Southwest Division Playoffs


Ira Thomas and Los Altos are off and running to Rowland Heights

NOTEWORTHY: The first thing LA coach Greg Gano said to me when he arrived at CIF-SS on Sunday was “I think we’ll get Rowland.” He was right. Great local matchup! Charter Oak, on the other hand, drew a team it already played/beat this season. West Covina is going to visit No. 1 seed Mayfair. It pays to take of business all the time. South Hills has a tough, second place team vs. second place team game against Canyon.

Aram’s prediction: I’ve got Canyon and Mayfair in one semifinal and El Dorado and Los Altos in the other. Canyon will play El Dorado in the finals with El Dorado winning it all.

Aram’s darkhorse: South Hills and Los Altos. Teams that have good QBs and coaches are usually dangerous in the playoffs. LA and SH both have that. Don’t rule out South Hills upsetting Canyon in the first round. The Huskies have the QB and you know the staff will have that team ready. Also, Los Altos is dangerous if it recaptures its September form. The past two weeks indicate LA might be rounding back into form. If the Conqs play like they did against Damien, they can beat almost anyone in the division.

Top Bracket
West Covina
at
Mayfair (1)

Tustin
at
Trabuco Hills

La Mirada
at
Charter Oak

South Hills
at
Canyon (4)

Bottom bracket
Artesia
at
Foothill (3)

Los Altos
at
Rowland

Bellflower
at
Diamond Ranch

El Toro
at
El Dorado (2)

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Inland Division Playoffs


Jordan Edmond and Glendora are headed to Redlands.

NOTEWORTHY: Damien’s not being ranked in the CIF polls cost the Spartans a Top 4 seed. Chino Hills would’ve been a top seed had it beaten the Spartans.

Aram’s prediction: I’ve got Corona Centennial and Damien playing in one semifinal with Vista Murrieta and Norco playing in the other. Centennial and Norco will meet in the finals with Centennial winning.

Aram’s darkhorse: Damien shouldn’t be a darkhorse, but they are. Also, Chino Hills could give Norco a major battle in the first round. If the Huskies win, they’ll have a great shot at reaching the finals. Don’t rule out either Sierra League power.

Top bracket
Alta Loma
at
Corona Centennial (1)

Redlands E. Valley
at
Chaparral

Carter
at
Damien

Temescal Canyon
at
Los Osos (4)

Glendora
at
Redlands (3)

Bottom bracket
Etiwanda
at
Corona

Norco
at
Chino Hills

Yucaipa
at
Vista Murrieta (2)

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Mid-Valley Division Playoffs


Temple City’s Dwight Broadnax has his Rams poised to add another CIF title to the collection.

NOTEWORTHY: The Rio Hondo League got the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in the division. It’s rare that a second place team will get a seed that high. Duarte drew Rio Hondo League third place finisher La Canada. This is a much better matchup for a Montview League champ than what they’d get in the old Division X.

Aram’s prediction: I’ve got Temple City and La Canada playing in one semifinal with Monrovia playing Bishop Diego in the other. Temple City and Monrovia will rematch for the championship with the Rams winning again, but closer than last time.

Aram’s darkhorse: La Canada. Lavelle Peterson might be the best overall player in the division. Sometimes, that’s good enough to make a run. Remember, LC gave TC a very good game and not too much separates any of the powerful RHL teams.

Top Bracket:
Sierra Vista
at
Temple City (1)

Verbum Dei
at
LA Baptist

La Canada
at
Duarte

Paraclete
at
Santa Clara (4)

Bottom Bracket
Mary Star
at
Village Christian (3)

Workman
at
Bishop Diego

Fillmore
at
La Salle

Azusa
at
Monrovia (2)

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Southeast Division Playoffs


Manny Acosta hopes SEM will make a run comparable to last year.

NOTEWORTHY: Arroyo got a very tough draw, playing at La Habra in the first round.

Aram’s prediction: I have Troy and Alhambra playing in one semifinal. La Habra and Westminster will meet in the other. The finals will be Troy against La Habra with Troy winning it.

Aram’s darkhorse: Alhambra. The Moors have the skill players to make a run and the feel good story that is Gil Ruedaflores’ final dance in the postseason could make this a magical ride for the veteran coach.

Top Bracket
La Serna
at
Troy (1)

Rosemead
at
Saddleback

Orange
at
Alhambra

Fullerton
at
Santa Fe (4)

Bottom bracket
Arroyo
at
La Habra (3)

Bell Gardens
at
California

Schurr
at
South El Monte

Whittier
at
Westminster (2)

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Northwest Division Playoffs


Mike McDonough is ready to give the Northwest Division some pain.

NOTEWORTHY: Covina gets the No. 2 seed it deserved. The Colts are the highest seed of any Tribune team.

Aram’s prediction: I have Oaks Christian and Harvard-Westlake meeting in one semifinal. Covina and Oak Park will meet in the other. The finals will be Oaks Christian against Covina, which I don’t have to tell you who will win.

Aram’s sleeper: There isn’t one. This division will be very formful.

Top Bracket
St. Bernard
at
Oaks Christian (1)

San Dimas
at
Morro Bay

Pioneer Valley
at
South Torrance

Baldwin Park
at
Harvard-Westlake (4)

Bottom bracket
Templeton
at
Oak Park (3)

El Segundo
at
Serra

Torrance
at
St. Joseph

Nordhoff
at
Covina (2)

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IMPORTANT PLAYOFF ANNOUNCEMENT

I will be doing a video webcast of the proceedings at CIF-SS offices tomorrow. It will be ready for you to view tomorrow evening, hopefully. This will be the first of a weekly show that Fred Robledo and I will be doing. Please watch the opening show for interviews with coaches and opinion about the playoff brackets. Also, I will have the playoff pairings up on this site ASAP tomorrow so we can all start breaking them down. What I need from all of you is to watch the webcast and to share your opinions about the playoffs starting tomorrow night. The more I can show the upper brass at SGVN that prep sports is where the most readers/hits are, the easier they will make it for me to provide the coverage it deserves. That’s where you all come in – watch the webcast and hit this site. Thank you!

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