Time’s Running Out to Clear Up Picture for Playoffs

Only one week remains in the boys’ high school basketball regular season. But most of the playoff races in the 3-A and 2-A divisions remain anything but decided.

Only Sweetwater (Metro-Mesa League) has clinched a title among 3-A schools. Only two leagues (the City Eastern and the Palomar) are set for the playoffs, and three of the eight playoff spots among 3-A teams remain to be determined.

In 2-A, Castle Park (Metro-South Bay) and Lincoln (City Central) have clinched championships. El Camino (Avocado League) is the likely champion and is assured of a playoff berth. But the other five spots are up for grabs.

The playoff picture should clear up after the regular season ends Friday. In fact, all 16 berths may be decided by then.

But all of the county’s eight leagues could end with ties for first or second place. The first two teams in each league qualify for the playoffs in both divisions.

Depending on the league, the deadlocks could be broken by playoff games, coin flips or votes.

Here is a closer look at the possibilities:

3-A DIVISION City Eastern

Morse (8-1) and Serra (7-2) already are assured of playoff appearances, but the league title and top playoff slot are undecided.

The Tigers can win outright by beating Serra at Morse on Wednesday afternoon at 4:45. If Serra wins, the two teams will play again Friday night, with the winner getting the league’s top playoff slot. Grossmont

There are numerous possibilities here, but barring some upsets El Capitan (12-2) and Mount Miguel (12-3) will be the playoff representatives.

El Capitan can win the title by defeating El Cajon (5-8) tonight and Monte Vista (10-4) Thursday. But should the Vaqueros lose either game, Mount Miguel could gain a share of the title by beating Santana (4-10) in its last league game tonight. A win would assure the Matadors of a playoff berth regardless of what else happens.

The winner of tonight’s game between Grossmont (10-4) and Monte Vista will have an outside shot at the No. 2 playoff spot. But Mount Miguel would have to lose tonight or El Capitan would have to lose twice for that to happen.

If El Capitan and Mount Miguel tie for first, a vote by athletic directors would determine the league’s playoff spots. If two teams tie for second, a playoff game would be Friday. Metro-Mesa

Sweetwater (10-1) wrapped up its seventh straight league championship last week, but the Red Devils could help determine the league’s No. 2 playoff team.

Montgomery (7-4) has the inside track on the second berth. All the Aztecs have to do is beat Southwest (2-9) Wednesday and Bonita Vista (5-6) Friday.

Even if the Aztecs lose once, they’ve still got an excellent shot at the playoffs because Chula Vista (6-5) and Hilltop (6-5) have to play Sweetwater this week. If both teams lose, Montgomery will need just one win to clinch only its second postseason appearance in the school’s 16-year history.

Bonita Vista also has a very slim chance at reaching the playoffs. The Barons could tie for second if they won twice, Montgomery lost twice and both Chula Vista and Hilltop lost once.

If two teams tie for second, a playoff game would be held Saturday night at a neutral site. If three or more teams tie, a vote by school principals would determine the second playoff representative. Metro Conference bylaws call for a vote whenever there isn’t time to conduct a playoff--which would occur if more than two teams tied for second. Palomar

Poway (19-3), The Times’ No. 1-ranked team, has already been ensured a chance to win an unprecedented third straight section championship. The Titans figure to clinch a tie for the league title tonight when they play Orange Glen (6-4) and can win it outright by beating Mount Carmel (9-1) Thursday in the regular-season finale.

Mount Carmel has clinched the other playoff slot. The Sundevils could earn a co-championship by defeating Fallbrook (3-7) tonight and Poway Thursday.

If that happened, the league’s No. 1 playoff representative would be decided by a coin flip. The league plays off ties only when both teams are not guaranteed playoff berths.

2-A DIVISION Avocado

El Camino (9-1) and Oceanside (8-3) should finish 1-2. Again, that’s providing there are no upsets during the final week.

El Camino can win the league by defeating San Pasqual (7-3) tonight or San Marcos (0-11) on Thursday. Under those circumstances, Oceanside can clinch the No. 2 spot by beating Carlsbad (4-6) tonight.

The intriguing, although long shot, possibilities include:

- A three-way tie for first between El Camino, Oceanside and San Pasqual. - A two-way tie for first between El Camino and Oceanside. - A two-way tie for first between El Camino and San Pasqual if El Camino loses twice, San Pasqual wins twice and Oceanside loses to Carlsbad.

- A two-way tie for second between Oceanside and San Pasqual if Oceanside and San Pasqual both win and El Camino splits.

- A three-way tie for second with Oceanside, Ramona (6-4) and San Pasqual. City Central

The race is for second place, and league champion Lincoln (9-0) will have a lot to say about the second playoff spot.

The Hornets play host to second-place St. Augustine (6-3) at 3 Wednesday afternoon. A Lincoln win, coupled with victory by Hoover (5-4) over San Diego (2-7), would leave the Saints and Hoover tied for second. That would force a playoff game Friday night.

But a St. Augustine win or a Hoover loss would automatically put the Saints in the playoffs. City Western

There could be a three-way tie for first if University (8-1) loses to La Jolla (7-2) Wednesday and Kearny (7-2) defeats Mission Bay (4-5).

If that occurred, the three coaches would participate in a coin flip. The odd-man out would be the league’s No. 1 playoff representative and the other two teams would play Friday night for the No. 2 spot.

Other possibilities:

- If University and Kearny win, University and Kearny would finish 1-2.

- If University wins and Kearny loses, La Jolla and Kearny would tie for second and play Friday for the second playoff berth.

- If La Jolla wins and Kearny loses, University and La Jolla would tie for first and play Friday to determine the league’s No. 1 playoff representative. Metro-South Bay

Castle Park (11-0) clinched the championship two weeks ago, but there are several possibilities for the No. 2 playoff spot.

Marian (3-8) and Mar Vista (3-8) are tied for second and play each other Wednesday at Mar Vista. Although highly unlikely, there is a chance for a two-, three- or four-way tie since Coronado and Southwest are both 2-9.

The league only holds playoffs if time permits. There wouldn’t be enough time to play off a three- or four-way tie since the regular season doesn’t end until Friday and the playoffs begin the following Tuesday.