Playoff Revision Avoids Matchup of League Rivals

If anyone had a legitimate complaint about the Southern Section boys’ basketball playoff pairings, it was Coach Brian Haloossim of Campbell Hall.

His team finished 18-8 and played one of the toughest nonleague schedules in Division V-AA. When the playoff pairings were released Sunday, Campbell Hall was awarded a No. 2 seeding, which was deserving, but the Vikings appeared headed for a likely second-round game against Delphic League rival Montclair Prep.

Putting Campbell Hall and Montclair Prep so close together in a 32-team bracket seemed an obvious mistake, and the Southern Section agreed.

On Monday, the pairings were revised. Montclair Prep will open Wednesday on the road against St. Margaret’s and play Buckley in the second round if it wins. Campbell Hall will face Pasadena Poly, with a victory sending the Vikings against Villanova Prep or Pilibos.

“It’s only fair,” Montclair Prep co-Coach Howard Abrams said.

Montclair Prep played Campbell Hall twice, losing in overtime and by two points. Now Montclair Prep is in the same bracket as No. 1-seeded Pacific Hills, the Delphic co-champion.