Four East County teams came up victorious in this year’s San Diego Section winter sports playoffs. Four other area squads posted runner-up finishes.
Of those eight division finalists, seven advanced to participate in the Southern California regional playoffs: three basketball teams, three soccer teams and one girls water polo team.
Hooping it up
Division I section girls runner-up Grossmont (26-8) rebounded in the Division IV regionals with three consecutive wins to advance to Tuesday’s regional championship match.
The fourth-seeded Lady Foothillers defeated 13th-seeded Santa Paula (20-10) by a score of 60-41 in the opening round on Feb. 27, then eliminated fifth-seeded Crenshaw (18-10) by a score of 57-51 in the second round on Feb. 29.
Grossmont continued its winning ways with a 57-39 victory over top-seeded Newbury Park (27-8) in Saturday’s semifinals to draw seventh-seeded Fallbrook (26-8) in Tuesday’s regional final.
The state championship game is Saturday, March 9, in Sacramento.
Mt. Miguel, the Division IV section boys champion, received the No. 2 seed in the Division V regional and defeated 15th-seeded New Designs University Park (24-4) by a score of 53-39 in the opening round on Feb. 27.
The Matadors drew No. 7 Sherman Oaks Buckley in the second round but could not get past the Griffins, who extinguished Mt. Miguel’s fire with a 64-53 upset win.
Mt. Miguel led, 42-40, at halftime. The teams were tied 44-44 in the second half before Buckley pulled away 51-45 in the fourth quarter. The Griffins sank a three-point shot to go in front 60-53.
Buckley (21-12) advanced to meet No. 3 Verdugo Hills (24-11) in the next round (Saturday’s semifinals) but was eliminated by a score of 74-57.
The Matadors ended the 2023-24 season with a final 24-9 record, 8-2 in league.
Top-seeded San Pedro (23-12) was upset, 52-47, by No. 5 Bakersfield North (29-5) in Saturday’s semifinals.
Division III section boys runner-up Monte Vista (23-10) exited the Division IV regional playoffs following a 50-42 loss to ninth-seeded Estancia (24-10) in a first round contest that featured multiple lead changes.
The eighth-seeded Monarchs led, 36-34, at the end of three quarters.
Getting their kicks
Three East County soccer teams received admittance to the regional playoffs.
Division I boys section champion Steele Canyon (11-4-8) received the No. 8 seed in the Division III regionals and lost, 1-0, to top-seeded Newport Harbor (20-6-1) in the opening quarterfinal round.
Division III boys section champion Monte Vista (22-7-3) received the No. 4 seed in the Division IV regionals and defeated No. 5 Upland (15-5-4) by a score of 2-1 in the quarterfinals but was eliminated in the semifinals, 2-0, by top-seeded Oceanside (19-1-4).
Oceanside, the Division II section champion, went on to win the SoCal championship with a 3-0 win over third-seeded Lakewood (17-5-6).
Division II girls section champion Granite Hills (17-4-5) received the No. 8 seed in the Division III regionals. The Lady Eagles lost, 2-1, to top-seeded Granada Hills Charter (16-3-3) in the quarterfinals to end their season.
Making a splash
Section Open Division semifinalist Valhalla (20-8) received the No. 2 seed in the Division II regionals but was upset, 9-8, by seventh-seeded Centennial (27-2) in the opening round on Feb. 20.
