Grizzly boys grab No. 1 seed for playoffs

PHS, GHHS, SCCA girls play today

Editor’s Note: Due to weather all games are subject to day, time and location changes.

The CIF Central Section office released playoff brackets for soccer Monday afternoon and Granite Hills High School boys soccer was the lone Orange Belt team to receive a No. 1 seed.

However, several other local teams received seeds high enough to host at least their opening round games. In boys, Lindsay and Strathmore are seeded No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, and will have an opening-round bye before hosting their first game. For the girls, No. 5 Lindsay will host their opening round game.

Beginning on the road is Porterville and Granite Hills’ girls teams, as well as both of Summit Charters’ boys and girls teams.

DIVISION IV

No. 2 Lindsay (16-6-3, 10-2 ESL)

Back in the playoffs with a high seed is No. 2 Lindsay (16-6-3, 10-2 ESL), who went to the Valley championship finals last year and won it all in 2017. The Cardinals are also coming off their eighth-straight East Sequoia League championship.

With the No. 2 seed the Cardinals have a first-round bye and will host the winner of Wednesday’s opening round game between 10th-seeded Mira Monte (10-10-6) and seventhseeded Chavez (11-8-2) on Friday at 6 p.m.

DIVISION VI

No. 1 Granite Hills (127, 6-6 ESL)

With the No. 1 seed in Div. VI, Granite Hills waits to see who they’ll host on Friday at 6 p.m. for their quarterfinal game. The Grizzlies take on either ninthseeded Wonderful Prep (9-7) or eighth-seeded Bakersfield Christian (4-15-1).

Granite Hills finished fourth in ESL and this is the team’s second trip to the playoffs in three years. No. 3 Strathmore (5-91, 3-7 ESL)

Last year Strathmore’s season came to an end when they lost in the Valley finals on penalty kicks, but the Spartans are back in the playoffs for another shot at a Valley title.

Strathmore (5-9-1, 3-7 ESL) had a rough season but still earned a No. 3 seed which gives them a bye for the opening rounds. The Spartans will host the winner of an opening round game

between sixth-seeded Orange Cove (8-12-17) and 11th-seeded Summit Charter (6-10).

In the Valley finals last season, a seventh-seeded Orange Cove team upset top-seeded Strathmore. But this season, the two teams tied 2-2 in double overtime in late November.

GIRLS DIVISION IV

No. 5 Porterville (8-7-2,

3-6-1 EYL)

Fifth-seeded Porterville (8-7-2, 3-6-1 East Yosemite League) girls begin their quest for a Div. IV Valley title on Wednesday with a 5 p.m. quarterfinal game at fourth-seeded Wasco (16-5-2). The two teams did not meet this season but against common opponents, the Panthers are 5-0 while the Tigers are 4-2.

DIVISION V

No. 5 Lindsay (14-7-3, 10-3 ESL)

Hosting an openinground game of the Div.

V playoffs is the fifthseeded Cardinals of Lindsay. The team hosts 12th-seeded Chavez (616) Wednesday at 6 p.m. The two teams have not met this season.

Lindsay is on a fivegame winning streak and finished second in the East Sequoia League. During league play, the Cardinals outscored opponents 39-13.

DIVISION VI

No. 10 Granite Hills (513-1, 2-9-1 ESL)

The Div. VI playoffs will begin on the road for 10th-seeded Granite

Hills (5-13-1, 2-9-1 ESL), who take on seventhseeded Orange Cove (1210-3, 6-5-1 ESL) at 6 p.m. The two teams met earlier this season with Orange Cove coming away with a 3-1 victory. No. 14 Summit Charter (9-5, 6-3 ESL)

Making their first trip to the playoffs in school history is 14th-seeded Summit Charter (9-5, 6-3 East Sierra League). The Bears begin their playoff journey on the road today with a game against reigning Valley champion, third-seeded Rosamond (14-5-2).