Local high school teams begin playoffs in basketball, soccer

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Several Menifee high school teams will open the CIF-SS playoffs in basketball and soccer this week, while one local team continues play in the girls water polo playoffs.

In boys basketball, Liberty High will open the Division 3AA playoffs at Tustin Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Bison are the No. 2 team from the Sunbelt League with an 18-8 overall record. Tustin, the Empire League champion, is 22-6.

The same day in Division 4A, Paloma Valley’s boys basketball team will be at home at 7 p.m. against Santa Clarita Christian. The Wildcats are 12-13 overall and Santa Clarita Christian is 13-11. In another Division 4A game, Santa Rosa Academy will be at home against Valley Torah.

Three girls soccer playoff games are also scheduled on Wednesday at 5 p.m. In Division 4, Bishop Montgomery will be at Paloma Valley. In Division 5, Muir will be at Heritage. In Division 7, Jurupa Hills will be at Santa Rosa Academy.

The scene shifts to boys soccer and girls basketball on Thursday. In boys soccer Division 6, Liberty will play at AGBU/CP in Canoga Park. In Division 8, Santa Rosa Academy will be at home against Pilgrim. In girls basketball Division 1, Heritage will play at Brentwood.

The only playoff survivor in girls water polo is Heritage, which won its first-round game in Division 5 by a 15-7 score over Torrance. The Patriots were scheduled to play at Norte Vista in the second round last Friday, but a power outage postponed the game. In the rescheduled game, Heritage was fortunate enough to get the home game. The Patriots will play host to the Braves Monday at 5 p.m.