Area teams look to make splash in playoffs
League champions El Segundo, No. 2 seed Mira Costa in CIF-SS Division 1
After winning the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship last season, the El Segundo girls water polo team made the jump to Division 1 this season.
The Pioneer League champion Eagles (22-4) will host Dos Pueblos in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the El Segundo Aquatic Center.
“Dos Pueblos has a strong team, but they're a team we can play a good game against,” El Segundo coach Nila Ward said. “We're excited to test ourselves amongst some of the best teams in California.”
Also in Division 1 is Mira Costa, the Bay League champion. The Mustangs played a tough nonleague schedule to prepare for the playoffs.
“The reason we play a tough schedule is so we know what to expect in playoffs,” Mira Costa coach Jon Reichardt said. “It's a whole different story than the season, and I look forward to it.”
The second-seeded Mustangs (12-19) will host Santa Margarita in the first round at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Santa Margarita won the teams' regular-season meeting 18-5.
“We played (Santa Margarita) in January, and we've been preparing for these hard games,” Reichardt said. “They're more aggressive and we have to press hard. We're up to the challenge and have been training for it all year.”
If El Segundo and Mira Costa win their first-round games, they will meet Saturday in the quarterfinals.
El Segundo defeated the Mustangs 7-5 when they played Jan. 6.
In the Division 3 playoffs, Peninsula (15-10) hosts Yorba Linda in a first-round game today. Peninsula, which lost in the quarterfinals last year, finished second in the Bay League this season.
“There are some good teams (in our bracket),” coach Bryan Weaver said. “If we're lucky, we don't have to face (No. 1 seed)
JSerra until the finals. We have a battle in front of us.”
Palos Verdes (17-14), the Bay League's third-place team, will face Malibu in a Division 4 first-round game today at Hueneme High.
One year after the Sea Kings didn't qualify for the CIF-SS playoffs, coach Zach Graper saw the hard work pay off for the team.
“We're excited to play in the playoffs,” Graper said. “(Our program is) in a different place than last year.
We worked hard to get to this point, and we're excited and grateful to compete at this level.”
Also in the Division 4 playoffs, West Torrance (1612) hosts Newbury Park in the first round today. West finished second in the Pioneer League.
“What we're most excited about is the improvement the last few weeks with communication and help on the defensive end,” West coach Sione White said. “Things started to click as a team and the girls are excited to keep improving defensively; offensively we're working hard to improve.”
In Division 5, Torrance (15-11) will visit Walnut today. Torrance, which made it to the quarterfinals the past two years, finished third in the Pioneer League.
“The girls have progressed a lot, and they did a great job toward the end of the season,” Torrance coach Lara Williams said. “They're a very coachable team, and are trying to improve every game.”
Third-seeded Chadwick (6-7-1) will travel to face San Bernardino in the Division 6 first round Wednesday. Chadwick finished fourth in the Prep League.
“Anything is possible,” Chadwick coach Robert Lynn said. “We are happy to make the playoffs and we're slowly building momentum. I'm hopeful.”