Can Steve Bogan win his fifth CIF title, leading Maranatha?

Trying to predict the future is never easy, but that is what makes the playoffs fun, right?
So, here are my picks for the CIF-SS divisions that feature local teams. Here is a look at the Northwest Division

NORTHWEST DIVISION
Seeds: 1. Maranatha (10-0), 2. Pasadena Poly (10-0), 3. Shadow Hills (8-2), 4. Big Bear (8-2)
Local: Cantwell- Sacred Heart (8-2)
First Round
Maranatha
Cantwell
Templeton
Rio Hondo Prep
Shadow Hills
Nipomo
Linfield Chr.
Morro Bay
Quarterfinals
Maranatha
Templeton
Nipomo
Morro Bay
Semifinals
Maranatha
Nipomo
Finals
Maranatha
Notes: Maranatha has been on fire all season, and there’s no reason to jump off the Minutemen ship now. They have their version of the triplets, and its worked so far. That said, they face a tough matchup in the first round, first playoff-tough Mission Prep, but I stick with the 10-0 team. Cantwell looks to have a good draw in round one, and although the Cards can score with anyone, I’m not sure they can keep it up vs. Maranatha. Also, be weary of those Northern League teams, but in the end, i like the Minutemen.

Can Montebello make a dent?
(San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger

Trying to predict the future is never easy, but that is what makes the playoffs fun, right?
So, here are my picks for the CIF-SS divisions that feature local teams. Here is a look at the Mid-Valley Division

MID-VALLEY DIVISION
Seeds: 1. Paraclete (7-3), 2. Sierra Canyon (9-1), 3. Pomona (6-4), 4. Northview (8-2)
Local: Montebello (6-4*)
*-includes forfeit win over Arroyo
First Round
Paraclete
Azusa
Montebello
Northview
Pomona
San Dimas
Rosemead
Sierra Canyon
Quarterfinals
Paraclete
Northview
Pomona
Sierra Canyon
Semifinals
Paraclete
Pomona
Finals
Paraclete
Notes: Paraclete has been solid in this division, with one title and advancing to the finals last season. The Spirits have the horses to make the next step this season, although a Northview-Paraclete semifinal would be classic. Montebello might find the bracket just as difficult as its nonleague slate, but I like Oilers int he first round. Pomona seems to have too much athleticism for the bottom of the bracket. But I wonder if Pomona makes the final and the title game is at Antelope Valley College, would PUSD allow them to make the trip?

Who can beat these guys?

Trying to predict the future is never easy, but that is what makes the playoffs fun, right?
So, here are my picks for the CIF-SS divisions that feature local teams. Here is a look at the Southeast Division.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
SEEDS: 1. St. Francis (10-0), 2. La Mirada (9-1), 3. Cathedral (9-1), 4. Crescenta Valley (10-0)
Locals: La Mirada, La Serna (8-2), California (6-4), El Rancho (8-2), La Mirada (9-1).
WINNERS
First Round
St. Francis
La Serna
Norwalk
Crescenta Valley
Cathedral
Downey
El Rancho
La Mirada
Quarterfinals
St. Francis
Crescenta Valley
Cathedral
La Mirada
Semifinals
St. Francis
La Mirada
Finals
La Mirada
NOTES: This looks like St. Francis’ bracket to win, although the Golden Knights can expect trouble from La Mirada. The best matchup might be an El Ranch-La Mirada showdown in the quarterfinals, but the Mats might have enough. La Mirada vs. St. Francis in the final would be epic. It likely also would be a spot in the the state playoffs.

Tuesday’s wild-card games
Division 3
San Marino at Vista Murrieta
Aliso Niguel at Schurr, noon
Sage Hill at Alhambra
Division 5
Whittier at Glendora
Division 7
Sierra Vista vs. San Dimas at Glendora HS, 3 p.m.
Oxnard vs. La Puente at Los Altos, 5 p.m.
Nogales vs. Fontana at Arroyo Valley HS, 5 p.m.

