Not Everyone Makes It Now, so Playoff Berths Hang in Balance : Basketball: New rule limits automatic invitations to postseason play to half the teams in each prep league.

A ruling that limits the number of teams entering postseason play has made the final 10 days of the regular season crucial for some high school basketball teams.

Since the 1989-90 season a team could elect to enter the playoffs, regardless of its regular season record. But the new regulation, adopted Jan. 21 by the CIF Southern Section, allows only half the teams in each league to receive automatic postseason berths. Remaining teams with a minimum of 10 regular season victories can petition for at-large berths in their division if available. In some cases, extra “wild card” qualifying games will be staged to determine who advances to divisional playoffs.

The Southern Section conducts basketball playoffs in 10 groupings within five divisions for both boys and girls. The teams are placed in divisions largely by enrollment.

Here is a look at how Southeast/Long Beach league races shaped up before games played Wednesday night.

Moore League--The surprise has been Lakewood, which entered Wednesday night’s game at Poly at 0-7 in league play after a 9-4 preseason record. First-year Coach Mike Jackson, who replaced Tim Sweeney, has seen the Lancers lose seven games by three points or less. Jordan, led by last season’s most valuable player, Everett Ratleff, has clinched at least a tie for the title. The eighth-ranked Panthers (14-6 overall, 7-0 in league) play at Millikan (13-9, 4-3) Friday. Wilson (10-11, 4-3) gained an upper hand for the third playoff spot in the six-team league with a 74-70 overtime victory Friday over Millikan. The Bruins can solidify that hold with a win against visiting Poly (13-9, 4-3) on Friday. Compton (11-10, 2-5) is the only school in the league not in the I-AA playoff grouping. The Tarbabes probably need victories over Lakewood on Friday and Wilson on Wednesday to be considered for an at-large berth in II-AA.

San Gabriel Valley League--A fight in the stands forced officials to halt the first-place showdown Jan. 22 between Lynwood and host Dominguez. Lynwood (14-6, 6-0), led 65-64 with 4:50 to go. The game will continue from that point at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Dominguez gym, but spectators will not be allowed. A rematch will be played Feb. 12 at Lynwood. Dominguez is 16-1, 6-0. Regardless of the outcome, the teams are assured of playoff berths, fourth-ranked Lynwood in I-AA and second-ranked Dominguez in II-AA. Gahr (13-9, 4-5) upset Paramount (13-8, 5-4) to remain in the II-AA playoff picture. Paramount appears assured of a I-A postseason berth, since four teams from this seven-team league will receive playoff spots. (Under the new Southern Section rules, leagues with an odd number of teams get an extra playoff spot.) On the I-A bubble is Warren (13-10, 4-5). Downey (6-14, 1-7) and Cerritos (7-14, 1-8) meet Friday in a battle to stay out of the cellar.

Suburban League--Artesia has won 43 consecutive league games. The defending Division II state champion Pioneers have a II-A playoff spot locked up, and Bellflower appears headed into III-AA postseason play. The Pioneers (17-3, 6-0) have had difficulty shaking Bellflower (13-6, 5-1). The teams meet Wednesday at Artesia, with the Bucs intent on avenging a 71-56 loss Jan. 22. Although La Mirada (10-11, 3-3) entered Wednesday night’s game at Bellflower with a losing record, the Matadores should have no problem advancing into the II-A playoffs because the league’s bottom three--Glenn (3-15, 1-5), Norwalk (4-15, 1-5) and Mayfair (4-11, 0-6)--entered Wednesday night’s play with only two league wins among them.

Whitmont League--California (14-6, 5-1) and La Serna (13-7, 5-1), a pair of II-A competitors, entered Wednesday night’s action tied for first place. They meet Friday at California. El Rancho has been the surprise. The I-AA Dons (11-9, 4-2) upset La Serna on Jan. 22 to get back into the race. The teams close out the regular season Feb. 12 in Pico Rivera. Santa Fe (3-14, 3-3), a II-A school, could back into the third spot and gain a playoff berth, even with its losing record, if El Rancho stumbles. Whittier (3-15, 1-5) has no postseason chances in the II-AA, nor does III-AA Pioneer (3-15, 0-6).

Almont League--Schurr’s 62-59 victory over Bell Gardens on Jan. 26 put the Spartans (13-5, 6-1) a game up on the Lancers (15-6, 6-1). But then San Gabriel knocked off Schurr Tuesday night, 81-69, while Bell Gardens was beating Montebello, 59-44. Still, Schurr and Bell Gardens seem assured of playoff berths in this league, where all members are I-AA. The third playoff spot will go to San Gabriel (10-12, 4-3), Alhambra Keppel (9-10, 3-4), or Alhambra (9-13, 2-5). Montebello (5-14, 0-7) is out of the running, but could be a spoiler because it plays those three in the final week of the season.

Del Rey League--St. John Bosco, ranked fourth in its division, got 18 points from Jelani Gardner and defeated La Canada St. Francis, 63-45, on Jan. 28 to avenge its only league loss. The Braves (17-2, 6-1) and the Golden Knights (12-7, 8-1) appear headed for playoff berths in groupings II-A and III-A, respectively. La Puente Bishop Amat (9-11, 4-5) is expected to enter the II-A playoffs, while St. Anthony (8-12, 4-4) will probably qualify for the IV-AA playoffs by finishing fourth. Because there are seven teams in the league, the fourth-place finisher is expected to receive a playoff invitation. Other include Bosco Tech (11-7, 2-5), St. Paul (8-11, 2-6) and Pius X (6-12, 2-6).

Others--Valley Christian (5-12, 2-7), a IV-AA school, will not meet the minimum number of victories needed to make the playoffs as a wild card, and is struggling to overtake four schools with better Olympic League records. Centennial (7-13, 2-4), a III-A school, is in a similar boat in the Pioneer League. Whitney (8-11, 3-6), a IV-AA school, is one of five teams battling for four playoff spots in the Delphic League, but its 80-70 loss to Faith Baptist hurt. Gethsemane Baptist of Long Beach (10-8, 9-3) appears to have a playoff spot locked up in the V-A Express League.

Girls’ Teams--Among Southeast area girls’ teams, Lynwood (19-0, 8-0) is ranked first in Division I and appears headed for the San Gabriel Valley League title, but not without a fight from Division II-A Gahr (17-4, 8-1) and Cerritos (17-6, 7-2). In another Division I race, third-ranked Poly (18-3, 7-1) and 10th-rated Millikan (18-4, 7-1) are tied for first place in the Moore League. In Division IV, second-ranked Valley Christian (20-2, 10-0) is running away with the Olympic League title and should enter the single A grouping as the top seed. Pius X (14-5, 7-1), a IV-AA school, is in first place in the Del Rey League. In the V-A Express League, first place Gethsemane Baptist is 16-1, 10-0.