2024-25 Boys & Girls Basketball Playoffs Week 1-A: Most No. 1 Seeds Survive

One week and 96 playoff games in the rear view mirror, San Diego Section playoff teams move into semifinals and championship rounds this week, all six Boys’ and five of six Girls’ No. 1 seeds still standing.

The outlier is in Girls’ Division IV,  where Escondido, a No. 9 seed, stunned number one Patrick Henry, 36-34, in the quarterfinals and visits 4 seed El Cajon Valley Tuesday night, Feb. 25.

Most significant reversals in Boys’ brackets have been three 7’s over 2’s.

Where the seedings were wrong are highlighted:

BOYS QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

8 Francis Parker 37 (18-11), @1 Montgomery 86.

5 Torrey Pines 42 (23-6), @4 Mission Bay 44.

6 Cathedral 73, @3 San Marcos 68 (25-4).

7 Santa Fe Christian 64 (22-7), @2 Carlsbad 71.

D-I

8 Rancho Buena Vista 41 (16-14), @1 La Jolla Country Day 78.

5 Mission Hills 47 (19-11), @4 Victory Christian 63.

6 Sage Creek 61, @3 San Diego 53 (24-6).

7 El Camino 48 (14-15), @2 St. Augustine 69.

D-II

8 Poway 44 (18-12), @1 Olympian 59.

5 Madison 63, @4 Bonita Vista 61 (21-8).

14 Helix 34 (12-18), @6 The Bishop’s 58.

10 Steele Canyon 52 (19-10), @2 Mira Mesa 74.

D-III

8 Fallbrook 50 (18-11), @1 San Diego Southwest 63.

12 Mount Miguel 52 (13-14), @4 Rancho Bernardo 63.

11 Canyon Hills 59 (12-17), @3 Maranatha 65.

7 Coronado 65, @2 Point Loma 54 (18-10).

D-IV

8 Foothills Christian 36 (19-11), @1 Tri-City 69.

5 Escondido Charter 54, @4 Army-Navy 53, 2 OT (16-11).

6 Del Lago 46, @3 Brawley 42 (21-9).

7 Granite Hills 77, @2 Crawford (25-5) 60.

D-V

8 Santana 58 (14-14), @1 Pacific Ridge 64, OT.

5 Mabel O’Farrell 58, @4 Sweetwater 31 (14-14).

11 Classical 40 (10-17), @3 Chula Vista 48.

7 Escondido 53, @2 High Tech Mesa 51 (17-6), OT.

D-VAA 

9 Logan Memorial 30 (6-23), @1 The Cambridge 65.

5 Warner Springs Warner 35 (14-6), @4 Escondido Adventist 40.

6 Cristo Rey 43 (7-13), @3 San Diego Academy 56.

7 Liberty Charter 30 (9-16), 2 Southern California Yeshiva 45, @San Diego Jewish.

GIRLS QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

7 El Capitan 29 (23-6), @2 La Jolla Country Day 76.

6 Cathedral 34 (19-9), @3 Mission Hills 73.

8 Rancho Bernardo 24 (22-7), @1 Francis Parker 38.

5 Grossmont 40 (22-4), @4 Westview 53.

D-I

9 Oceanside 40 (13-15), @1 Rancho Buena Vista 45.

13 La Costa Canyon 39 (14-16), @4 Carlsbad 57.

6 Mater Dei 47, @3 Scripps Ranch 38 (18-8).

7 San Marcos (20-10) 32, @2 Victory Christian 64.

D-II

8 University 47 (13-16), @1 The Bishop’s 70.

5 Montgomery 56, @4 Calexico Vincent Memorial 49 (19-7).

6 West Hills 38 (21-7), @3 Otay Ranch 41.

7 St. Joseph (14-14) 23, @2 Imperial 49.

D-III

8 Mission Vista 43 (14-13), @1 Christian 60.

5 San Dieguito 35 (14-9), @4 La Jolla 39.

6 Valley Center 53 (14-12), @3 El Centro Central 65.

7 Hoover 36 (15-14), @2 Escondido Charter 65.

D-IV

9 Escondido 36, @1 Patrick Henry 34 (20-7).

5 Canyon Hills 24 (18-11), @4 El Cajon Valley 50.

14 Chula Vista 34 (10-18), @6 Brawley 54.

7 Crawford 46, @2 Tri-City 33 (17-5).

D-V

9 High Tech North County 17 (13-7), @1 Coronado 38.

5 San Diego Southwest 31 (17-10), @4 Del Lago 45.

6 Coastal 23 (18-10), @3 Mabel O’Farrell 53.

7 San Pasqual 12 (7-12), @2 Santana 41.

 D-VAA

8 Calexico Mission 3  (9-7), @Warner Springs Warner 60.

4 Entrepreneur and Technology 33, @5 Ocean View 13 (6-11).

6 Liberty Charter 20 (7-16), @3 San Diego Academy 54.

10 Chula Vista Learning Community 11 (4-11), @2 Foothills Christian 64.




2024-25 Basketball Girls Playoffs Week 1: Oh, my! Number 14 and Number 13 Win

There were five so-called surprises (highlighted below) in the  first round, but one of those reversals was an upset.  No, it was a lot more than that,

