Barristers Marshal Courage for Westchester

The Marshall High boys’ sports teams are enjoying one of their most successful school years.

Unfortunately, all the Barristers likely will have to show for it is two early exits from the playoffs.

Last fall, Marshall won the Northern League football title, defeating long-dominant Franklin along the way.

The Barristers’ reward: A first-round matchup against perennial power Woodland Hills Taft and a season-ending defeat.

Now, Marshall’s basketball team appears to face a similar fate.

The Barristers, under Coach Henfred Brard, won the Northern League but were awarded/penalized with the No. 16 seeding in the 16-team Championship Division playoffs.

Friday, they play a first-round game against defending City champion Westchester, which is ranked in several national polls and is a leading contender for the state Division I championship.

Wendy Triplett, Marshall’s athletic director, said she would like to see the section return to the 3-A and 4-A format and allow schools to designate which division in which they would like to compete.

“For the most part, the strong teams now are the teams that were there the last year and years before,” said Triplett, who coaches Marshall’s girls’ basketball team. “We have always been a 3-A school.

“It doesn’t seem right to win your league and never get a better seed than 12.”

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Boys’ soccer playoffs begin Friday and girls’ playoffs Tuesday with championship games scheduled for March 3 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

Woodland Hills El Camino Real is the top-seeded team in the 32-team boys’ playoffs. Defending champion Roosevelt is second, Palisades third and Belmont fourth.

There are two divisions for the girls. El Camino Real is also the top-seeded team in the girls’ 16-team City Championship division.

Verdugo Hills is the top-seeded team in the Invitational Division for teams ranked 17-32.