High School Basketball : Santana Sees Double in Playoffs

After seeing the pairings for the San Diego Section Division I boys’ basketball playoffs, John Bobof, Santana High School coach, first thought: “Here we go again.”

It seemed as if Santana, the Grossmont League champion, will be starting its league schedule over in the five-division playoff format used for the first time in San Diego.

“I’m upset with the bracketing,” Bobof said. “If the Grossmont League is supposed to be so tough, which it is, why do we keep meeting in the same brackets?”

It’s just one of the kinks in the new format that considers teams by enrollment, not leagues.

Santana received a first-round bye as the top-seeded team in Division I. In the second round, Santana beat Mt. Miguel, the fifth-place team in the Grossmont League, 61-57. In the third round, Santana defeated Granite Hills, the third-place team in the Grossmont League, 59-49.

Tonight, Santana will get a break from its league opponents in the Division I semifinals. The Sultans play fourth-seeded Mt. Carmel at 8 p.m. at Mira Mesa.

In the other Division I boys’ semifinal, seventh-seeded Morse (18-9), the defending San Diego Section 3-A champion, plays third-seeded Valhalla (17-7) at 7 p.m at Serra High School. Valhalla is the second-place team from the Grossmont League.

Morse is coming off a 69-67 overtime victory over second-seeded Poway in the quarterfinals. Morse guard Willie Davis made an eight-foot underhanded shot with four seconds remaining.

“It meant a lot for us to beat Poway at Poway,” Morse Coach Ron Davis said. “(That) should really help through the rest of the playoffs.”

In the Division I girls’ semifinals, Point Loma (27-2), the four-time defending state champions, plays Mt. Carmel (22-4) today at 5 p.m at Serra. Point Loma’s only losses this season were to Patrick Henry and Fallbrook.

The Pointers have been a surprise after losing All-American forward Terri Mann to graduation. After its first-round bye, Point Loma has breezed through two playoff games, routing Granite Hills (78-13) and Monte Vista (67-35).

Point Loma could be headed for another showdown at the Sports Arena against Palomar League champion Vista (23-5), seeded third. Vista plays second-seeded Santana (24-1) today at 6 p.m. at Mira Mesa. Santana’s only loss was to Point Loma, 48-47, in the final of the Kiwanis Tournament.

Santana has also had a relatively easy time in the playoffs, beating Mt. Miguel (68-34) and Poway (51-39).

In the Division II boys’ semifinals, top-seeded Torrey Pines (27-1) plays No. 4 Kearny (22-4) at 7:30 at San Dieguito. Kearny defeated University City Saturday night, 49-41, in double overtime. Torrey Pines’ smallest winning margin in the playoffs was a 73-44 victory over San Marcos in the second round.

In the other Division II semifinal, third-seeded El Camino, last season’s section 2-A runner-up, plays second-seeded Madison (23-2) at 7:30 at Torrey Pines.

In the Division II girls’ semifinals, top-seeded San Pasqual (24-2), last-season’s San Diego Section 2-A runner-up, meets fourth-seeded Madison (13-10) at 5:30 tonight at Torrey Pines.

In the other Division II semifinal, second-seeded Helix (18-5) plays third-seeded Fallbrook (16-8) at 5:30 San Dieguito.

The San Diego Section championships for divisions I, II and III will be Friday at the San Diego Sports Arena.