Teams advance to CIF playoffs
The CIF-San Diego Section winter sports playoffs got underway Monday with a pair of local teams competing in play-in games for a chance to advance to their respective tournaments.
Taking on challengers Monday were the boys’ basketball team from Holtville High and the girls’ basketball team from Brawley Union High.
The Vikings traveled to face Horizon Prep in a Div. V contest, while the Imperial Valley League co-champion Wildcats hosted Patrick Henry in a Div. II matchup.
The Vikings and the Wildcats were just two of the 20 local teams that advanced to the playoffs with many of those squads beginning action tonight and throughout the rest of the week.
In boys’ basketball a total of six teams advanced, including Brawley Union, Calexico, Calipatria, Central Union, Holtville and Southwest highs.
Opening the playoffs at home today are the Div. III Wildcat boys taking on Santana and Southwest, who will host Calipatria in a Div. IV contest.
Calexico will travel to face Monte Vista in a Div. IV matchup, while Central will be on the road as well facing Bonita Vista in a Div. III game.
In girls’ basketball, the Imperial Valley also had six teams advance including Brawley Union, Calexico, Calipatria, Holtville, Imperial and Southwest highs.
In Div. I, Imperial Valley League co-champion Calexico will be on the road traveling to face Bonita Vista on Wednesday.
Also in Div. I, Imperial will host Bishop’s at 7 p.m. Wednesday night.
In addition to the Tigers, the Hornets also earned a firstround home game and will host El Cajon Valley in a Div. IV game set at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
In Div. III, the Vikings will be on the road Wednesday to face Christian, while the Div. IV Eagles will also be traveling to face St. Joseph’s Academy Wednesday night.
In boys’ soccer, three local teams made it to CIF play including Calexico, Central and Vincent Memorial highs.
The Bulldogs will host La Jolla at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in a Div. II play-in game, while Central will host La Jolla Country Day at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a Div. IV game.
The Scots are competing in Div. V and earned a first-round bye. They will host a game Saturday, taking on the winner of Wednesday night’s game between Guajome Park and Army Navy.
Rounding out the CIF-bound teams for the winter season is a handful of girls’ soccer squads.
Brawley Union, Central Union, Holtville, Imperial and Calexico highs all advanced to the tourney this season.
Brawley earned a first-round bye in Div. IV and will host a quarterfinal contest Friday.
In Div. III, the Spartans made history grabbing the No. 1 seed and earning a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs. Central will also host a quarterfinal game Friday.
In addition to Brawley, Calexico and Imperial highs will also be competing for the Div. IV crown.
Imperial will travel to face Mt. Empire on Tuesday and Calexico will travel to face Maranatha Christian on Tuesday as well.
The Vikings will open Div. V tourney action at 5 p.m. Wednesday when they host Julian.