Bell-Jeff (22-7), the five-time reigning Santa Cruz League champion and No. 6 seed, advanced to the quarterfinal round by defeating No. 11 Pasadena Poly, 68-54, in a second-round game Saturday at home.
"You look at the teams that still remain in Division IV-AA and I think any one of those teams could be a top-four finisher in almost all the other divisions," Bell-Jeff Coach Jaclyn Johnson. "That's who stacked our division is."
The Guards should have a tough test against the No. 3-seeded Eagles (24-4), the Mission League champions. Chaminade has won 13 of its last 14 games and has only lost to Alemany, Chandler (Arizona) and Oaks Christian.
In the playoffs, the Eagles have had easy victories against Santa Clara, 63-21, and No. 14 Sierra Canyon, 69-44 in the second round.
Chaminade is led by senior Annie Tarakchian and juniors Mi'Chael Wright and Robyn Brown. Tarakchian had 23 points and 20 rebounds in Saturday's win against Sierra Canyon.
The Guards counter with a pair of senior All-CIF Southern Section players in Jasmine Smith and Rishonda Napier, who are both four-year starters who helped lead Bell-Jeff to division and state championships as freshmen.
"On paper we match up well with them," Johnson said of Chaminade. "Height, length, experience and both of us have older teams. So, I think it's going to be good."
In the win against Pasadena Poly, Smith led the way, scoring 21 points and grabbing 21 rebounds.
The Guards, who have won 17 of their last 18 games, defeated Louisville, 70-41, in the first round.
The No. 3-seeded Pioneers (24-4) barely survived their second-round game, eventually pulling out a 42-40 victory at home against No. 14 Brethren Christian. Providence also was victorious in its playoff opener against Arrowhead Christian Academy, 54-45.
