North Hollywood to Open Playoffs Seeded No. 2 in 3-A

The North Hollywood High boys’ basketball team has won 19 games in a row since it last lost in the Simi Valley tournament in mid-December. The Huskies are 23-1 overall and have run away with the Mid-Valley League title with a record of 10-0.

North Hollywood’s loss?

It came at the hands of Fremont, the lone team to be seeded ahead of the Huskies when City Section 3-A Division playoff brackets were drawn Thursday night.

First-round boys’ and girls’ games will be played Wednesday. North Hollywood and Fremont are the past two 3-A champions and North Hollywood is The Times’ top-ranked team in the region.

In the boys’ 4-A Division, North Valley League champion Taft is expected to open against San Pedro. Taft was seeded seventh, and, for the first time, 4-A teams were seeded according to strength, rather than final placement in league standings.

“I’ll take what comes,” Taft Coach Jim Woodard said. “I can live with this.”

Granada Hills was seeded 16th in the 4-A and will face top-seeded Westchester.

With a victory today, Washington, featuring former Cleveland standout Brandon Martin, will be seeded No. 2 and could play Taft in the second round.

In the girls’ 4-A Division, the West Valley League champion (either El Camino Real, Kennedy or Reseda) will be seeded fourth. Washington is seeded first and Banning is second.

The Mid-Valley League champion, either Van Nuys or North Hollywood, will be seeded fourth. If Van Nuys and North Hollywood (both 9-1 in league play) win today, a coin flip Monday will decide the league’s top-seeded team.