NCS playoffs begin
Arcata hosts Middletown on Wednesday at Arcata
After winning the Big 5 regular season title, the Arcata Tigers will be the highest-seeded team from the Humboldt-Del Norte League in the CIF Division IV North Coast Section playoffs. After finishing the season with a 17-7 record, the 5-seed Tigers will host 13-12 Middletown in the postseason at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Arcata.
It’s certainly a favorable draw for the Tigers, who will be expected to cruise past the Mustangs on Wednesday night. The Tigers, by most metrics, performed much better against much more difficult opponents, but will look to avoid an upset like the one that derailed the team last season in the opening round of the section playoffs.
If Arcata takes care of business against Middletown, they would likely face powerhouse Marin Catholic in the second round.
Panthers face Kelseyville at McKinleyville H.S.
Fresh off their victory in the Dick Niclai title game, McKinleyville will host Kelseyville at home in the opening round of the NCS playoffs at 7 p.m. Wednesday night. With an impressive 22-6 record, the Panthers should be wellpositioned to come away with a win.
The game is a rematch of the Panthers’ season opener back in November, which ended in a 6051 win for McKinleyville. With Kelseyville now at 16-10, much has changed since that first matchup. The Panthers have plenty of momentum after their overtime victory to take home their first Niclai championship since 1996.
But the Panthers will look to end Kelseyville’s season the same way it began: with a loss to McKinleyville.
Huskies take on Healdsburg at Fortuna
Fortuna just narrowly received a favorable draw in the NCS bracket, being awarded an 8-seed after finishing the season 17-10. That seeding means the Huskies will get to play Healdsburg at home on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Huskies will face a Healds
burg team that finished 1511, second to Ukiah in their league. It’s sure to be an evenly matched game as Fortuna’s youthful roster will to prove their mettle with a postseason win.
If Fortuna gets the playoff victory, they will face the top-seeded University Red Devils out of San Francisco in the quarterfinals.
Ferndale hosts Calistoga at Ferndale
Like their crosstown rivals in Fortuna, the Wildcats were also the recipients of a favorable 8-seed placement that will give them a home game Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Ferndale will face Calistoga in the opening round of the CIF Division VI section playoffs.
It’s going to be a tight matchup. Ferndale got credit for their difficult schedule, but with a 13-12 record they’re hardly favorites against 17-10 Calistoga.
If the Wildcats are able to prevail at home, they’ll face top-seeded Cornerstone Christian in the quarterfinals.
South Fork opens against Potter Valley
And lastly, the highest seed in any of the section playoffs will be the South Fork Cubs which plays Wednesday at 7p.m. at home. After winning the Little 4 and finishing the season with a 17-5 record, the Cubs were given a 3-seed in the NCS Division VI playoffs.
South Fork will take on 9-8 Potter Valley in a manageable opening-round matchup. With the Cubs being heavy favorites, they should be in line to potentially host another game with a win.
The Cubs would take on the winner of Fremont Christian and Point Arena in the quarterfinals.