Girls Basketball Teams Play Tough in Playoffs

High school girls basketball teams played important playoff games on February 12th. Many top teams won and are moving to the next round. Some teams had very close games.
By Newsroom | Sports, High School Sports |

A Snapshot of Playoff Action Across Regions

On Thursday, February 12th, high school girls' basketball teams across various sections engaged in crucial playoff games. The scores reveal a mix of decisive victories and closely contested matchups as teams vie for advancement in their respective tournaments. Notably, the CIF Southern Section and CIF City Section held significant portions of their playoff schedules, with many divisions completing their first rounds.

  • CIF City Section saw its Open Division quarterfinals played, with top seeds generally advancing.

  • CIF Southern Section featured first-round games across Divisions 1 through 9, with numerous upsets and expected wins.

  • Specific regional reports highlighted individual team performances and key player contributions.

The breadth of games indicates a dynamic period in high school sports, with each contest carrying significant weight for teams aiming for championship success.

Thursday's Basketball Playoff Results: Detailed Breakdown

CIF City Section - Open Division Quarterfinals

Top-seeded Westchester narrowly defeated #8 King/Drew with a score of 43-38. #5 Venice secured a win against #4 Granada Hills 55-42. #3 LA Hamilton advanced by beating #6 Cleveland 70-65, while #2 Birmingham dominated #7 Palisades 75-39.

CIF City Section - Division I First Round

Several matchups took place, including:

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  • #1 El Camino Real 58 vs. #16 RFK Community 39

  • #9 Garfield 48 vs. #8 Taft 35

  • #5 Arleta 38 vs. #12 Narbonne 22

  • #4 Eagle Rock 50 vs. #13 Bernstein 26

  • #3 San Pedro 63 vs. #14 Fairfax 29

  • #6 Grant 53 vs. #11 LACES 27

  • #7 Verdugo Hills 66 vs. #10 Carson 32

  • #2 Granada Hills Kennedy 77 vs. #15 Chatsworth 29

CIF City Section - Divisions II, III, IV, and V

These divisions also saw their first-round games played. Key results include:

  • Division II: #1 Harbor Teacher 43 vs. #16 Bell 36; #3 Santee 77 vs. #14 Sylmar 39; #2 North Hollywood 70 vs. #15 Animo Watts 19.

  • Division III: #1 Washington Pep 65 vs. #16 AMIT 11; #2 Gardena 51 vs. #15 Mendez 21.

  • Division IV: #16 Huntington Park 18 vs. #17 Angelou 15; #18 South Gate 56 vs. #15 Community Charter 30.

  • Division V: #17 Horace Mann UCLA 25 vs. #16 VAAS 17; #12 Discovery 11 vs. #21 Stella 7.

CIF Southern Section - Open Division Pool Play

High-scoring games marked the Open Division, with #1 Ontario Christian defeating #9 Rancho Christian 122-72. #2 Etiwanda beat #10 Fairmont Prep 79-49, #3 Sierra Canyon triumphed over #11 Oak Park 77-51, and #4 Sage Hill bested #12 Redondo Union 74-47.

CIF Southern Section - Division 1 First Round

Notable results from Division 1 included:

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  • #1 Ventura 59 vs. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 41

  • Bishop Montgomery 41 vs. #16 Harvard-Westlake 38

  • Windward 56 vs. #9 North Torrance 50

  • #5 Valencia 76 vs. Chino 44

  • #4 Brentwood 81 vs. Alemany 56

  • #3 Moreno Valley 65 vs. Village Christian 27

  • #6 Orange Lutheran 56 vs. West Torrance 35

  • #7 Villa Park 71 vs. Palos Verdes 50

  • Santa Margarita 65 vs. #10 Esperanza 54

  • #2 La Salle 62 vs. Buena Park 39

CIF Southern Section - Divisions 2 through 9 First Round

Scores from various divisions across the Southern Section indicate intense competition:

  • Division 2: #1 Glendora 60 vs. Los Altos 45; #2 Rosary Academy 65 vs. Trinity Classical Academy 36.

