Open Division in Central Section basketball playoffs? These teams are in
Central Section basketball fans will see something different when playoffs get underway.
An Open Division is included for boys and girls this season and will carry into next season.
Section commissioner Jim Crichlow said coaches lobbied for an Open Division and leagues and the Board of Managers approved a two-year pilot program.
What it means is that four boys and four girls teams are automatically qualified for the state playoffs, Crichlow said, but will meet in semifinals and finals.
The semifinals are set for Feb. 22:
Boys: No. 1 Clovis West will host No. 4 Arroyo Grande and No. 3 Clovis North will visit No. 2 San Joaquin Memorial.
Girls: Top-seed Clovis West will face No. 4 Buchanan at No. 2 Clovis North plays host No. 3 Clovis.
The finals will be played on Feb. 29 at Selland Arena, with the girls slated to play at 6 p.m. and the boys at 8 p.m.
Third-place games – something else unique to section playoffs – will be played on Feb. 27.
San Joaquin Memorial coach Brad Roznovsky said he loves the idea of an Open Division.
“You are highlighting the top four teams in a separate bracket to compete against each other,” he said. “That’s what the fans want.”
CENTRAL SECTION PLAYOFFS
BOYS
OPEN DIVISION
Feb. 22 semifinals
No. 4 Arroyo Grande at No.. 1 Clovis
No. 3 Clovis North at No. 2 San Joaquin Memorial
Championship Feb. 29, 8 p.m.; third place Feb. 27
Feb. 18 first round
DIVISION I
No. 9 Stockdale at No. 8 Mission Prep
No. 10 Clovis at No. 7 Central
Byes: No. 1 Bakersfield, No. 2 St. Joseph, No. 3 Clovis East, No. 4 Bullard, No. 5 Buchanan, No. 6 Edison
DIVISION II
No. 9 Redwood at No. Monache
No. 13 Pioneer Valley at No. 4 San Luis Obispo
No. 11 Atascadero at No. 6 Porterville
No. 10 Hanford West at No. 7 Immanuel
Byes: No. 1 Roosevelt, No. 2 Independence, No. 3 Centennial
DIVISION III
No. 16 Foothill at No. 1 Bakersfield Christian
No. 9 Shafter at No 8 Tulare Western
No. 12 Morro Bay at No. 5 North
No. 13 Frontier at No. 4 Sanger
No. 14 Madera at No. 3 Hoover
No. 11 Mt. Whitney at No. 6 Dinuba
No. 10 Nipomo at No. 7 Cesar Chavez
No. 13 West at No. 2 Garces
DIVISION IV
No. 16 McLane at No. 1 Kingsburg
No. 9 East at No. 8 Coalinga
No. 12 Madera South at No. 5 Golden West
No. 13 Central Valley Christian at No. 4 Washington Union
No. 14 Yosemite at No. 3 Reedley
No. 11 South at No. 6 California City
No. 10 Mira Monte at No. 7 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
No. 15 Orcutt Academy at No. 2 Delano
DIVISION V
No. 16 Granite Hills at No. 1 Fowler
No. 9 Firebaugh at No. 8 Strathmore
No. 12 Highland at No. 5 Corcoran
No. 13 Wonderful College Prep at No. 4 Lindsay
No. 14 Desert at No. 3 Riverdale
No.. 11 Rosamond at No. 6 Parlier
No. 10 Mojave at No. 7 Bishop
No. 15 Dos Palos at No. 2 Fresno Christian
GIRLS
OPEN DIVISION
Feb. 22 semifinals
No. 4 Buchanan at No. 1 Clovis West
No. 3 Clovis at No. 2 Clovis North
Championship Feb. 29, 6 p.m.; third place Feb. 27
Feb. 19 first round
DIVISION I
No. 9 Stockdale at No. 8 Edison
No. 11 Independencce at No. 6 San Luis Obispo
No. 10 Clovis East at No. 7 Bullard
Byes: No. 1 Bakersfield, No 2 Righetti, No. 3 Arroyo Grande, No. 4 Hanford, No. 5 Central
DIVISION II
No. 8 Pioneer Valley at No. 8 Liberty-Bakersfield
No. 12 Redwood at No. 5 Selma
No. 13 Shafter at No. 4 Nipomo
No. 11 Centennial at No. 6 Mission Prep
No. 10 Ridgeview at No. 7 Monache
Byes: No. 1 San Joaquin Memorial, No. 2 Yosemite, No. 3 Tehachapi
DIVISION III
No. 16 St. Joseph at No. 1 Porterville
No. 9 Fresno at No. 8 Lemoore
No. 12 North at No. 5 Roosevelt
No. 13 Sierra at No. 4 Hoover
No. 14 Golden West at No. 3 Frontier
No. 11 Morro Bay at No. 6 Sanger
No. 10 Dinuba at No. 7 Madera
No. 15 Sunnyside at No. 3 Arvin
DIVISION IV
No. 16 Lindsay at No. 1 Sierra Pacific
No. 9 Highland at No. 8 Taft
No. 12 Madera South at No. 5 Kerman
No. 13 Mendota at No. 4 Washington Union
No. 14 Chowchilla at No. 3 Caruthers
No. 11 Hanford West at No. 6 McFarland
No. 10 Mira Monte at No. 7 Reedley
No. 15 Bakersfield Christian at No. 2 Orcutt Academy
DIVISION V
No. 16 Firebaugh at No. 1 Strathmore
No. 9 Trona at No. 8 Wonderful College Prep
No. 12 Lone Pine at No. 5 Kern Valley
No. 13 Orange Cove at No. 4 Corcoran
No. 14 Fowler at No. 3 Coalinga
No.. 11 Boron at No. 6 Rosamond
No. 10 Kennedy at No. 7 Central Valley Christian
No. 15 Orosi at No. 2 East
Central Section Championships
At Selland Arena
Friday, Feb. 28
10 a.m. Division V girls
Noon Division V boys
2 p.m. Division III girls
4 p.m. Division III boys
6 p.m. Division I girls
8 p.m. Division I boys
Saturday, Feb. 29
10 a.m. Division IV girls
Noon Division IV boys
2 p.m. Division II girls
4 p.m. Division II boys
6 p.m. Open girls
8 p.m. Open boys
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 4:37 PM.
