Panthers could be poised for postseason run

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There’s finally a clear-cut winner in the Marmonte League race. Well, sort of. Newbury Park clinched a share of the league title, its first since 1998, with a 34-21 victory over Thousand Oaks on Friday in its regular-season finale. Equally important is the fact the Panthers secured the league’s top seed for the Northern Division playoffs, and that could prove to be the difference in the long run.

Westlake earned a share of the championship with a 26-18 victory over Moorpark and will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed from the league. All, however, is not lost for the the Musketeers and Thousand Oaks, for that matter. Despite the setbacks, both locked up a playoff berth, leaving Agoura on the outside looking in.

The Southern Section will announce the postseason matchups on Sunday and St. Bonaventure, perhaps Hart, figures to be awarded the top seed. Newbury Park could be seeded as high as No. 4, maybe even No. 3, depending on where Paso Robles and Saugus end up in the bracket. One thing is certain, there will be no easy games for the Panthers the rest of the way. It’s win or go home.

-- Sean Ceglinsky, guest blogger