Travel Is Big Issue in State Playoffs

The road to a rematch might be longer than expected for Harvard-Westlake High.

The Wolverines were seeded No. 2 in the Southern regional behind Bishop Montgomery, which was expected--Bishop Montgomery (28-3) defeated the Wolverines in the Southern Section III-AA final Saturday.

But Harvard-Westlake (21-6) didn’t fare well in terms of a travel priority number, which determines whether a team plays at home or on the road.

The Wolverines were given the No. 4 travel priority number, which means they might have to play at University High in San Diego in the second round despite being seeded higher.

University (20-6) was not seeded among the top four teams in the eight-team regional, but was assigned travel priority No. 3.

Several factors could have led to the Wolverines’ lower travel priority number, though first and foremost could be that University won its section championship--San Diego Section Division III--while Harvard-Westlake did not.

It all becomes moot if Corona del Mar defeats University today in the first round. Corona del Mar was seeded No. 3, but was assigned the No. 5 travel priority number, one spot below Harvard-Westlake.

“If Corona loses, then I’ll say, no it’s not fair,” said Coach Jess Quiroz of Harvard-Westlake, who would then have to take a three-hour bus ride to San Diego for the second round on Saturday.

“But if the seeds hold true, I think Corona should win.”

Harvard-Westlake hosts Oakhurst Yosemite (17-8) tonight at 7.

La Canada (23-3) plays at Tollhouse Sierra (16-3) in another Division III first-round match.

The Spartans were swept by Bishop Montgomery in the Southern Section III-AA semifinals, but still qualified.

In Division V, unseeded Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian (23-2) plays at No. 4-seeded Visalia Central Valley Christian (16-3).

Hillcrest Christian was swept by Hemet Baptist Christian in the Southern Section Division V-A final Saturday.

The regional final is next Tuesday. The state final is Dec. 4 at Cypress College.