Two San Diego Section girls teams are still standing: Number seven seed Rancho Bernardo and No. 5 Mater Dei.
The Bronchos and Crusaders will take underdog status on the road again in the State CIF Southern Regional Division II and III finals Tuesday, March 11.
R.B. (25-7), after a five-hour, 287-mile jaunt and 44-37 victory at D-II No. 6 Arroyo Grande, has a 272-mile trip to Porterville and home of the No. 1, 25-8 Monache Marauders of the Central Section.
Porterville is about 65 miles north of Bakersfield and 70 miles southeast of Fresno, located at the base of the Sierra-Nevada mountains on the eastern fringe of the San Joaquin Valley.
Monache is no hick school in the boondocks. It has an enrollment of almost 2,000 students and Porterville is a city of more than 60,000 residents, according to Wikipedia.
The Broncos and Marauders have one common opponent. Monache defeated Arroyo Grande, 57-46, in a home game in January.
ANOTHER HIGH SEED
Mater Dei’s travel itinerary is less daunting than Rancho Bernardo’s. The Crusaders went north 150 miles and defeated D-III top seed L.A. Palisades, 57-55, at Lake Balboa Birmingham in the San Fernando Valley and now take on No. 2 Woodland Hills El Camino Real, 155 miles away on U.S. 101.
The Crusaders (20-13) also defeated No 12 Bakersfield Liberty, 66-48, and No. 4 Carlsbad, 59-52, along the way. The El Camino Real Royals (16-14) dispatched No. 15 Shafter, 54-50, No. 10 Culver City, 65-45, and No. 3 Los Angeles Garfield, 64-47.
Upsets/surprises highlighted:
GIRLS
REGIONAL FINALS
TUESDAY, MARCH 11
DIVISION II
7 Rancho Bernardo (25-7), @1 Porterville Monache, Central, (25-8).
D-III
5 Mater Dei (20-13), @2 Woodland Hills El Camino Real, L.A. City, (16-14).
SEMIFINALS
SATURDAY, MARCH 8
D-II
7 Rancho Bernardo 44 (25-7), @6 Arroyo Grande, Southern, 37 (18-11).
D-III
5 Mater Dei 57 (20-13), 1 Palisades 55, L.A. City, (17-16), @Lake Balboa Birmingham.
QUARTERFINALS
THURSDAY, MARCH 6
D-I
14 Westview 34 (21-10), @6 L.A. Brentwood, Southern, 68 (27-8).
D-III
5 Irvine Portola, Southern, 57 (19-15), @4 El Capitan (24-7) 49.
6 Arroyo Grande, Southern, 68 (18-10), @3 Cathedral 54 (20-10).
10 Alhambra Mark Keppel, Southern, 37 (25-10), @7 Rancho Bernardo 41 (24-7).
5 Mater Dei 59 (19-13), @4 Carlsbad 52 (20-13).
11 Crawford 54 (19-15), @3 Riverside Hillcrest, Southern, 56 (23-6).
BOYS
SEMIFINALS
SATURDAY, MARCH 8.
D-III
7 Mira Mesa 57 (28-7), @6 Pasadena Maranatha, Southern, 77 (17-17).
QUARTERFINALS
THURSDAY, MARCH 6
D-I
5 Carlsbad 54 (26-7) @4 San Juan Capistrano JSerra, Southern, 79 (24-10).
15 Torrey Pines 39 (24-7), @7 Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, Southern, 44 (31-4).
D-II
5 Bakersfield Christian, Central, 61 (23-8), @4 Santa Fe Christian 53 (23-8).
6 Francis Parker 59 (19-12), @3 Chatsworth, L.A. City, 80 (24-8).
8 St. Augustine 67 (19-15), @1 Riverside Poly, Southern, 68 (24-10).
D-III
15 Lake Balboa Birmingham, L.A. City, 56 (16-14), @7 Mira Mesa 65 (28-6).
D-V
7 Math & Science College Prep, L.A. City, 73 (24-7), @2 Pacific Ridge 43 (29-3).
