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The CIF Southern Section released its girls’ water polo playoff brackets this weekend, with five Moore League teams slated to begin their postseason journeys this week.
Open Division
To no surprise, Wilson made the CIF-SS’ Open Division, the top division with the eight “best of the best” from around Southern California. The Open Division features pool play so that all teams get at least three guaranteed games, with the two pool winners advancing to the CIF-SS championship Feb. 22.
The Bruins (19-7, 5-0) are in Pool B with Orange Lutheran, Newport Harbor, and Foothill. The Bruins will visit Newport Harbor on Thursday this week, visit O Lu on 2/12, and host Foothill on 2/18.
Division 2
Millikan earned the Moore League’s two-seed this year by beating Long Beach Poly, and the Rams (13-10, 4-1) landed in Division 2. Millikan will travel to Edison on Tuesday with a potential second round on Friday at Downey (as the Vikings received a bye).
Division 3
Long Beach Poly are the big “competitive equity sweepstakes winners” for the sport. The new format of rankings teams by computer to create playoff divisions always creates some teams with tough draws at the bottom of a bracket’s rankings and some beneficial draws at the top of a bracket. Poly ends up seeded No. 2 in the Division 3 bracket, with a first-round bye on Tuesday.
The Jackrabbits (10-16, 3-2) will host the winner of Carpinteria and Muir on Friday.
Division 5
Two up-and-coming Moore League water polo teams made the playoffs, as both Cabrillo and Jordan qualified as at-large playoff teams in Division 5.
Cabrillo (9-8, 1-4) finished fifth in the Moore League and will travel to Warren on Tuesday, then would face the winner of Fullerton and La Mirada on Friday if they advance.
Jordan (11-7, 0-5) finished sixth in the Moore League but qualified for the playoffs by virtue of their .500 or above record–a smart piece of scheduling by the Panthers’ coaching staff. Jordan will visit Norte Vista Tuesday and would face the winner of Heritage and Torrance if they advance.
