Providence boys’ basketball awaits wild-card foe for first round

At this time a year ago, Providence High’s boys’ basketball team’s revelation that it would be playing the top seed seemed only to ensure a short time in the postseason.

But on Sunday this year ago, the Pioneers found themselves to be in a favorable position.

All four Media City boys’ basketball teams punched playoff tickets, with Burroughs (13-13 record, Pacific League at-large) traveling far to Santa Maria St. Joseph (22-5, PAC-8 No. 2) in a Division IA opener, Burbank (19-8, Pacific League No. 4) will also have a long trek to La Quinta La Quinta (16-12, Desert Valley League champion) for a Division 3AA opener and Lycee International (8-5, International No. 4) will travel to Riverside County Education Academy (10-5, Warrior League champion) to start the 5A playoffs. While the Pioneers will play in the first round on Friday, the rest of the Burbank field will begin on Wednesday.

Providence lost to top-seeded St. Joseph, 82-48, last season in the first round of Division 5AA play. St. Joseph won the division championship and will now host Burroughs after making a big jump up. This season, the Pioneers (18-8), who won the Independence League title, are slotted in a 16-team bracket and will await a wild-card team for Friday’s first round in Division 5AA.

They will play at home against Vistamar (15-7, Coastal No. 3) or Magnolia (9-13, Orange No. 3).

“We’ve got a tough road, so we’ll see how it shapes up,” first-year Providence Coach Michael Westphal said. “We’ve been playing much more together, much more confident; we’ve cleaned up a lot of the areas we were struggling in the first few months like turning the ball over and missing easy shots.”

The Pioneers will carry a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs and Westphal is hopeful it will grow.

“They’ve really, really matured together this year and it’s been fun to see,” Westphal said. “They’re starting to see how good they can be. Hopefully we’ll give ourselves enough time in the playoffs to see just how good that is.”

Burroughs and Burbank each had phenomenal playoff runs to the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively, a season ago. But both teams have long-distance first-round destinations.

Burroughs advanced to the Division IA semifinals, losing to eventual champion Santa Monica, last season. Burroughs won at Alhambra, at home versus Beaumont and at Vista Murrieta along the way. This time around, they’ll head up to Santa Maria to face St. Joseph on Wednesday.

The Indians, who have lost three straight, will take on a St. Joseph team that has won seven of its last eight and is 6-1 at home.

If the Indians move on, it will be to play in Friday’s second round against San Marcos (19-8, Channel No. 2) or Mira Costa (13-13, Bay League at-large).

The Bulldogs’ lengthy first-round trek takes them down to La Quinta.

However, Burbank is familiar with its opponent after defeating it in a fall league game that took place down south, but coach Jamayne Potts realizes this is a far different situation.

“I think there’s a difference between being there in a hotel, well-rested for a few days, than traveling down there the same day to play,” Potts said. “But I know we match up well with them.”

Burbank lost in the Division 2AA quarterfinals to Loyola, 76-58, a season ago. Prior to that, the Bulldogs opened with a win over host Garden Grove, 62-54, and then won at home against El Toro, 50-40.

So, with that experience, Potts knows anything can happen come playoff time.

“For me, in the playoffs, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” he said, “anybody can beat anybody.”

Burbank would play La Sierra (16-12, River League champion) or St. Francis (14-12, Mission League at-large) in the second round.

City newcomer Lycee International also has a long trip to the Moreno Valley to face RCEA.

A win for the Lions would put them into the second round against host and No. 3 seed Desert Christian Academy (Victory League champion, 18-5).