Chula Vista, a No. 14 seed  with a 9-17 record, shocked third-ranked Horizon Prep, which entered  the game with a 16-4 record, 44-35, in Division IV.  La Costa Canyon, a 13 seed, outlasted No. 4 Torrey Pines, 61-51, in overtime in D-I.

DIVISION I

16 Bonita Vista (5-22) 28. @1 Rancho Buena Vista 62.

8 Morse (15-12) 37, @9 Oceanside 62.

12 Poway (9-20) 37, @5 Carlsbad 75.

13 La Costa Canyon 61, @4 Torrey Pines 51, OT (20-9).

11 Fallbrook (11-18) 38, @6 Mater Dei 67.

14 Olympian (11-18) 50, @3 Scripps Ranch 64.

10 Helix (11-13) 32, @7 San Marcos 60.

15 Del Norte (7-22) 28, @2 Victory Christian 56.

D-II

16 Calexico (7-18) 37, @1 The Bishop’s 56.

9 San Diego (13-14) 51, @8 University City 54.

12 Mt. Carmel (16-13) 48, @5 Montgomery 74.

13 Steele Canyon (9-20) 38, @4 Calexico Vincent Memorial 58.

11 Granite Hills (11-16) 21, @6 West Hills 48.

14 Vista (10-17) 23, @3 Otay Ranch 63.

10 Mira Mesa (15-12) 40, @7 St. Joseph 44.

15 Eastlake (8-19) 17, @2 Imperial 56.

D-III

16 Canyon Crest (3-22) 26, @1 Christian 74.

9 Santa Fe Christian (13-16) 49, @8 Mission Vista 56.

10 Classical (11-12) 40, @7 Hoover 57.

15 Valhalla (4-18) 34, @2 Escondido Charter 83.

12 Madison (11-14) 19, @5 San Dieguito 38.

13 El Camino (10-13) 34, @4 La Jolla 39.

14 Point Loma (5-19) 14, @3 El Centro Central 64.

11 High Tech San Diego (14-14) 49, @6 Valley Center 58.

D-IV.

16 Calipatria (9-14) 11, @1 Patrick Henry 72.

8 Escondido Adventist 38, @9 Escondido 64.

12 Hilltop (12-14) 37, @5 Canyon Hills 39.

13 Rock (7-11) 41, @4 El Cajon Valley 60.

14 Chula Vista 44, @3 Horizon Prep (16-5), 35.

11 The Cambridge (12-7) 21, @6 Brawley 57.

10 Kearny (14-15) 38, @7 Crawford 52.

15 Mission Bay (4-19) 22, @2 Tri-City 42.

D-V

8 Mountain Empire (9-7) 30, @9 High Tech North County 39.

12 High Tech Mesa (10-5) 25, @5 San Diego Southwest 56.

6 Orange Glen (6-16) 27, 11 Coastal 33, @Guajome Park.

10 Castle Park (11-15) 24, @7 San Pasqual 65.

D-VAA

Eleven-team field byed into quarterfinals.




2024-25 Basketball Boys Playoffs Week 1: Few Surprises in First Round

80 teams and 40 games opened the San Diego Section Boys playoffs last night.  Girls first-round competition is tonight.

Surprises, the polite term for upsets, were few. Six that are highlighted below.

Most significant was Helix (12-17) a 14 seed but with a long tradition of success, defeating No. 3 and 21-6 Christian, 43-41, in Division II.

