Providence boys get top seed
Seven of the eight Burbank-area boys’ and girls’ basketball squads will be taking part in the CIF postseason and they learned just where their playoff journeys will begin on Sunday.
Providence High’s boys’ basketball team, as expected drew the No. 1 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 5A playoffs and with its seeding, the Liberty League champion received a bye into the second round on Friday, where it awaits either New Roads or Villanova Prep.
Providence’s girls’ squad drew the third seed in the Division 5AA tournament and Bellarmine-Jefferson’s girls’ squad is the sixth seed in the Division 4AA playoffs.
The Pioneers girls’ team, which also won the Liberty League, will face Ambassador League at-large entrant Arrowhead Christian on Thursday. The winner, on Saturday, will face either Brethren Christian or Hamilton on Saturday in the second round.
Bell-Jeff’s girls’ squad, fresh off another Santa Cruz League title triumph, hosts Mission League at-large entrant Louisville on Thursday. Saturday’s second round will see the winner take on either Pasadena Poly or El Segundo. Bell-Jeff’s boys’ team, which received an at-large bid out of the Santa Fe League, has the daunting task of traveling to face second-seeded Village Christian, the Olympic League champion, on Wednesday. If Bell-Jeff pulls off the upset, it will face either Mojave or Public Safety Academy.
In girls’ Division IA action Saturday, Burbank, seeded 13th after a second-place Pacific League finish, will host Fountain Valley, a Sunset League at-large team. If Burbank moves on, it will face either fourth-seeded Corona Centennial or Upland. Burbank’s boys’ team, the fourth-place finisher in the Pacific League, takes to the road to face seventh-seeded Chino Hills, a third-place Sierra League finisher on Friday and the winner will take on Vista Murrieta or Alta Loma on Feb. 21.
Burroughs’ girls’ basketball team, which took fourth in the Pacific League, will also go on the road in the opening round of Division IA play, taking on 15th-seeded Paloma Valley with the winner facing either Marina or second-seeded El Toro on Feb. 22.
All games are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts unless otherwise agreed upon.