  • Division 3: #1 Lynwood 71 vs. El Toro 31; #4 Oxnard 62 vs. Cypress 53.

  • Division 4: #1 Long Beach Jordan 47 vs. Eastvale Roosevelt 32; #3 El Dorado 67 vs. Loma Linda Academy 34.

  • Division 5: #1 Tesoro 52 vs. St. Paul 41; #5 Fountain Valley 75 vs. Temescal Canyon 35.

  • Division 6: #1 Carpinteria 69 vs. San Gabriel Academy 39; #4 Palm Desert 67 vs. Colton 22.

  • Division 7: #1 Fillmore 31 vs. Hawthorne MSA 29; #3 Canoga Park AGBU 49 vs. Vistamar 24.

  • Division 8: #1 Cobalt 58 vs. Excelsior Charter 39; #4 Santa Ana Valley 54 vs. Santa Barbara Providence 10.

  • Division 9: #1 NOVA Academy 71 vs. Southwestern Academy 12; #3 Cate 35 lost to La Sierra 37.

Notable Performances and Team Advancements

Santa Margarita's Strong Showing

In a CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game, Santa Margarita defeated Esperanza 65-54. Madi Lam was instrumental for Santa Margarita, recording a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Grace Anderson contributed 13 points, with 11 scored in the second half. The team, ranked #10 in Orange County, advanced to face #6 Villa Park in the next round.

Other Standout Results

  • Salisbury secured a decisive victory, defeating South 61-40. Spruill led Salisbury with 14 points.

  • In a game from the Whittier Daily News report, San Gabriel won against Lakeview Academy 55-6.

  • Sierra Vista also had a strong outing, beating Hillcrest Christian 68-7.

Expert Analysis and Context

The high school basketball playoffs represent a critical juncture for student-athletes, showcasing both individual talent and team strategy under pressure. The extensive playoff structures in place, such as those for the CIF City Section and CIF Southern Section, necessitate numerous games across multiple divisions to accommodate varying school sizes and competitive levels.

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"The playoffs are where talent meets opportunity. A single game can define a season, and for many, it's a final opportunity to represent their school on a competitive stage." - Observation based on the structure of playoff reporting.

The consistent advancement of higher-seeded teams, as seen in many divisions, suggests that consistent performance throughout the regular season often translates to playoff success. However, upsets, like La Sierra's narrow victory over #3 Cate, underscore the unpredictable nature of postseason play.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Thursday's results from the girls' high school basketball playoffs demonstrate a high level of competition and strategic play across various sections and divisions. Top seeds in several categories, including the CIF City Section Open Division and CIF Southern Section Open Division, have largely progressed, indicating strong regular-season performances carrying forward.

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  • The CIF City Section has advanced its Open Division quarterfinals, with top contenders moving forward.

  • The CIF Southern Section has seen a substantial number of first-round games completed across multiple divisions, establishing the field for subsequent rounds.

  • Individual player performances, such as Madi Lam's triple-double, highlight key contributions to team success.

Further investigation into upcoming playoff rounds will track the progression of these teams, identify potential upsets, and analyze the strategic adjustments made by coaches and players as the tournaments narrow towards championship games. The scheduled deadlines for various playoff rounds, such as the LHSAA's Bi-District and Regional deadlines, provide a timeline for the unfolding postseason narrative.

Sources Used:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened on February 12th in girls basketball?
Many high school girls basketball teams played important playoff games on this day. Top teams won and moved ahead.
Q: Which sections had games?
The CIF City Section and CIF Southern Section had many games. Other areas also had playoff matches.
Q: Were there any surprising wins?
While many top teams won, some games were very close, showing that all teams are playing hard.
Q: Did any players do very well?
Yes, Madi Lam from Santa Margarita had a great game with a triple-double, helping her team win.