolph (487 yards, seven TDs).

Prep Sport Spotlight appears on Tuesdays during the high school athletic year.