Girls’ basketball: It’s moving ahead to the playoffs for 0-26 Fountain Valley

There was a little communication problem involving Fountain Valley’s 0-26 girls’ basketball team.

Coach Barry Migliorini had his players turn in their uniforms last week and wished them a happy 10 days off before getting back to work. After all, the team finished the regular season winless.

Except Athletic Director Dennis Piramo submitted paperwork to the Southern Section seeking an at-large berth to the 1AA playoffs, which is apparently standard operating procedure at Fountain Valley. Migliorini said he had no idea it would be accepted. Well, it was and now he’s going to return the uniforms to players this week, hold practice and prepare for a Thursday matchup against host Redondo.

“We’re going out there and turn this into a positive experience,” he said.

When asked why his school would want an 0-26 team in the playoffs, Principal Morgan Smith said, “My view is we have a very young team of freshmen and sophomores. We have plans on being very good. It’s experienceing competition at the next level. We gave it a shot and made it.”

Starting next season, it will be far less likely for a winless team to be selected under a new competitive equity formula that will revise most playoff divisions in the Southern Section.

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