Games of the week
FRIDAY
Aptos (8-2) at Terra Nova-Pacifica (8-2), 7 p.m.: This figures to be a high-scoring Central Coast Section D3 opener as fifth-seed Aptos averages 44.5 points per game and fourth-seed Terra Nova 40.3. Pittsburg (7-3) at De La Salle-Concord (10-0), 7 p.m.: Before the season, this North Coast Section Open Division semifinal game was forecast as the final. Pittsburg had a couple of hiccups and hopes to play fast and loose to end the Spartans’ 26-year run as NCS champions.
Sacred Heart Cathedral (5-5) at No. 3 Live Oak-Morgan Hill (8-2), 7 p.m.: The sixth-seeded Irish, coming off a two-game losing streak, hope to turn around a seasonending loss to the third-seeded Acorns in the same CCS D3 first-round spot.
Vintage-Napa (9-2) at Antioch (7-3), 7 p.m.: Eighth-seed Vintage moved from the Sac-Joaquin Section and promptly won its first NCS playoff game, a 36-0 D1 rout of James Logan-Union City. Top-seed Antioch has had two weeks to recover from a humbling regular-season-ending loss to Pittsburg.
SATURDAY
Amador Valley-Pleasanton (8-2) Freedom-Oakley (7-3), 7 p.m.: The visiting Dons can prove they have belonged among the area’s elite all season with a win in this NCS D1 matchup.
Clayton Valley Charter-Concord (9-1) at Liberty-Brentwood (10-0), 7 p.m.: The best game of the weekend not only will determine an NCS Open final berth, but also a spot into CIF regional play. Third-seed Clayton Valley, under Tim Murphy, has been a regular title contender. Liberty, under second-year coach Ryan Partridge, won the school’s first NCS title (D1) last season. Marin Catholic-Kentfield (8-3) at Granada-Livermore (9-2), 7 p.m.: Intriguing matchup of two regions that rarely play each other. Monte Vista-Danville (7-3) at San Ramon Valley-Danville (6-4), 7 p.m.: This NCS D1 quarterfinal is also one of the Bay Area’s top rivalries; two weeks ago, San Ramon Valley won 17-10. St. Ignatius (3-7) at Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton (9-1), 1 p.m.: Do not be fooled by the records in this CCS D3 game. Seventh-seed St. Ignatius shut out its past two opponents to sneak into the playoffs. Both teams prefer a power running game, so expect a fast one.