P2P Girls Basketball
Playoff Brackets

The brackets for the California Interscholastic Federation girls basketball state tournament were released Sunday night and the initial buzz was about the cauldron that the Open Division is shaping up to be. Defending state champion Archbishop Mitty will have its work cut out just getting out of the first round, as the sixth-seeded Monarchs have been sent to Concord Saturday night to take on Carondelet, which is ranked No. 8 in the state by MaxPreps.

Regular-season West Catholic Athletic League champs Sacred Heart Cathedral avoided the Open Division altogether and is the No. 1 seed in Division III, just ahead of No. 2 St. Ignatius, its WCAL and City rival. CCS also placed the top seed in Division II (St. Francis) and Division V (Eastside College Prep), teams that should be considered clear favorites to take home at least a NorCal title.

We present a summary of the CCS tournaments and a look at all the CCS teams that are still playing this week in NorCals.

OPEN DIVISION:

ARCHBISHOP MITTY (23-6) : Relatively speaking, the 2012-13 season was a bit of a bumpy ride for Mitty, which suffered six defeats overall and was edged out by Sacred Heart Cathedral for the WCAL regular-season title. However, the Monarchs are always dangerous when the postseason hits, as they proved by winning both the WCAL and CCS Open Division titles. Junior Kelli Hayes led the way in the championship game, scoring 24 of her team's 41 points in a 41-32 win over St. Francis in the inaugural Open Division championship.

“It’s great to be the first ones to win the Open Division title," Hayes said. "It’s really astounding."

The reward is a trip to Concord to take on Carondelet (25-3), which opened the season with blowout wins over WCAL squads Presentation (90-51) and Sacred Heart Cathedral (82-61).

1 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (21-6)	8 LYNBROOK 46-44	5 ST. FRANCIS 37-27	2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY 41-32
8 Lynbrook (19-4)
4 EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREP (16-6)	5 ST. FRANCIS 45-36
5 St. Francis (20-7)
3 ST. IGNATIUS (19-9)	6 WILCOX 49-42	2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY 52-37
6 Wilcox (23-3)
2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (22-6)	2 ARCHBISHOP MITTY 47-26
7 Pinewood (18-5)

DIVISION I:

Jessica King and Wilcox have earned a bye in the Division I NorCal playoffs. (Austin Yu/Prep2Prep)

WILCOX (23-4) : Wilcox pulled off an impressive win in the first round of the CCS Open Division playoffs, knocking off St. Ignatius, 49-42, before falling to Mitty in the semifinals. Junior center Joeseta Fatuesi is one of the top post players in CCS. In NorCals, Wilcox awaits the winner of the Amador Valley-Oak Ridge first-round matchup.

GUNN (18-6) : The Titans were clearly the class of the CCS Division I playoffs, winning all three of their games by 20+ points. Gunn has earned a first-round home game in NorCals, taking on Galileo-San Francisco (26-6), which is led by Sarah Lim (10.6 ppg), Karen Wong (10.4) and Kim Fung (9.8).

SAN BENITO (16-12) : The Haybalers finished tied for third in the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division, but had a sensational run through the Division I playoffs as the No. 6 seed, falling short in the finals against Gunn. San Benito travels to Brentwood to take on third-seeded Heritage (25-5).

FIRST ROUND:
9 Menlo-Atherton 53, 16 Independence 25
12 Homestead 41, 13 Sequoia 36
14 Monta Vista 54, 11 Watsonville 49
10 Salinas 58, 15 Santa Clara 41

SECOND ROUND:
8 Milpitas 48, 9 Menlo-Atherton 37
5 Oak Grove 49, 12 Homestead 29
6 San Benito 50, 14 Monta Vista 46
7 Evergreen 71, 10 Salinas 40

QUARTERFINALS:
1 Gunn 43, 8 Milpitas 21
4 Piedmont Hills 51, 5 Oak Grove 44
6 San Benito 46, 3 North Salinas 42
7 Evergreen Valley 75, 2 Santa Teresa 74

SEMIFINALS:
1 Gunn 42, 4 Piedmont Hills 18
6 San Benito 58, 7 Evergreen Valley 38

FINAL (at Santa Clara High, Saturday 3/2, 1:00 PM):
1 Gunn (18-6) 47, 6 San Benito (16-12) 24

DIVISION II:

Lynbrook hopes to extend an already successful season with a run at NorCals. (Austin Yu/Prep2Prep)

ST. FRANCIS (20-8) : The Lancers came up just a little short in the CCS Open Division final against Mitty, but as a result, landed in Division III as the top seed in NorCals. St. Francis has no players averaging in double figures, but features a balanced attack led by seniors Jennifer Lucian (9.9 ppg) and Shelbi Aimonetti (9.4). The Lancers will take on the winner of the Chico-Dublin first-round matchup.

