SoCalHoops High School News

A Look At San Diego Section CIF Playoffs:
Bracket Updates--(Mar. 2, 2003)

We've been trying to follow San Diego, but it's frustrating, because unless you know how to use the Union Trib's website (which is about as confusing as they come), it's difficult to get next day scores and details, and literally impossible to get same day results.  The San Diego CIF Section has done their best to post brackets and their web presence has vastly improved from what it was two years ago, but they've still got a ways to go to match what the CIF-SS has been doing on the internet to keep everyone up to date.   San Diego CIF's own brackets are not yet updated from yesterday's games.  So we did a little digging and decided to post up current brackets showing yesterday's results (see below).

Saturday saw the quarterfinals played in all five divisions.  Unlike the Southern Section of the CIF, San Diego's CIF Section is about 1/10th the number of competing schools,  and as a result, San Diego has no need to subdivide the enrollment-based playoff divisions.  This means that it should be much easier to cover the games, because there are only the five major enrollment divisions.... tell that to the U-T.  Still, they have posted on their website the boxscores of just about every game played (something the LA Times ought to be doing by now when the pool of teams is sufficiently reduced to make such a task feasible).  

But enough ranting and raving about media coverage or the lack thereof.  Who is doing well, and who isn't?   Let's look at Division I, the largest enrollment group. 

Semifinals & Finals Schedules--All Divisions

Before we take a look at the brackets, for those planning to attend, you need to know the schedules, and from the looks of things, if you're planning to attend either the LA City Section or CIF-SS finals, then you're out of luck, because you can't also be in San Diego for the finals.....they're all next Saturday, March 8.

In San Diego, the semifinal contests will be easier to scout, because all divisions will play double-headers at single venues on Wednesday, with games starting at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The finals will all be played at SDSU's Cox Arena.  This is the schedule (by division):

San Diego Division I Boys' Playoffs

It's now down to the semifinals this coming Wednesday and the Finals will be at Cox on Saturday at 8:00 p.m..  Four teams remain:   El Camino vs. Southwest (no, not the Southwest which used to be part of the Southern Section....this is the one which is in the Mesa League of the Metro Conference), and Torrey Pines vs. San Diego HS.   El Camino is the No. 1 seed, and easily handled La Costa Canyon yesterday behind Mikel Watson's 35 points, and four other Wildcats managed to score in double digits.  Southwest was caught in a defensive struggle yesterday with Mt. Carmel, and it will be interesting to see if they can keep up with El Camino's offensive output in Wednesday's semifinal.

Meanwhile in the other half of the bracket, San Diego HS is the No. 2 seed and they won a squeaker over Carslbad by only 3, and were led by Anthony Palmer's 21 points and teammate Brandon Glenn's 16 points.  Torrey Pines,   the No. 3 seed was led by Avi Fogel with 29 in a solid win over Fallbrook, making up for Josh Kramer's quiet day in which he was held to just 7, but teammate David Piggot came through with 17 points on 5 three-pointers. 

Any four of these teams could win the title, but only one of them will represent San Diego in the State Southern Regional Tournament which begins a week from Monday.  Why?  Because in Division I (only), both San Diego and the Central Section only get to send the winners of their divisions....In all other divisions (II, III, IV and V), both San Diego and Central Section will send both the winner and the runner-up.  Why the difference in D-I?  Because LA City only competes in Division I, and the powers-that-be have decided that LA City gets to send two (winner and runner-up), while CIF-SS sends four teams (I-AA and I-A champs and runners-up). 

So, who will it be from the San Diego Section?   We have no idea and won't make any predictions..... But this is what the bracket looks like....

San Diego Division II Boys' Playoffs

The finals in Division II will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Cox Arena.  It's down to four teams for next Wednesday's semis:    Helix vs. Serra, and  Scripps Ranch vs. Escondido.   In yesterday's games, the big news was the 46 point outburst by Lorenzo Keeler in Escondido's win over Grossmont.  Here's what the bracket looks like after yesterday's games:

San Diego Division III Boys' Playoffs

The Finals in this division are set for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 at Cox, and we'll be seeing two of these four teams: No. 1 seed La Jolla, St. Augustine, No. 3 seed Steele Canyon, or No. 2 seed Brawley.  In yesterday's semifinals, La Jolla handled Valley Center as Jake Wohlfiel scored 18 to advance to the semifinals against St. Augustine, which was led by Agnes with 37. Steele Canyon also easily handled Clairemont, and Brawley nipped USDHS, despite Rico Tucker's 31 points.   So here's what the bracket now looks like: 

San Diego Division IV Boys' Playoffs

The Finals in this division are set for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 at Cox.  One of the semifinalists was determined on Friday night, as Marion Catholic easily handled Francis Parker, and they will meet Lincoln, which beat Palo Verde by 20 yesterday behind Shaun Davis' 34 points; Dominic McGuire was held to just 4 in the game.   In the other half of the bracket, Horizon absolutely pounded Bishop's, winning by a 53 point margin as four players scored in double-digits, led by Jared Dudley with 24, Alan Wiggins with 19 and 13 rebounds, Ryan Read with 16.   Horizon will meet Coronado, which won a squeaker over LJCD, led by Milke's 36 points.

So here's what the bracket now looks like: 

San Diego Division V Boys' Playoffs

No. 1 seed Santa Fe Christian seems to be the odds-on favorite this year, but No. 2 seed Julian could give them a run for their money if they can get past No. 3 Tri-City Christian.  Anyway, it's down to just four teams in a division in which just 11 teams made it to the playoffs.... Considering that one of these teams is likely to get Price in the first round of the State Tournament, it's going to be interesting to see who emerges as not only the champion, but also the runner-up.    Here's a look at the bracket:

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