There are no new teams in this week’s Super 8, but immediately afterward there are a lot with upsets in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs. The top five in our Super 8 also are top seeded in five different top divisions of various section playoffs.
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(After games of Saturday, Feb. 18)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 22-2
The Monarchs are the CIF Central Coast Section Open Division top seed, and guess who they get in the first round? It’s a No. 8-seeded St. Francis of Mountain View team they struggled with two weeks ago.
Maiya Flores makes one of three 3-pointers she made for No. 7 Cardinal Newman in win last week vs. Ukiah. Photo: Prep2Prep.com.
2. (2) Clovis West (Fresno) 27-2
In a light week, the Golden Eagles coasted to a 77-41 win at Clovis and now as the top seed in the Central Section Division I playoffs they have a bye in Tuesday’s opening round.
3. (3) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 22-3
First round blowouts in an Open Division aren’t supposed to happen, but it sure did for Poly and the Jackrabbits’ 61-33 rout in the CIFSS Open Division was against 10-time CIF state champion Brea Olinda.
4. (4) Mission Hills (San Marcos) 26-2
The top seed in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division playoffs rests until Wednesday like the rest of the field and then meets No. 8 seed San Diego Serra.
5. (5) Carondelet (Concord) 24-4
After completing a dominant run through the East Bay Athletic League, the Cougars were awarded the CIF North Coast Section Division I top seed. They were moved up from D2 due to the competitive equity formula the NCS now uses.
6. (6) Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) 23-3
Although the Dragons did not get moved up to the NCS D1 bracket, if they win the NCS D3 title, you can bet the house that they’ll be in the NorCal Open Division.
7. (7) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 25-3
After moving up two spots last week, the Cardinals stay put behind the O’Dowd team that handed them one of their three losses. They are the top seed in the NCS Division IV playoffs.
8. (8) Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 16-7
We thought the CCS might drop the S.F. girls below Pinewood in its Open Division seedings but as they should have been due to an absolutely grueling schedule were indeed placed at No. 2 in the Open Division behind Mitty.
