Power ratings honcho John LaBeta can look at the semifinals pairings in this week’s San Diego Section playoffs and feel pretty good, if not vindicated, about the controversial seedings process.
History has not recorded a season in which all teams and coaches involved were happy with the results, be they computer generated or by the human eye test.
But LaBeta and his I-pad have been right on 86 per cent of the selections this far into the postseason.
Of the 22 clubs still alive in Divisions Open and I-V, 19 represent seeds 1 through 4.
The top four will compete in the semifinals in D-I and D-3. Horizon (4) and Tri-City Christian (3) will play for the D-V title this week.
Bonita Vista (11) crashed the party with a 5-7 record in D-II. Mission Hills (5) and La Jolla Country Day (5) are still in the mix in the Open and D-IV, respectively.
Upsets Friday night could paint a different picture going into next week’s finals, but the power ratings have gained some credibility, even if those 5 and 11 seeds should create some shock waves.
DOUBLE CENTURY
Ron Hamamoto of Monte Vista and Rob Gilster of Valley Center are among nine who have won at least 200 games as coaches of San Diego County teams. Both will be on the sidelines this week.
Five others with at least 100 victories also still are working, including Poway’s Damian Gonzalez, who earlier this season became the 42nd County coach to hit the century mark.
| Name | School(s) | Years | W-L-T | Pct. | Rank* |
| Ron Hamamoto | University
Rancho Bernardo Lincoln Monte Vista |
31 | 209-140-4 | .601 | 8 |
| Rob Gilster | Orange Glen
Valley Center |
28 | 207-122-5 | .624 | 9 |
| Sean Doyle | University Cathedral | 21 | 172-84-0 | .659 | 13 |
| Matt Oliver | Christian | 17 | 147-60-0 | .710 | 15 |
| Chris Hauser | Vista
Mission Hills |
17 | 135-58-2 | .695 | 22 |
| Rick Jackson | Madison | 13 | 117-36-1 | .765 | 34T |
| Damian Gonzalez | Army-Navy
Poway |
17 | 107-85-3 | .556 | 36 |
*All-time standing in total victories.
RB MAKES MOVE
Rancho Bernardo jumped from 25th to 16th in this week’s Cal-
Hi Sports‘ top 25 and will play No. 14 Helix in one of two attractive semifinals playoff matches.
Cathedral, which takes on Mission Hills, stayed at Cal-Hi‘s No. 7, leapfrogged by Concord De La Salle, which moved from eighth to sixth.
BEEN THERE
Rob Gilster-coached teams have made 15 trips to the semifinals, followed by Sean Doyle (13) Matt Oliver (13), Chris Hauser (12), Rick Jackson (8), Ron Hamamoto (7), and Damian Gonzalez (5).
QUICK KICKS
St. Augustine’s Richard Sanchez could reach 100 victories sometime in the 2018 season…Sanchez is 75-23 since 2009 with the Saints and was 6-14 in 1998-99 at San Diego for an overall record of 81-37… Ron Hamamoto has taken 4 teams to the playoffs, at University (9), Rancho Bernardo (9). Lincoln (4), and Monte Vista (5), a total of 27 out of 31 seasons….
HOOPS, ANYONE?
Cathedral, with 7-foot Brandon McCoy leading the way, opened as Cal-Hi Sports’ No. 7 team in the newsletter’s 2016-17, state preseason top 25. Foothills Christian, minus T.J. Leaf, now at UCLA, is ranked 16th and St. Augustine 21st.
In the “Just Missed” category are La Jolla Country Day and Torrey Pines.
Teams rated ahead of Cathedral:
1) Torrance Bishop Montgomery, which beat Cathedral in the state Southern regional semifinals last season;
2) Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, which the Dons topped, 82-80, in the quarterfinals;
3) Chino Hills, 4) Santa Ana Mater Dei, 5) Encino Crespi, and 6) Los Angeles Fairfax.
