City Section

2001 champion: Dorsey

League favorites: Sylmar (Valley Mission), Grant (Sunset Six), Taft (West Valley), Carson (Marine), Fremont (Coliseum), Roosevelt (Eastern), Franklin (Northern), Venice (Western).

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Contenders: San Fernando (Valley Mission), North Hollywood (Sunset Six), Birmingham (West Valley), San Pedro, Banning (Marine), Dorsey (Coliseum), Crenshaw (Coliseum), Westchester (Western).

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Key dates: Oct. 25, Carson at San Pedro, Sylmar at San Fernando, Venice at Westchester; Nov. 1, Fremont at Crenshaw; Nov. 8, Fremont at Dorsey; Nov. 15, Banning vs. Carson at Gardena, Taft at Birmingham.

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The Scoop: Marine, Coliseum and West Valley leagues have the power. Not much separates Carson, San Pedro, Banning, Narbonne and Gardena in the Marine. Dorsey, Fremont and Crenshaw are tossups in the Coliseum. Taft, the most talented, and Birmingham are favorites in the West Valley, but Chatsworth could make a run.