Wednesday’s first-round games
Division 3
San Marino/Vista Murrieta winner at No. 1 Laguna Beach, 4 p.m.
Aliso Niguel/Schurr winner at Royal
Temple City at Yorba Linda
Brea vs. No. 4 Montebello at Schurr HS, 5 p.m.
Moorpark at La Canada
Sage Hill/Alhambra winner at No. 2 Murrieta Valley
Division 5
Walnut at Riverside Poly
El Rancho at No. 4 Redlands
Whittier/Glendora winner at No. 3 Los Altos
Palm Springs/Redlands East Valley winner vs. No. 2 La Serna at La Mirada Splash, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday’s first-round games
Division 2
El Toro at Damien
Division 4
Arroyo Grande vs. Flintridge Prep at Pasadena Poly, 3 p.m.
Division 7
La Sierra/Los Amigos winner at Baldwin Park
Sierra Vista/San Dimas winner at No. 4 San Gorgonio
Alta Loma/Ramona winner at No. 3 seed Rowland
Oxnard/La Puente winner at Rancho Alamitos
Nogales/Fontana winner at No. 2 Don Lugo

Coach Mike Moschetti’s La Mirada Matadores are seeded No. 2 in the Southeast Division.
(Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News)

By Stephen Ramirez
steve.ramirez@langnews.com
@SteveRRamirez on Twitter
La Mirada High School has had quite a turnaround this season, rebounding from sub-par season a year ago to become one of the top teams in Southern California this fall.
The Matadores are expected to continue their rise in future weeks after receiving the No. 2 seed in the Southeast Division when the CIF-Southern Section released playoff pairings on Sunday.
Freeway League champion La Habra received the No. 3 seed in the Southwest Division.
Seven area teams qualified for the playoffs, topped by La Mirada, which went from 4-7 last season to 9-1 so far in 2014, including going undefeated in the Suburban League.
The Matadores’ reward?
How does facing 2013 Northeast Division champion Salesian sound?
La Mirada, which only loss was to Pac-5 Division qualifier Servite, will host the Mustangs (4-6) in Friday’s first round. The Mustangs finished fourth in the Angelus League and received the division’s only at-large spot.
The two teams also know a lot about each other. La Mirada practiced against Salesian during the summer.
“We’re excited,” La Mirada coach Mike Moschetti said. “They’re a really good team and we have a lot of respect for them, winning a CIF championship last year in a different division.
We’ve had a good year, but that’s past. It’s a one-game elimination now. You win, or you go home. We’re just excited to be playing. It’s going to be a great game on Friday.”
The first round is scheduled for Friday, with the finals set for Dec. 5-6. All games are 7:30 p.m. starts.
An all-area matchup could await the Matadores with a win. El Rancho (8-2), which won its first league title since the late 1990s with a Del Rio League crown, is opposite La Mirada in the bracket. The Dons host Burbank (7-3), which finished third in the Pacific League behind No. 4 seed Crescenta Valley and Muir.
Other area matchups in the division are La Serna (8-2) hosting Dominguez and California at San Gabriel Valley League champ Downey. La Serna, which finished second to El Rancho, has advanced to the finals the past three seasons, winning it last year.
La Habra (7-3), which found its comfort zone after a rugged nonleague season, is the No. 3 seed in the Southwest Division and will host Capistrano Valley (7-3) in the first round.
Montebello, which went 5-0 in the Almont League to improve to 6-4, is the lone area representative in the Mid-Valley Division. The Oilers drew La Puente and will host the Warriors on Friday.
La Puente is 7-3 and finished second to No. 3 seed Pomona. If the Oilers advance, a possible rematch vs. No. 4 seed Northview awaits them. The Vikings scored a 38-6 victory over Montebello on Sept. 4.
Cantwell-Sacred Heart is the lone entry in the Northwest Division. The Cardinals (8-2), who shared the South Catholic League title with Bishop Montgomery and Verbum Dei, host Arrowhead Christian, which was second on the Ambassador League. The Cardinals, with a win, could face top seed Maranatha in the second round.
AREA SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Salesian at La Mirada
Burbank at El Rancho
California at Downey
Dominguez at La Serna
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Capistrano Valley at La Habra
MID-VALLEY
La Puente at Montebello
NORTHWEST
Arrowhead at Cantwell-Sacred Heart
ALL GAMES BEGIN AT 7:30 P.M.
COMPLETE BRACKETS ON CIFSS.ORG