Looking at first-round boys’ basketball matchups ... and beyond

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

There are few surprises in the boys’ basketball City Championship Division playoff bracket, and seemingly few opportunities for upsets in the early rounds.

However, there are two first-round games that get my attention and a potential quarterfinal matchup that intrigues me.

No. 13 King-Drew at No. 4 Fremont is the closest thing I see as an upset special if the Golden Eagles ( 15-11) play with the same energy they did in splitting two Marine League games with Gardena, and the Pathfinders (19-6) don’t take the game seriously enough.

Should Fremont prevail, there’s a possible quarterfinal meeting with No. 5 Palisades (24-6). This is assuming the Dolphins defeat No. 12 Cleveland (19-7) in their first-round game, and we know how dangerous assumptions can be.

But if the Dolphins and Pathfinders collide, this could be the most even matchup of the playoffs, so far.

Palisades finished third in the Western League behind Westchester and Fairfax, but it is a team that could have won a title in every other City league, save the West Valley were Taft resides.

As for Fremont, no one downgrades their talent. The question is whether the Pathfinders, who play anywhere from six to eight players, have the stamina to survive two teams that love to run the full-court press the entire game.

-- Mike Terry

-- Image from www.viewimages.com