The CIF Southern Section basketball playoff brackets came out on Super Bowl Sunday, and they feature a ton of enticing matchups for Long Beach teams.
Boys’ Basketball
Long Beach Poly received the No. 5 spot in the Division 1 bracket and received a bye as a result. They won’t play until Tuesday, Feb. 12, when they will host a first-round winner from the game between Windward and San Marcos.
“We weren’t expecting the bye but we’re excited about the playoffs,” said Poly coach Shelton Diggs.
St. Anthony is the other Long Beach team in Division 1, and the Saints have one of the most exciting first-round games in the bracket this Friday when they host Alemany. The Saints could certainly win that game, and would then face the winner of Cajon and Riverside Poly. St. Anthony coach Allen Caveness wasn’t willing to talk about that prospect, however.
“All I see is Alemany on Friday at 7,” he said. “Not trying to be corny or ‘coach speak,’ but it’s the truth.”
Compton and WIlson are competing in the Division 2A bracket, and Compton will host Lynwood Friday in a game that will draw a ton of attention. Wilson will travel to Diamond Bar that evening, while in Division 3AA, Millikan will be traveling to Santa Clarita.
CIF Boys’ Basketball Playoffs
Division 1: Long Beach Poly BYE (plays 2/12)
D1: St. Anthony vs. Alemany (Fri)
D2A: Compton vs. Lynwood (Fri)
D2A: Wilson @ Diamond Bar (Fri)
D3AA: Millikan @ Santa Clarita (Fri)
Girls’ Basketball
Like the Poly boys squad, the Poly girls’ basketball team earned a first-round bye, and are the No. 3 seed in the Division 1 bracket. The Jackrabbits will host the winner of Lynwood and Ribet Academy’s first round game in a second-round game on Saturday evening. It would be a treat to see Poly and Lynwood play, two teams with a long, friendly rivalry. Poly coach Carl Buggs coached at Lywnood before moving to Poly.
“I like where we are in Division 1,” said Buggs. “I like the bye because it gives us a chance to see Lynwood and Ribet. We’re looking forward to starting the playoffs.”
In Division 2AA, Millikan will host Norco in a first-round game on Thursday.
“The bracket shapes up how we had thought it would,” said Millikan coach Lorene Morgan. “It’s not an easy road for us, we’ll just take it one game at a time.”
In Division 2A, Lakewood will travel to El Rancho for a first-round game on Thursday while Compton will visit Palm Desert in the Division 4AA bracket that evening.
CIF Girls’ Basketball Playoffs
Division 1: Long Beach Poly BYE (plays Sat)
D2AA: Millikan vs Norco (Thurs)
D2A: Lakewood @ El Rancho (Thurs)
D4AA: Compton @ Palm Desert (Thurs)