DIVISION I

16 Hoover 54 (7-22), @1 La Jolla Country Day 80.

9 University City 66 (12-16), @8 Rancho Buena Vista 76.

13 Del Norte 51 (15-14), @4 Victory Christian 64.

11 Vista 47 (10-18), @6 Sage Creek 61.

14 Scripps Ranch 48 (8-20), @3 San Diego 52.

10 La Costa Canyon 55 (13-16), @7 El Camino 62.

15 Lincoln 39 (8-18), @2 St. Augustine 80.

12 Mater Dei 49 (7-20), @5 Mission Hills 52.

D-II

14 Helix 43, @3 Christian 41 (21-6).

16 Ramona 63 (13-15), @1 Olympian 86.

9 La Jolla 44 (17-12), @8 Poway 56, OT.

12 Calexico Vincent Memorial 35 (14-9), @5 Madison 56.

13 Patrick Henry 35 (9-20), @4 Bonita Vista 73.

11 Westview 49 (14-15), @6 The Bishop’s 59.

7 Eastlake 67 (10-17), @10 Steele Canyon 75.

15 Canyon Crest 54 (14-15), @2 Mira Mesa 73.

D-III

16 Valley Center 55 (9-20), @1 San Diego Southwest 75.

9 Valhalla 67 (18-11), @8 Fallbrook 81.

12 Mount Miguel 50, @5 Calexico 48 (16-10). 

13 Oceanside 41 (12-15), @4 Rancho Bernardo 66.

11 Canyon Hills 58, @6 El Centro Central 57 (15-11).

14 Clairemont 47 (13-16), @3 Maranatha 54.

10 Imperial 58 (11-13), @7 Coronado 81.

15 High Tech Chula Vista 41 (15-11), @2 Point Loma 73.

D-IV

16 San Diego Jewish 52 (9-15), @1 Tri-City 80.

9 Kearny 66 (19-10), @8 Foothills Christian 74.

12 Mar Vista 59 (11-15), @5 Escondido Charter 74.

11 Morse 50 (15-14), @6 Del Lago 56.

10 Calipatria 57 (10-13), @7 Granite Hills 65.

14 Calvin Christian 46 (12-12), @3 Brawley 59.

13 West Hills 55 (12-17), @4 Army-Navy 80.

15 Blythe Palo Verde Valley 57 (10-17), @2 Crawford 74.

D-V

9 Bayfront Charter 42 (13-10), @8 Santana 80.

12 Holtville 35 (7-16), @5 Mabel O’Farrell 62.

11 Classical 54, @6 Preuss 48 (19-8).

10 High Tech North County 19 (14-8), @7 Escondido 62.

D-VAA

8 Horizon Prep 51 (13-12), @9 Logan-Memorial 53.

6 Chula Vista Community Learning Center 36 (9-11), 11 Cristo Rey 41, @Mar Vista.

12 Ocean View 33 (6-17), @5 Warner Springs Warner 39.

10 Monarch 31 (4-16), @7 Liberty Charter 65.




2024-25 End of Regular Season: Girls Champions Set Sights on Playoffs

Twenty-eight teams won or shared 24 league championships, according to Max Preps, which provides editorial content as supplied by respondents.

Lincoln was the competitive champion in the Central League but was suspended from the playoffs, giving a league co-title to Canyon Hills and Coronado.  There were no signs of life in the Manzanita League; its teams competed in a so-named Southern League.

LEAGUE TEAM W-L OVERALL AVERAGE SCORE
Avocado Mission Vista 8-0 13-12 44-40.5
Central Canyon Hills 7-3 17-10 34,5-32.3
  Coronado 7-3 16-3 37.3-33.5
City Christian 8-0 20.4 64.8-35.5
Coastal Francis Parker 6-0 18-8 53.1-46
North County Coastal Rancho Bernardo 10-0 20-8 54.2-46.4
Desert Brawley 9-0 16-11 46.8-40.4
Eastern La Jolla 6-2 19-9 50.6-41.8
  San Diego 6-2 13-13 49.4-44
Grossmont Hills Grossmont 8-0 22-3 55.4-37-7
Grossmont Valley West Hills 10-0 20-6 50.2-33.1
Imperial Valley Imperial 8-0 23-4 50.4-35.8
Metropolitan Mesa Victory 8-0 15-4 46.8-29.7
Metropolitan Pacific San Diego Southwest 8-0 16-9 42.2-32.8
Metropolitan South Bay Otay Ranch 6-0 22-5 50.9-34.9
Ocean Tri-City 12-0 18-10 64.1-46.5
Pacific Escondido Charter 10-0 20-8 55.7-39.5
Palomar Mission Hills 9-1 20-8 68.9-48.3
  Westview 9-1 19-8 56.7-44.1
Patriot High Tech North County 8-0 11-6 28.8-26.5
Pioneer High Tech Mesa 4-0 9-4 37.8-21.4
Sierra San Diego Academy 6-0 12-5 37.9-28.4
Southern Warner Springs Warner 9-0 19-2 29.5-13.1
Summit Mabel O’Farrell 6-0 16-7 37-30.1
Sunset Coastal Academy 5-1 14-6 26.9-24.4
  Foothills Christian 5-1 11-5 33.3-27.4
Valley San Marcos 10-0 19-9 56.1-37.9
Western Scripps Ranch 7-1 17-7 55.9-48.5

 




2024-25 Week 7: Boys League Champions Gear for Second Season

What’s in a league championship?