LYNBROOK (20-4) : First-year coach Cynthia Ting has done a remarkable job in leading the Vikings to the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye in Division II. Lynbrook, which upset WCAL regular-season champ Sacred Heart Cathedral in the first round of the CCS Open Division playoffs, is a versatile team led by senior Jackie Hudepohl. The Vikings take on the winner of the game between McNair and Alameda in the second round of NorCals.

PRESENTATION (13-14) : The 10th-seeded Panthers suffered several close losses during WCAL play, but coach Wade Nakamura believes that has prepared his team for the postseason.

"We've faced a lot of tough competition this year," Nakamura said. "Unfortunately for us, most of the time we came out on the losing side. But I told them that we needed to use those 25 games of experience and the practice we've had to put it all together and make it work."

Presentation, which is led by senior Courtney Danna (16.3 ppg), hosts Del Oro-Loomis (19-11) in a first-round matchup Wednesday night. The Golden Eagles are led by senior forward Stephanie Geyer (15.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg).

FIRST ROUND:
8 Leigh 46, 9 Willow Glen 38
5 Mountain View 46, 12 Lincoln 27
6 Woodside 55, 11 El Camino 39
10 Leland 45, 7 South San Francisco 34

QUARTERFINALS:
1 Presentation 62, 8 Leigh 26
5 Mountain View 42, 4 Los Altos 40
6 Woodside 50, 3 Westmont 49
2 Westmoor 54, 10 Leland 28

SEMIFINALS:
1 Presentation 58, 5 Mountain View 51
6 Woodside 50, 2 Westmoor 40

FINAL (at Santa Clara High, Saturday 3/2, 1:00 PM):
1 Presentation (13-14) 49, 6 Woodside (22-6) 34

DIVISION III:

Ashley Parsons and Branham have secured a first-round home game in the NorCal playoffs. (Austin Yu/Prep2Prep)

SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (22-6) : The WCAL regular-season champion Fightin' Irish recovered from a first-round loss to Lynbrook in the CCS Open Division tournament with a pair of victories over Eastside College Prep and St. Ignatius to capture the consolation final. As the top seed, Sacred Heart Cathedral has earned a first-round bye and faces the winner of the matchup between Branham and Kennedy.

ST. IGNATIUS (19-10) : The Wildcats lost to City rival Sacred Heart Cathedral in the CCS Open Division consolation final following a surprising first-round loss to Wilcox. St. Ignatius did recover to knock off Pinewood to gain valuable confidence heading into NorCals. SI, which is led by junior Quinci Mann (9.8 ppg) and sophomore Sydney Raggio (9.6), still grabbed the No. 2 seed and will face the winner of the game between Vanden and Encinal.

BURLINGAME (24-3) : The hot-shooting Panthers got past Branham for the CCS Division III title and now have their sites set on even bigger prizes. Burlingame, which shot 58 percent from the field in the final, has been led by senior sharpshooters Dana Michaels (16.8 ppg) and Lauren Rally (14.9). The Panthers host Modesto Christian (21-9), which is led by junior guard Lexi Tubbs (14.4 ppg).

BRANHAM (24-7) : The Bruins have had a great season led by guards Taylor Morway and Ashley Parsons. Branham features four sophomores in its rotation, including Parsons, guard Jessica Mok and forwards Regina Sankey and Sam Yoshino. Branham hosts Kennedy-Richmond (25-6) in a first-round NorCal game. The Eagles are led by the high-scoring duo of junior Julian Robinson (16.9 ppg, 13.1 rpg) and senior Raven Caldwell (16.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg).

FIRST ROUND:
12 Soledad 52, 13 Live Oak 45
11 San Jose 51, 14 North Monterey County 34
10 Terra Nova 54, 15 Del Mar 34

SECOND ROUND:
9 Santa Cruz 38, 8 San Mateo 34
5 Valley Christian 47, 12 Soledad 34
6 Christopher 41, 11 San Jose 39
7 Saratoga 75, 10 Terra Nova 56

QUARTERFINALS:
1 Burlingame 63, 9 Santa Cruz 51
5 Valley Christian 42, 4 Mills 41
3 Notre Dame-San Jose 38, 6 Christopher 26
2 Branham 51, 7 Saratoga 43

SEMIFINALS:
1 Burlingame 42 5 Valley Christian 28
2 Branham 58, 3 Notre Dame-San Jose 34

FINAL (at Foothill College, Saturday 3/2, 1:00 PM):
1 Burlingame (24-3) 62, 2 Branham (24-7) 48

DIVISION IV:

MENLO SCHOOL (18-8) : The Knights captured the CCS Division IV title with relative ease, winning all of their games by double digits. Double-double machine Drew Edelman (20.1 ppg, 12.8 rpg) leads the way for Menlo, which hosts Moreau Catholic-Hayward (21-7) as part of a doubleheader with the boys team Wednesday night. The Mariners are led by senior forward Remy Puou (16.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg).

