High School Basketball Playoffs Advance Towards Championship Games in California and Florida

High school basketball playoffs are heating up! Teams across California and Florida are playing in crucial semifinal games this week, with finals set for later this month.
By Newsroom | Sports, Basketball |

Playoff Games Determine Advancement Towards Championship Titles

High school basketball playoffs are entering their critical phases across several states. Teams are competing intensely in quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with winners advancing to face off for district, sectional, and ultimately, state championships. Victories on Friday and upcoming games on Saturday and Tuesday will shape the landscape of who contends for the top honors. The outcome of these matches will dictate which teams continue their pursuit of a championship title and which see their seasons conclude.

High school basketball playoffs: Boys' and girls' Friday scores and schedules - 1

Tournament Progress and Key Matchups Reported

The provided reports detail recent results and upcoming schedules for boys' and girls' basketball playoff games in various high school athletic associations. The events span multiple regions, including Southern California, the Bay Area of Northern California, and Florida, with general scoreboard information also available for Montana.

High school basketball playoffs: Boys' and girls' Friday scores and schedules - 2

  • Southern Section (California): Semifinal matchups are scheduled for Tuesday, with finals to be held at Pasadena City College. Specific games include #3 LA Hamilton at #2 Birmingham and #3 San Pedro at #2 Granada Hills Kennedy.

  • City Section (California): Quarterfinal games for boys' basketball have taken place, with Division I results showing #1 Granada Hills defeating #9 LA Marshall and #3 Venice winning against #6 Sun Valley Poly. Other quarterfinal and semifinal games are set.

  • North Coast Section (NCS) Basketball Playoffs (California): Friday saw the conclusion of quarterfinal games for both boys and girls. Semifinal games are scheduled for Tuesday and Saturday, with advancing teams moving towards sectional finals.

  • Florida (FHSAA): Playoff schedules and scores for girls' basketball on February 20, 2026, are available across various classifications (1A-5A).

  • Montana Sports: The platform provides access to high school playoff information, including boys' and girls' basketball district tournament scores and pairings for the 2026 Class C tournaments.

Evidence of Advancing Teams and Future Contests

The reported scores and schedules offer a glimpse into the progression of teams through their respective playoff brackets.

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High school basketball playoffs: Boys' and girls' Friday scores and schedules - 3

Southern Section Boys' Basketball

Quarterfinal results indicate strong performances:

GameScore
Sierra Canyon vs. Santa Margarita70-47
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame vs. Corona Centennial59-56
Harvard-Westlake vs. Crespi49-46
La Mirada vs. Redondo Union73-70

Upcoming semifinals include:

  • #3 LA Hamilton at #2 Birmingham (4 p.m.)

  • #4 Eagle Rock at #1 El Camino Real (12 p.m.)

  • #3 San Pedro at #2 Granada Hills Kennedy (2 p.m.)

City Section Boys' Basketball Quarterfinals

Division I results confirm advancement for top seeds:

High school basketball playoffs: Boys' and girls' Friday scores and schedules - 4

  • #1 Granada Hills 82, #9 LA Marshall 50

  • #3 Venice 58, #6 Sun Valley Poly 40

  • #2 Chatsworth 67, #10 Rancho Dominguez 64

Other games are set to be played, including #5 LA Jordan at #4 Crenshaw.

North Coast Section (NCS) Boys' Basketball Quarterfinals

Notable Friday results include:

  • #1 Bishop O’Dowd 79, #9 Acalanes 54

  • #4 Liberty 66, #5 Dublin 55

  • #2 Amador Valley 56, #10 Livermore 31

  • #3 Granada 64, #6 Monte Vista 62

  • #1 Branson 73, #9 Marin Academy 51

  • #2 Cornerstone Christian 58, #7 Bentley 46

  • #6 College Park 74, #3 St. Bernard’s-Eureka 63

Semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday.

North Coast Section (NCS) Girls' Basketball Quarterfinals

Friday's quarterfinal outcomes:

  • #1 Redwood 62, #9 Maria Carrillo 28

  • #4 Acalanes 69, #5 Alameda 52

  • #7 Heritage 40, #2 Dublin 38

  • #11 Pinole Valley 77, #3 Arcata 74

  • #1 St. Bernard’s 50, #8 Liberty 44

  • #4 Miramonte 68, #12 Archie Williams 47

  • #2 Benicia 54, #7 Bethel 44

  • #11 Mission San Jose 61, #3 Kelseyville 47

  • #1 Sonoma Academy 49, #9 Middletown 43

  • #4 Drew 56, #12 Berean Christian 53

  • #2 Eureka 67, #7 Gateway 50

  • #3 Redwood Christian 64, #6 Kennedy-Fremont 55

Semifinal games are set for Tuesday.

Florida (FHSAA) Girls' Basketball

The FHSAA is utilizing scoreboards to track games across its Class 1A through 5A classifications for February 20, 2026.

Regional Playoff Status and Next Steps

The ongoing playoff structures indicate that teams are progressing through distinct stages, with quarterfinal rounds concluding and semifinal games on the immediate horizon in multiple regions. The finalization of these semifinal contests will determine the participants for championship games, which are scheduled in some sections for late February.

  • The Southern Section is aiming for finals on February 28.

  • The NCS playoffs are also moving towards their conclusion, with semifinal games scheduled through the coming days.

  • Specific details on championship dates for Florida and Montana are not elaborated in the provided summaries, but the progress suggests advancement towards final stages.

Expert Analysis

Information regarding expert commentary or analysis on these specific playoff games or outcomes is not present in the provided data. The reports focus on game results, schedules, and tournament progression.

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Conclusion and Implications

The high school basketball playoffs are actively underway, with significant games taking place and future rounds scheduled across various districts. Teams are demonstrating varying levels of success as they navigate elimination rounds, with a clear progression towards determining regional and sectional champions. The scores and upcoming schedules provide a factual account of the competitive landscape. The data suggests that seeding plays a role, but upsets and close contests are also occurring, such as the narrow victories in the Southern Section and the 77-74 NCS girls' quarterfinal.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which high school basketball teams are playing in playoff semifinals in Southern California this week?
In the Southern Section of California, semifinal games are scheduled for Tuesday. Top teams like #3 LA Hamilton and #3 San Pedro will play against #2 Birmingham and #2 Granada Hills Kennedy, respectively. The winners will advance to the finals at Pasadena City College.
Q: What were the results of the City Section boys' basketball quarterfinals in California?
The City Section boys' basketball quarterfinals have seen top seeds advance. #1 Granada Hills defeated #9 LA Marshall with a score of 82-50, and #3 Venice won against #6 Sun Valley Poly, 58-40. #2 Chatsworth also secured a win against #10 Rancho Dominguez, 67-64.
Q: Which teams advanced in the North Coast Section (NCS) basketball playoffs in California?
In the NCS boys' quarterfinals, top seeds like #1 Bishop O’Dowd and #2 Amador Valley won their games. For the girls, #1 Redwood and #2 Benicia advanced, while #7 Heritage caused an upset against #2 Dublin, winning 40-38. Semifinal games for both boys and girls are scheduled for Tuesday.
Q: What is the status of the Florida high school girls' basketball playoffs?
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is holding playoff games for girls' basketball on February 20, 2026, across classifications 1A through 5A. Schedules and scores are being tracked as teams compete towards state championships.
Q: When are the Southern Section and NCS basketball finals scheduled?
The Southern Section basketball finals are planned for February 28. The North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs are also moving towards their conclusion with semifinal games happening this week, leading to their sectional finals.