Paloma Valley teams lead local charge into CIF playoffs

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Four teams from Paloma Valley High School will open the CIF Southern Section team playoffs this week, with two more being represented by individuals in postseason competition.

All four are league champions, including the Wildcats girls basketball team, which will open the playoffs at home Thursday at 7 p.m. with a 25-3 overall record. Their opponent in the Division 4AA game will be the winner of Tuesday's wild-card game between Marymount and Schurr.

Coach Matt Dale's team won the last 10 games of the regular season, with its only league loss in 14 games coming against Riverside Poly, 57-48, on Jan. 8. The Wildcats avenged that loss with a 67-37 rout of Poly on Jan. 29.

Paloma Valley's leading scorers are Mya Pierfax (above left) at 15.6 ppg, Sydney Woodley (14.1 ppg), and Trinitee Bradley (10.0 ppg). Woodley is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 10.4 per game.

In girls water polo, Paloma Valley opens the Division 6 playoffs Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Marina at the Wildcats' home pool, the Drop Zone Water Park in Perris. The Wildcats won nine of their last 10 games en route to the Sunbelt League title.

The Wildcats boys soccer team will also open the playoffs at home, taking on the winner of a Tahquitz-Jurupa Valley wild-card game in a Division 5 first-round game Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Wildcats were 6-1-1 in winning the Sunbelt League and are 9-3-3 overall.

In girls soccer, Paloma Valley will be at home Thursday at 5 p.m. in a Division 2 opener against Roosevelt. The Wildcats finished 8-0 in league play and are 13-2-3 overall. Nicole Dallin leads the team with 37 goals and goalkeeper Cassandra Cortez has made 63 saves.

In wrestling, several members of the Paloma Valley boys team will compete in the CIF Eastern Division finals at Carter High School in Rialto Friday and Saturday. The Wildcats girls team will send 13 wrestlers to the CIF Eastern Regionals at Hillcrest High School in Riverside.

Two other Menifee schools will be represented in the CIF playoffs this week. The Heritage girls water polo team will host La Salle Wednesday at 5 p.m. in a Division 7 first-round game. The Patriots boys basketball team will play at Holy Martyrs of Encino in a Division 3A first-round game Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Santa Rosa Academy's boys basketball team will play at Bassett in a Division 5AA game Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Rangers' girls soccer team will be at home Thursday at 5 p.m. in a Division 6 opener against the winner of a wild-card game between Desert Hot Springs and Pomona Catholic.