CIF Playoffs: Division 2 through 5 Semifinals Previews
You’ve reached the lightning round. After boring you with my pontificating on the Division 1 and Open Division semifinals, here’s a quick breakdown of the rest of the playoff matchups, which are on deck for 7 p.m. Feb. 19. …
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Continue ReadingYou’ve reached the lightning round.
After boring you with my pontificating on the Division 1 and Open Division semifinals, here’s a quick breakdown of the rest of the playoff matchups, which are on deck for 7 p.m. Feb. 19.
Division 2 matchups
(1) Rancho Buena Vista vs (4) Bishop’s
These two teams met earlier this year in The Holiday Classic, with the Longhorns winning 77-60. Guard Patrick McLachlan, 6-6 forward Noah Fields and 6-2 sharpshooter Jack Bailey lead the way for the Longhorns, while the duo of 6-6 forward Christian Rose and 6-1 point guard Zach White counter for the Knights. RBV has the edge, but Bishop’s can win if their pack-line defense forces the Longhorns into contested shots out of the flow of the offense.
Prediction: RBV 65, Bishop’s 60
(3) Carlsbad vs (15) Bonita Vista
Carlsbad finds itself facing the surprise of the tournament, the 15th-seeded Barons, who handily defeated the 2 seed Westview and escaped the 7-seed Escondido with a 58-55 win. The undersized Barons (tallest player is 6-3) were able to exploit their guard play advantage in the first two rounds.That will be tougher to do, as Carlsbad counters with junior point guard Jailen Nelson, who has been as valuable as any player in San Diego since the sit-out period ended in late December. The Lancers have the edge, but if Momo Stokes, DJ Jackson, Adrian Wade and company can turn Carlsbad over like they have in their first two round games, there’s room for an upset.
Prediction: Carlsbad 76, Bonita Vista 60
Division 3 matchups
(1) Sweetwater vs (4) San Diego
The Red Devils have been the dominant team in Division 3 all year long, and their frontcourt is the reason. The “CJs,” 6-5 sophomore CJ McMillan and 6-7 senior CJ Jackson, average 35 points and 23 rebounds between them, giving Sweetwater as imposing a frontcourt tandem as you’ll see in San Diego. The Cavers, however, have gotten it done in the back court, where sophomore AJ Burgin, junior Steve Stinson and senior Daniel Thomas have given teams fits all year. The key to this game will be if the Cavers improving front court of 6-6 junior Tyler Stanley-Castillo and 6-3, 215-pound Jaliel Jackson provide enough resistance to make Red Devils work for their points. I won’t be picking this game, as I have a conflict-of-interest (Burgin is my son).
Prediction: None
(2) Valhalla vs (3) Del Norte
If the Red Devils have dominated the paint in D3, the team nicknamed “3BallHalla” has done it from the perimeter. The Norseman, led by lilliputian guard Domanic Safarta, set the CIF Record for most threes in a season, hitting over 300 and counting. And Safarta has been a one-man wrecking crew in the playoffs, averaging 36 points per game. Del Norte counters with functional size – four players above 6-3 and all able to shoot it, led by junior Zach Moore and seniors David Letu and Alex Moore. If Del Norte is to have any chance, they must force Valhalla off the three-point line and limit them to a single possession. Otherwise, it will be a long night.
Prediction: Valhalla 78, Del Norte 69
Division 4 matchups
(1) Southwest San Diego vs (5) Imperial
The Raiders beat Imperial, arguably the best team from the El Centro area, by 22 points earlier this year. But the Tigers are playing good basketball right now, led by point guard Sonny Escalante. Southwest, however, has dominated Division 4 opponents this year, and the only team to beat them in over a month was Sweetwater, the top seed in D3. Diego Edwards (6-3 2019 SG) is an intriguing prospect who is at the very least a D2 prospect right now, and would be getting offered left and right if he played on a circuit team during the summers. And 6-5 sophomore D’yon Ford is becoming a player before our eyes. Raiders get this one.
Prediction: Southwest SD 70, Imperial 58
(2) Mt Carmel vs (3) Mission Vista
Talk about contrasting styles. Mt Carmel plays Big 10 style football on the basketball court. Three yards and a cloud of dust. They hold teams to under 50 points per game, and don’t have a player average more than 8.6. Mission Vista, conversely, have several players capable of going off for big nights, and can score it inside and out. Aden Twyman, a 6-5 junior “point forward,” has had a breakout season. If the T-Wolves can find a way to make enough shots from three to loosen up the Sun Devil’s stingy defense, they should be able to advance. But Mt Carmel has the trump card: they beat Mission Vista 60-51 earlier this season. Still, I’m picking the T-Wolves in the upset.
Prediction: Mission Vista 58, Mt. Carmel 53
Division 5 matchups
(4) Del Lago Academy vs (8) San Pasqual
It’s almost unfair that each year a large school with a really bad history of winning sinks to Division 5 and obliterates a field dotted with tiny schools the average fan has never heard of. Unfortunately, this is the case again, as San Pasqual knocked off top-seeded San Diego Academy in the 1-8 “upset.” The Eagles are equipped with the pieces to win the Division- soild guard play (Ray Rodriguez, Vernel Fournier, Vojo and Nick Danilovic), decent bigs (Ammon Scott, Joey Heath), and an improving coach in former Eagles alumnus Erik Meek. Del Lago counters with presumptive Ocean League Player of the Year Sina Farheider-Smith and a deep roster, but this will be an uphill climb for the Flames.
Prediction: San Pasqual 72, Del Lago Academy 56
(6) Clairemont vs (7) Liberty Charter
If there is a small school that can reverse the trend in Division 5, it’s Liberty Charter. Coach Jonathan Terry’s team has a balanced attack and a rapidly improving front court tandem of 6-7 Javien Lankford and 6-5 sophomore Jonah Belprez, who has been the player of the bracket so far. The overtime win over High Tech High North County was no fluke, as the Lions have posted wins over large schools El Cajon Valley and Mar Vista this season. Clairemont has played the tougher schedule of the two teams, going 1-11 in the tough City League. But junior guard Evan Rice is capable of changing games with his deep shooting ability and crafty playmaking. Liberty Charter, however, is on a roll, and I think they advance.