CIF-SS Playoff Capsule: Division 2A
The regular season came to an end on Saturday for CIF Southern Section teams, signaling the end to the 2019-20 campaign for some programs and the beginning of the postseason for others. Coaches and players must now change gears and…
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Continue ReadingThe regular season came to an end on Saturday for CIF Southern Section teams, signaling the end to the 2019-20 campaign for some programs and the beginning of the postseason for others. Coaches and players must now change gears and focus their energy to a win or go home scenario.
The CIF-SS breaks its playoff teams into ten divisions: The highest being the Open Division which is made up of the eight best programs and down through 5A. Teams are sorted into their respective divisions based on the competitive equity format which takes into account a program’s success over the last two years, resulting in an average score, and then divisional placement.
In these capsules, we’ll take a look at the favorites, darkhorses and highlight some of the players to watch. Here is our Division 2A capsule.
The Favorite
Ribet Academy
There’s absolutely no doubt about which team is the favorite in Division 2A and it’s Ribet Academy. The Fighting Frogs have a roster filled with size, high level athletes and skilled guards and wing players that few other programs in this division have. Tyler Powell and Barrington Hargress are the spark plugs for this group on the perimeter and combo guard Snookey Wigington has put together an impressive senior campaign. Ribet will benefit from the addition of four-star wing Tre White, who transferred to SoCal from Texas, and was eligible on Saturday’s game against Rancho Christian.
The Spoiler(s)
Sonora
The Raiders have the firepower to compete with anyone in this division, led by the dynamic junior scoring guard Daniel Esparza. Senior forward Garrett Bell is a really nice piece to have in the postseason as he can spread the floor consistently from 3-point range. Sophomore forward Marqui Worthy is as tough and versatile as they come, but the keys to Sonora making a deep run will be the play of point guard Tobin Igros and the shooting of guard Ian Jones.
Pacifica Christian/OC
When you have two players as dynamic as Judah Brown and Houston Mallette, there’s always a chance to make some noise. Brown’s size, length and athleticism can be a game-changer on both ends of the floor for the Tritons, and Mallette’s shot-making and playmaking abilities are really of the upper-echelon on Orange County. Pacifica Christian plays with a ton of energy for all 32 minutes of the game and that could make all the difference in a tight postseason game.
Oxnard
The Yellowjackets are kind of the wildcard team in this division because we don’t really know how good they are. Oxnard has only lost one game this season, a 91-70 decision to a very good Chaminade team, but have rarely been tested since that Dec. 6 matchup. The Yellowjackets are riding a 21-game winning streak heading into their first round game against Highland, and what we do know about them is senior Stacy Johnson and junior Kai Johnson are both good enough to carry a team on their backs.
12 Players to Watch
Barrington Hargress, Ribet Academy – A physical downhill driver in transition who can absorb and finish through contact. Hargress is one of the best sophomore guards in SoCal.
Daniel Esparza, Sonora – Esparza has the perimeter shooting ability to sink a team by himself. If the 6-foot-2 junior gets rolling from deep, the Raiders’ opponent is in for a long night.
Houston Mallette, Pacifica Christian/OC – Mallette is a dynamic playmaker in the transition setting due to his size, quickness and vision. The 6-foot-4 point guard also has the ability to fill it up from 3-point range and he gets hot in a hurry.
Jaren Johnson, Lynwood – Johnson does a little bit of everything for the Knights. At 6-feet-4 he can rebound, push the break, initiate offense and score in isolation off the wing.
Jeremy Dent-Smith, Gardena Serra – Dent-Smith is another impressive sophomore. The 6-foot-1 point guard plays with impressive pace, limits turnovers, gets teammates involved, but can score from multiple spots of the floor when needed.
Jordan Montgomery, Murrieta Valley – Montgomery has had a solid senior campaign in leading Murrieta Valley’s young group to the postseason. One thing you can count on with Montgomery is he’s going to leave it all on the floor every game and do anything and everything his team needs to win.
Jorge Ochoa, La Mirada – Ochoa is a versatile scoring wing at 6-feet-7. The sophomore can fill up the stat sheet at all three levels of the floor.
Judah Brown, Pacifica Christian/OC – Brown is a long and explosive athlete who can guard multiple positions, block shots and rebound at a high rate. The St. Mary’s-bound wing can change the momentum of a game with a powerful dunk.
Lewis Singleterry IV, Murrieta Mesa – Singleterry might be one of the most underrated players in this division. The 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard is tough as nails, knows how to run a team, and guards with physicality and toughness.
Rob Diaz, Millikan – Diaz is another sophomore flying under the radar a bit right now. The 6-foot-1 lefty has deep range on his jumper and has the ball skills and elusiveness to create his own shot off the bounce.
Stacy Johnson, Oxnard – The 6-foot-1 senior point guard is a guy who fills up the stat sheet. He might not have a super explosive scoring game, but he’ll put up balanced numbers across the board – assists, rebounds and steals included.
Tyler Powell, Ribet Academy – Powell might be the most dynamic all-around player in this division. The powerful 6-foot-5 wing is an improved perimeter shooter and hasn’t lost any of his aggressiveness attacking the basket for above the rim finishes.