Santa Margarita to Face Stiffer Competition in Playoffs

The Santa Margarita boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will have a more difficult road in the playoffs after the Southern Section moved both teams up to Division II-AA from II-A this week.

The Eagle girls’ basketball team, previously ranked No. 1 in Division II-A, is now in the same division as powerhouses Brea Olinda and Foothill. In the Division II-AA Southern Section poll released Tuesday, Santa Margarita was ranked ninth.

The boys’ team, previously ranked sixth in Division II-A, is also ranked sixth in the latest Division II-AA poll.

Santa Margarita was notified of the move Jan. 21, but principal Merritt Hemenway, citing a season spent preparing for Division II-A playoff competition, appealed in a letter faxed that afternoon to section Commissioner Jim Staunton. The reply came Monday: There is no going back.

“They had the numbers in October, and at least by Dec. 6, to set the divisions; that was their deadline, and they left us in II-A,” Hemenway said. “So why now?

“I don’t have a problem being in II-AA, but just tell me before the season starts.”