Boys Basketball: City Section playoff story

The Taft of Woodland Hills boys basketball team got exactly what it wanted when the City Section released playoff draws for four divisions Saturday at Roybal Learning Center High School in Los Angeles.

The Toreadors (21-4), who went undefeated in the West Valley League were seeded No. 2 in Div. I behind Westchester of Los Angeles (23-3) and have a chance to avenge a Dec. 5 loss in the finals of the Westchester tournament if the two teams meet up in the championship game on March 6 at USC's Galen Center.

Taft will also try and avenge last years championship game loss against the Comets as it tries to win it's third City championship since 2004.

"It seems like things went very well," Taft coach Derrick Taylor said. "We like our position and hopefully we can get back to the championship game."

Taft opens up Friday at homne against No. 15 Sylmar (3-22), the fourth place finisher from the Valley Mission League.

If Taft beats Sylmar it would face the winner of No. 10 Dorsey at No. 7 Cleveland.

Taft defeated Cleveland twice in league play while Cleveland beat Dorsey early in the season at the Pasadena tournament.

The all-valley, West Valley League second round game would be an attractive match-up for local fans.

"Whenever Taft and Cleveland get together it is always great because it brings out everybody and emotions are high," Taylor said.

The only other team in Div. I out of the 21 area teams to make the playoffs was Birmingham of Lake Balboa (14-11).

The Patriots travel to Palisades (19-8), who finished in third placein the rugged Western league behind westchester and Fairfax of Los Angeles.

In Division II, seven area teams were included in the 16-team draw.

Granada Hills, who tied for third place in the West Valley League was seeded highest at No. 2. The highlanders open up with No. 15 Venice.

Two intriguing first round match-ups are No. 12 Van Nuys at No. 5 Chatsworth and No. 9 Grant at No. 8 Reseda.

Reseda, the defending Div. II champion won the Valley Mission League and was 18-9 but a blowout loss to El Camino Real of Woodland Hills hurt it's seeding.

The Reseda-Grant winner would face a potential second round game with No. 1 Narbonne (19-9) of Harbor City.

The Chatsworth-Van Nuys winner would likely face No. 4 University of Los Angeles (16-13), the Western League's fourth place team.

El Camino Real and Verdugo Hills, the East Valley League champion were seeded Nos. 1 and 2 in the inaugural Div. III bracket.

ECR hosts belmont of Los Angeles and the Dons host Maywood Academy of Los Angeles on Friday

The two schools could face each other in an all-valley final on March 6 at Roybal.

"I think our strength of schedule will really show in the playoffs," ECR coach David Rebibo said. "We are looking forward to doing very well in this bracket."

The playoffs start Friday night for all boys teams and continue on Feb. 24 with semifinals set for Feb. 26.

Championship games are scheduled for March 4 (small schools at Roybal, 8 p.m.), March 5 (Div. II at Roybal at 8 p.m.) and March 6 (Div. III at Roybal, 1 p.m. and Div. I at Galen Center, 8 p.m.)