THE UPS AND DOWNS of in Bolsa Grande’s win over Loara last Friday. The Matadors will face Santiago in a battle for the Garden Grove League lead against Santiago (Orange County Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano).

League play for area high school basketball teams is underway, but the schedules have taken a hit from COVID-19 protocols, which has led to postponements, cancellations and slimmed-down rosters.

Still, some key contests are lining up that will influence – if not decide – league championships.

On Wednesday, Bolsa Grande will host Santiago in a big Garden Grove League boys’ hoops matchup. Both are 3-0 in league and are two of only three teams in the GGL with overall winning records.

The Matadors  (10-6) overcame a cold shooting night with good defense to defeat La Quinta 38-32 on Friday. Bolsa has posted five consecutive victories. The Cavaliers (13-8) ran past Los Amigos 76-38 in their last conference game and are on a five-game winning streak.

Tonight (Tuesday) should see a big Golden West League boys’ crucial as Garden Grove (2-0, 10-7) hosts Ocean View (1-0, 10-6). The Argonauts and Seahawks have dominated the GWL the last few years.

Ocean View is led by senior Ramon Lopez, who is averaging 27.7 points per game. Also averaging in double figures are Peyton Guerrero (10.5 ppg) and Cole Kenrich (10.6 ppg). Allen Abarca had 13 points in the Argonauts’ overtime win over Westminster on Friday.

Is there a more talent-laden OC basketball league than the Empire?  Four of the six boys’ teams – Crean Lutheran, Tustin, Cypress and Pacifica – have at least 10 wins, and five of six girls’ teams are in double figures with wins.

Right now, Crean Lutheran looks like the class of the class of 2022. The boys’ team is 15-1 overall and 3-0 in league. On the girls’ side, the Saints are 4-0 in league and 14-3 overall.

The big pending boys’ matchup in the Wave League is Wednesday’s clash between Marina (1-0 in league and 15-5 overall) and Corona del Mar (1-0, 17-1) at the Sea Kings’ gym. CDM has won seven games in a row and the Vikes five of their last six.

Also looking interesting is the Surf League race. An early crucial game will be Wednesday’s contest between Edison and Los Alamitos at the Griffin gym. Both teams are 1-0 in league. The Chargers are 17-3 overall and the Griffins are 13-5.Don’t overlook Newport Harbor, which is scheduled to open league play tonight (Tuesday) hosting Los Al. The Sailors are 14-5. Right now, it looks like a three-team race, but time will tell.

The girls’ race in the Golden West League is hard to figure. Only one team – Ocean View at 12-6 – has an overall winning mark. Segerstrom (3-0 and 8-12) is fastest out of the blocks with three leagues wins. Friday’s game between the Seahawks and the Jaguars may shed some light on how the title picture may play out.

In the Garden Grove League girls’ basketball race, Santiago is the clear favorite. The Cavs are 3-0 in GGL play and 11-7 overall. They shouldered their way into the lead with a 60-16 win over second place Loara (3-1, 7-11) earlier this month.

The purple and white are led by a couple of sophomores: Alexia Valencia (12.3 points per game) and Neryah Lokeni (12.1 ppg).

Prep Sports Spotlight is posted on Tuesdays during the high school athletic season.