Santa Monica Teams Prep for CIF Playoffs

Winning the Ocean League title has reaped a fine reward for the boys basketball team: the No. 6 seed and a home game in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs.

The Vikings (18-8 overall, 9-1 in league) won their final four regular season games to claim the league championship. They will host Corona Roosevelt, the third-place team from the Big VIII League, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Samohi gym. The winner of that game advances to the second round against Highland or No. 11 seeded Silverado on Feb. 21. Lurking in the quarterfinals is a game against No. 3 Etiwanda. After that could be a semifinal showdown against second-seeded Long Beach Poly at Anaheim Arena.

After finishing third in the Camino Real League, has qualified for the Division 4AA playoffs. The Mariners (13-13) travel to 16th-seeded Costa Mesa in the first-round Wednesday, with the winner likely to meet No. 1-seeded Pacific Hills in the second round Friday.

earned an at-large berth as the fourth-place team from the Delphic League and the Roadrunners (11-13) will travel south to Long Beach to take on 14th-seeded St. Anthony in the first round of the Division 4AA draw. The winner faces Loma Linda Academy or No. 3 Cantwell Sacred Heart in the second round.

Coastal League runner-up drew the No. 16 seed in Division 5A and hosts Villanova Prep in the first round Wednesday night. If the Jaguars (12-7) prevail they will face top-seeded Burbank Providence in Friday's second round. In the same division is fifth-seeded , which hosts Laguna Blanca first. The Seawolves (12-10) tied for first in the Heritage League and a victory would match them against Newbury Park Adventist or New Jewish Community.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Ocean League runner-up heads north to Ventura to try to upset ninth-seeded Buena in the opening round of the Division 1AA bracket Saturday. Should the Vikings (12-14) win they will meet Great Oak or No. 8 Etiwanda in the second round Feb. 22.

, the Delphic League runner-up, hosts 12th-seeded Cantwell Sacred Heart in the first round of the Division 4A bracket Thursday. If the Roadrunners (14-10) win, they will meet fifth-seeded L.A. Baptist or Excelsior in the second round Saturday. Camino Real League winner is seeded No. 6 and the Mariners (17-10) host Loma Linda Academy in the first round, with the winner likely to meet 11th-seeded Milken Community.

Ninth-seeded (7-9) was awarded an at-large berth into the Division 5A tournament and will travel to Los Angeles Le Lycee for a wildcard game Thursday. The winning team travels to No. 8 Desert Christian Academy in the first round Saturday. 

BOYS SOCCER

will host a wildcard winner (either Lawndale or Bonita) in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs Thursday at 3 p.m. and, if victorious, will meet the Burbank Burroughs-Mayfair winner in the second round Feb. 21.

will host a Division 6 wildcard game against Yeshiva on Tuesday and the winner travels to Tarbut V'Torah for a first-round game Thursday. In Division 7, travels to Paraclete in the first round Thursday with the winner advancing to play Marywood-Palm Valley or Concordia.  

GIRLS SOCCER

Its nine-year reign atop the Ocean League came to an end, but finished third and has made the Division 4 playoffs. The Vikings hit the road against Laguna Beach for a first-round game Friday at 3 p.m., and if they win they will play the Immaculate Heart-South Torrance winner Feb. 22.