The San Diego Section basketball playoffs are a little over a week away from tipping off. League champions are guaranteed entry. The remaining berths are filled in on an at-large basis.
With 16 teams entered in Division I through Division IV, 12 more in Division V and Division V-AA and eight in the Open Division, there should be plenty of opportunity for East County teams to qualify, but maybe just barely.
“We’re No. 16 — we’re right on the cusp,” Mt. Miguel boys basketball head coach Christine Fitzgerald said following last Friday’s 69-44 loss at Helix Charter. “We’re going to need to win a league game to get in.”
The Matadors entered this week with a 12-13 overall record, 1-4 in Grossmont Hills League, with three league matchups remaining against Granite Hills (Feb. 6), Steele Canyon (Feb. 10) and Monte Vista (Feb. 13). The playoffs are scheduled to start Feb. 17-18.
Steele Canyon (14-10) entered the week ranked ninth among Division II teams while Monte Vista (14-10) was ranked 13th – three rungs ahead of Mt. Miguel.
The Matadors tipped off the season hot but have since hit a rocky middle part of the season.
“There’s been a lot of adversity,” Fitzgerald admitted. “But our core is stepping up and our leaders are starting to emerge. That’s a blessing going into the last part of the season.”
Sophomore Jerome Radcliff has been a consistent scorer this season with a 16.5 points-per game average, followed by sophomore Brooklyn James at 10.9 ppg. Radcliff is leading the team with 4.2 rebounds per game while James and junior Rasan Mohammed are right behind at 4.1 rpg.
Radcliff also leads the team with three assists per game and 2.5 steals per game.
The Matador shooter led the visitor with 14 points and seven rebounds in the loss to the Highlanders while junior teammate Issa Baundler dropped in 10 points.
Other teams are in more comfortable positions.
Helix improved to 5-0 in Grossmont Hills League play, 15-10 overall, as the No. 4 team in the Division II rankings.
“Our No. 1 focus right now is on league,” Helix coach Jason Cavazos said. “We need to stay ahead of Mt. Miguel and Steele Canyon.”
Steele Canyon entered Tuesday’s showdown game on the Highlanders’ court 4-1 in league play, while Monte Vista was 2-2. The Scotties host Monte Vista on Feb. 10.
Granite Hills entered the week a game behind the Matadors in the league standings at 0-5 (7-15 overall). The Eagles, ranked 18th among Division III teams, close out regular season play Feb. 13 at Helix.
The Scotties started off the season rather well but hit a speed bump over the holidays.
“We played seven or eight teams from outside San Diego,” the Helix coach said. “We played some top teams to get us ready for league. At the beginning of the season it’s all about getting better.
“We’re getting healthy, we only have one of our guys out. We’re starting to really hit stride at the right time of the season. I’m very excited about this team and proud of it. That’s what it’s all about.”
Helix made its statement early against Mt. Miguel. The Highlanders broke out to a commanding 16-1 lead, led 21-6 after the first quarter and boosted its edge of 32-10 in the second quarter.
Sophomore Trey Cavazos continues to do the bulk of the damage, especially on the fast break. He’s averaged 15.9 points through 24 tabulated games. Junior Donovan Bryant is next on the team with 11.6 ppg in nine appearances, while senior Sergio Vazquez has averaged 9.3 ppg, senior Jason Black 8.7 ppg and junior Brian Hammerstrand 7.6 ppg.
Black is the team leader in rebounds at 6.0 per game while Hammerstrand follows at 5.1 rpg and senior Glenn Payne at 4.0 rpg. Bryant has averaged 3.4 assists per game while Black is the team steals leader at 2.4 per game.
Other East County boys teams in position to make a grab for playoff berths include No. 1 Liberty Charter (14-5) in Division V-AA, No. 3 West Hills (17-7) in Division IV, No. 4 Grossmont (11-9) in Division V, No. 6 Santana (14-8) in Division IV, No. 7 Valhalla (16-8) in Division IV, No. 7 El Cajon Valley (10-11) in Division V, No. 14 El Capitan (5-18) in Division IV, No. 15 Christian (14-10) in Division I (seventh overall outside the Open Division cut-off).
On the girls side, Grossmont (16-4) continues to top East County teams with a No. 6 ranking among Division I teams, a mark that would place the Lady Foothillers in the elite Open Division playoff bracket. Next up is El Capitan (19-6) at No. 11 among Division I teams (No. 3 after the Open Division split).
Christian (14-7) is ranked fourth among Division II teams.
Other playoff hopefuls include No. 1 Liberty Charter (15-0) in Division V-AA, No. 2 Foothills Christian (12-6) in Division V-AA, No. 7 Santana (12-11) in Division IV, No. 11 Helix (5-14) in Division II, No. 13 El Cajon Valley (11-12) in Division III, No. 13 Mountain Empire (4-13) in Division V and No. 15 Mt. Miguel (10-011) in Division III.
El Capitan head coach Dylan Curtis said his team has exceeded expectations as the playoffs loom.
“It’s been good,” Cutis said. “We’re stepping up at the right time of the season when we need to.”
The Lady Vaqueros engaged host Helix last Friday, winning 60-52 on the road against a scrappy, never-give-up Lady Highlanders squad.
Comfortably ahead by 11 points at halftime, the Lakeside visitors held on for a six-point win while finally subduing a furious Helix comeback bid.
Season leaders include senior Keira Heinricy with 19.3 ppg and junior Sasha Parker with 9.7 ppg. Parker tops El Capitan with 7.0 rebounds per game and 4.1 steals per game. Heinricy ranks second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game.
“We’re pretty young, we need to play smarter, but considering how much we graduated, we’ve exceeded expectations,” Curtis said. “At the start of the season, I didn’t think we’d be where we are now near the top in Division I. To be 19-6 in a rebuilding year is incredible.”
Team chemistry is a big element of the team’s success. “We trust each other,” Parker said. “That’s how we win every game.”
The Lady Vaqueros were on a six-game winning streak before running into Grossmont on Jan. 23, a 63-32 loss. El Cap got right back in the win column, 60-15, at West Hills on Jan. 23.
The Lady Vaqueros were scheduled to play at Cathedral Catholic (No. 3 in the Division I rankings) on Tuesday, followed by a Friday home game against Granite Hills. El Capitan faces a Feb. 13 rematch against Grossmont to close out regular season play.
Grossmont leaders include junior Aakash Price (15.5 ppg) and junior Jaliyah Fleming (11.5 ppg), sophomore Esther Agoh (9.1 ppg) and freshman Maya Shehee (8.7 ppg). Price has been a rebounding force by averaging 11.2 per game.