Especially in this era of power ratings and strengths of schedules and what they mean in playoff pairings and postseason division assignments, which were to be announced today.

A league title represents essentially just bragging rights, but ask the players and coaches who achieved it and what they think when banners are hoisted in gymnasium rafters.

Nineteen league champions and four co-champions were crowned last night, according to Max Preps, and began preparing for the second season and playoffs that start Tuesday.

LEAGUE TEAM(S) W-L OVERALL AVERAGE/TOTAL PF-PA*
Avocado Sage Creek 8-0 19-8 65.7-53.8 (1773-1453)
Central Crawford 10-0 24-4 59.7-46.2 (1671-1296
City Madison 9-1 20-8 62.4-50.8 (1748-1423)
Coastal Santa Fe Christian 7-1 22-6 65.8-53.4 (1804-1494)
North County Coastal Torrey Pines 10-0 23-5 66.3-53.4 (1858-1494)
Desert Brawley 9-0 20-8 58.5-48.8 (1632-1369)
Eastern San Diego 7-1 23-5 61.1-49.4 (1710-1383)
Christian 7-1 21-5 59.1-48.3 (1654-1257)
Frontier-Patriot High Tech Mesa 10-0 17-5 57.1-37.5 (1256-825)
Grossmont Hills Steele Canyon 8-0 18-9 58.6-56.7 (1583-1530)
Grossmont Valley Granite Hills 10-0 16-10 58.5-56.2 (1542-1462)
Imperial Valley El Centro Central

Calexico Vincent Memorial

5-3 15-10
14-8
59.9-52.4 (1497-1305)
52.2-53.6 (1305-1340)
Metropolitan Mesa Bonita Vista 8-0 20-8 62.8-51.9 (1759-1454)
Metropolitan Pacific Chula Vista 5-1 21-6 58.7-46.2 (1585-1247)
Sweetwater 5-1 15-13 52.6-52.5 (1474-1470)
Metropolitan South Bay Montgomery 7-1 26-2 69.0-57.1 (1931-1260)
Ocean Foothills Christian 8-0 18-10 57.2-47.8 (1600-1338)
Pacific Tri-City 7-1 15-9 56.8-50.3 (1362-1207)
Palomar San Marcos 10-0 25-3 70.3-52.8 (1970-1477)
Sierra Preuss 8-0 19-7 60.4-43.3 (1570-1100)
Southern Warner Springs Warner 8-0 13-5 46.1-28.5 (830-513)



2024-25 Week 6: First 4 Separates From Next 6

John Maffei’s weekly The San Diego Union poll. First place votes in parenthesis.                                                                                                    First place votes in parenthesis.
Points on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Bold entries in columns are up-to-date rankings, followed by previous.
Cal-Hi Sports’ and Max-Preps’ represent state rankings. NR—Not ranked.
Records as of Feb 9.

TEAM RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS MAXPREPS CAL-HI SPORTS
1 Montgomery 24-2 (18) 180 1 11/11 15/15
2 San Marcos 23-3 161 2 31/25 On Bubble/Bubble
3 Torrey Pines 21-5 143 3 41/41 On Bubble/Bubble
4 Carlsbad 20-5 128 4 23/30 On Bubble/Bubble
5 Cathedral 16-9 75 7 87/85 NR-NR
6 Olympian 20-5 72 5 52/54 NR-NR
7 Mission Bay 19-7 70 6 50/49 NR-NR
8 St. Augustine 12-14 69 10 144/164 NR-NR
9 Santa Fe Christian 20-5 34 8 60/57 NR-NR
10 San Diego 21-5 22 9 119/132 NR-NR

Others receiving votes
Francis Parker (17-10, 15 points), Christian (20-5, 11), Victory Christian (14-12, 7), La Jolla Country Day (14-11, 3 points.
Voting panel: 18 sportswriters, sportscasters, and administrators who cover the San Diego Section, plus MaxPreps:

John Maffei (San Diego Union-Tribune).
Aaron Burgin (Full-time hoops).
Steve Brand,  Bodie DeSilva (Union-Tribune freelance correspondents).
Todd Cassen (CIF office).
Rick Smith (Partletonsports.com).
Joe Evangelist (Coaching Legends).
Tom Helmantoler (Southern Conference).
Rex Johnson (CIF Advisory Committee).
Christian Pedersen (San Diego Sports Association).
Braden Surprenant (97.3-FM The Fan).
John Kentera, Dennis Ackerman, Steve (Biff) Dolan, Eric Williams, Tom Ronco, Adam Paul (freelance contributors).