The CIF-Southern Section basketball playoff brackets are up. Here's a look at the slate of local games, which begin Wednesday and Thursday.
The CIF-Southern Section playoff pairings for boys and girls basketball were released Saturday, Feb. 7, and 25 area teams will have a shot at capturing a title.
It's a feat accomplished by the Adelanto girls basketball team in 2023, while no boys squad from the High Desert has captured glory since Barstow High School back in 1953.
Of the 25 teams, 15 drew first-round games at home, while there is just one matchup between local teams. Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy, which drew the No. 1 seed in the girls Division 8 bracket, will begin the playoffs at home against Excelsior.
CIMS is one of six area teams to be seeded in the top-4.
Oak Hills and Hesperia, which split the Mojave River League boys title, both drew first round home games as seeded teams.
Hesperia is No. 2 in the Division 2 bracket, while Oak Hills is No. 4 in Division 3.
The boys Division 8 bracket features eight local teams, all which drew home games for the first round. Excelsior is the No. 1 seed, while Barstow is at No. 4 in the bracket.
Meanwhile in the girls side, Oak Hills is the highest ranked team in the area. The Bulldogs drew a spot in the Division 1 bracket, and will begin at home against Mira Costa.
The boys basketball playoffs begin Wednesday, Feb. 11, the same day as boys soccer. The girls basketball playoffs action begins Thursday, also the same day as girls soccer.
This is the second season that the CIF-Southern Section used a computer-based system to determine playoff divisions, revamping the prior model of taking the previous two seasons to predetermine a team’s division before the season.
Here’s a look at the brackets, broken up by divisions.
Boys Basketball Pairings
Division 2
- No. 2 Hesperia (19-8) vs. San Clemente (18-10)
- Silverado (22-3) at Canyon (16-12)
Division 3
- No. 4 Oak Hills (16-10) vs. Golden Valley (20-8)
Division 5
- Adelanto (17-11) at Cerritos (17-11)
- Apple Valley (17-7) at San Juan Hills (16-7)
Division 7
- Summit Leadership Academy (18-2) at Vista Del Lago (14-12)
Division 8
- No. 1 Excelsior (16-4) vs. Newport Charter (10-9)
- No. 4 Barstow (13-11) vs. Santa Ana (11-15)
- Victor Valley (10-14) vs. Rubidoux (13-12)
- Silver Valley (15-10) vs. Rancho Alamitos (15-10)
- Riverside Prep (14-14) vs. Twentynine Palms (13-15)
Division 9
- No. 2 Academy of Careers & Exploration (11-7) vs. Compton Early College (5-10)
- Hesperia Christian (10-14) at Colton (14-11)
- Lakeview Leadership Academy (7-5) vs. Samueli Academy (10-17)
Girls Basketball Pairings
Division 1
- Oak Hills (21-5) vs. Mira Costa (14-12)
Division 4
- Hesperia Christian (21-3) vs. Westlake (16-10)
- Hesperia (18-8) at Wilson (20-8)
- Silverado (18-10) at Holy Martyrs (16-9)
Division 6
- Silver Valley (16-8) at Valley Christian (19-6)
Division 7
- Barstow (15-13) vs. Coastal Charter (9-4)
Division 8
- No. 1 Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy (7-6) vs. Excelsior (15-7)
- University Prep (10-12) at Anaheim (7-9)
- Victor Valley (7-15) vs. Hamilton (9-12)
Division 9
- Victor Valley Christian (6-6) vs. Saddleback (9-17)
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: CIF-SS basketball playoffs High Desert teams, top seeds revealed
Category: General Sports