SACRED HEART PREP (19-8) : The Gators had a nice run in the CCS Division IV playoffs, falling short in the final against Atherton neighbors Menlo. Sisters Melissa (10.9 ppg) and Meghan Holland (7.5 ppg) average over 18 points per game combined for the defensive-minded Gators, who yield just over 40 points per game. SHP visits Anderson (19-10), which is led by sophomore Katie Nunnelley (20.0 ppg, 14.4 rpg).

FIRST ROUND:
13 King City 57, 12 The King's Academy 49
14 Harker School 51, 11 Oceana 40
10 Half Moon Bay 43, 15 Carmel 12

SECOND ROUND:
9 Notre Dame-Belmont 27, 8 Seaside 24
5 Sacred Heart Prep 79, 12 King City 37
6 Monte Vista Christian 53, 14 Harker School 36
7 Mercy SF 49, 10 Half Moon Bay 42

QUARTERFINALS:
1 Soquel 40, 9 Notre Dame-Belmont 25
5 Sacred Heart Prep 50, 4 Gunderson 36
3 Scotts Valley 46, 6 Monte Vista Christian 30
2 Menlo School 70, 7 Mercy SF 47

SEMIFINALS:
5 Sacred Heart Prep 55, 1 Soquel 52
2 Menlo School 58, 3 Scotts Valley 46

FINAL (at Foothill College, Friday 3/1, 5:30 PM):
2 Menlo School (18-8) 55, 5 Sacred Heart Prep (19-8) 32

DIVISION V:

EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREP (16-6) : Senior Hashima Carothers (17.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg) looks to extend her high school career with a Division V state run. The Panthers, who dropped both of their games in the CCS Open Division playoffs, to St. Francis and St. Ignatius of the WCAL, are the No. 1 seed and face the winner of the game between Urban and Capital Christian.

PINEWOOD (18-5) : The perennial state powerhouse Panthers had a down year by their standards, but still qualified for the CCS Open Division and have to be considered a major threat for a title. Pinewood, which is led by sophomore Marissa Hing (10.4 ppg), sophomore Gabi Bade (9.9) and junior Leeana Bade (9.2) open play Saturday night against the winner of the San Domenico-Ripon Christian first-round game.

ST. FRANCIS CCC (15-9) : St. Francis CCC stormed through the first two rounds of the CCS Division V tournament before pulling off a mild upset of top-seeded Pacific Collegiate. The Sharks, led by senior forward Lauren Price (18.5 ppg), are matched up with Turlock Christian (24-5) in the first round of NorCals. The Eagles are led by prolific senior Halie Bergman (26.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg).

PACIFIC COLLEGIATE (20-2) : Junior Morgan Green is the go-to player for Pacific Collegiate, averaging over 29 points per game. The 10th-seeded Pumas travel to take on seventh-seeded Durham, champions of the Sacramento Valley League. The Trojans are led by senior Stephanie Husa (13.3 ppg) and sophomore Baylie Larson (10.2).

FIRST ROUND:
9 Summit Prep 49, 8 Oakwood 27
5 Immaculate Conception 35, 12 East Palo Alto 20
6 Santa Catalina 50, 11 Jewish Community 15 7 Anzar 64, 10 Alma Heights Christian 43

QUARTERFINALS:
1 Pacific Collegiate 55, 8 Summit Prep 23
4 Crystal Springs 38, 5 Immaculate Conc 27
3 St. Francis CCC 57, 6 Santa Catalina 40
2 Notre Dame-Salinas 38, 7 Anzar 33

SEMIFINALS:
1 Pacific Collegiate 60, 4 Crystal Springs 40
3 St. Francis CCC 60, 2 Notre Dame-Salinas 42

FINAL (at Notre Dame de Namur, Friday 3/1, 6:00 PM):
3 St. Francis CCC (15-9) 47, 1 Pacific Collegiate (20-2) 43