Push for playoffs peaking

Patrick Laverty

Every high school basketball coach, both boys and girls, knows

entering the season that 11 victories is the magical mark that will

get them into the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Entering the final week of the 2003-04 season, the boys teams at

Newport Harbor High, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa and Estancia, as well

as the Newport Harbor girls squad, have all surpassed the 11 wins

necessary to petition for playoff entry and in recent years every

petition has been granted.

But rather than lose sleep over a possible rejection if history

does not repeat itself, each of those teams will be attempting to

automatically qualify for the playoffs this week by finishing in the

top half of their respective leagues.

Four other teams -- Sage Hill School’s boys and girls, as well as

the girls teams at Costa Mesa and Estancia -- still have a chance to

make the playoffs, either by reaching 11 wins in the last week of the

season or finishing in the top half of league.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown going into the final week of the

regular season, with an initial look at boys teams.

Corona del Mar -- The Sea Kings (12-12, 4-5 in Pacific Coast

League play) have enough wins to qualify for the playoffs, but they

have an outside chance at finishing tied for third place and because

the teams they would finish tied with are in different CIF Southern

Section divisions, Corona del Mar would enter the playoffs as a

third-place team.

But, in order for that to happen, the Sea Kings will not only have

to beat second-place Northwood, which they have done once already

this season, but will also need Laguna Beach to defeat University. If

both those events happen, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach and University

will all finish 5-5 in league.

Costa Mesa -- Like Corona del Mar, the Mustangs (15-8, 6-3 in

Golden West League play) shouldn’t have to worry about qualifying for

the playoffs because of their win total. But they can greatly improve

their position by winning their final three games, beginning tonight

at Estancia.

Mesa enters the game tied for second place in league with Orange,

two games ahead of Santa Ana and 2 1/2in front of the Eagles. The top

four finishers in the seven-team Golden West League receive automatic

playoff berths.

The Mustangs, who finish with Westminster on Wednesday and Santa

Ana on Friday, also have a chance to equal their school record for

single-season wins if they are victorious in their final three

contests.

Estancia -- The Eagles (12-12, 4-6) also should reach the playoffs

because of their win total, but they have a chance at automatic

qualification if thy can knock off Costa Mesa and Orange.

Estancia is in good position because Santa Ana, a half-game ahead

of the Eagles in fourth place, still has to play league champion

Ocean View and second-place Orange.

Newport Harbor -- The Sailors (14-10, 5-4) have clinched an

automatic playoff berth, as they can finish no worse than third in

the Sea View League.

The Tars close the season at league champion Woodbridge (20-6,

9-0) Wednesday.

Sage Hill -- The Lightning (9-12, 1-7) have to win both of their

final two games to reach the 11 wins mandated for consideration for

an at-large berth.

Sage Hill plays host to Whitney on Tuesday and closes the season

at Oxford Academy Thursday.

* Here’s a look at the girls teams.

Corona del Mar -- The Sea Kings (7-15, 2-7) have been eliminated

from postseason consideration and close the season Tuesday against

Northwood.

Costa Mesa -- The Mustangs (9-13, 3-7) will miss the playoffs for

the first time in 15 seasons unless they earn a pair of victories in

their final two games this week.

Costa Mesa will need to upset Westminster, which it has lost to

twice this season, and defeat Santa Ana in order to earn the 11 wins

necessary for playoff qualification.

Estancia -- The Eagles (9-15, 6-5) have clinched a playoff spot as

they are guaranteed of finishing among the top four spots in the

seven-team Golden West League.

Estancia, battling Westminster for third place, finishes its

season against Orange Tuesday.

Newport Harbor -- The Sailors (13-11, 4-5) are the only girls team

that currently has enough victories to qualify for postseason play.

There is an outside possibility that Newport could receive an

automatic berth by finishing among the top three in league, but for

that to happen the Sailors would have to upset league champion

Woodbridge Tuesday on the road. The Warriors have yet to lose a

league game this year.

Sage Hill -- The task for the Lightning (9-9, 4-4) in is as simple

as it is for Costa Mesa, two victories and it will have the required

11 wins to be eligible for the playoffs.

If Sage Hill is able to defeat Whitney at home Tuesday and Oxford

Academy on the road Wednesday, it could also move into the top half

of the league standings.