Brentwood Hoops Teams Make Playoffs

Playing in a tough league has its advantages and disadvantages, but one of the benefits is that it prepares a team for the postseason. 

Having spent the last month trading jump shots with their Alpha League rivals, Brentwood School's girls and boys basketball squads should be battle-tested for the CIF Southern Section Division 4A playoffs.

Under new head coach Ryan Bailey, the boys blazed to an 8-0 start paced by sophomore guard Tra Holder and junior forward Leland King. Despite finishing fourth in league behind Pacific Hills, Windward and Campbell Hall, the Eagles (13-10) earned the league's at-large berth and are seeded No. 8 in the 32-team draw. They will travel to Perris to take on California Military Insititute in the first round Wednesday night.

Should the Eagles prevail Wednesday they will play San Marino or No. 7-seeded Sherman Oaks Buckley in the second round Friday. Pacific Hills is the No. 1 seed, followed by Ontario Christian, Cantwell Sacred Heart and St. Joseph. Campbell Hall is seeded No. 5 and Viewpoint is sixth.  

Click here for all of the CIF-SS boys basketball playoff brackets.

As for the girls, Charles Solomon's squad also won its first eight games, led by sophomore point guard Drew Cabral and senior forward Nikki Marquez. They too finished fourth in league behind Windward, Sierra Canyon and Campbell Hall and they too received an at-large berth into the playoffs. The Lady Eagles, however, are seeded third and travel to High Desert League champion Kern Valley in the first round Thursday.

If the Lady Eagles (17-8) prevail Thursday they will take on either La Reina or 14th-seeded Whitter Christian in the second round Saturday. Campbell Hall is the top seed, St. Paul is No. 2, Whitney is seeded fourth, L.A. Baptist is No. 5, St. Monica is sixth, St. Bonaventure is seventh and La Salle is No. 8. 

Click here for all of the CIF-SS girls basketball playoff brackets.  

CITY SECTION

After reaching four consecutive Los Angeles City Section Division 2 finals, the L.A. University boys basketball team moved up to Division 1 this season and, after finishing fourth in the Western League, earned the No. 9 seed in the 16-team championship draw. 

Coach Steve Ackerman's Wildcats (18-13) travel to Lake Balboa to play No. 8 Birmingham in the first round Friday night. Should the Wildcats win they will likely face top-seeded Woodland Hills Taft in the quarterfinals Feb. 22.

The girls team, coached by Jim Nakabara, also finished fourth in the Western League and is seeded No. 6 in the City Division 3 playoffs. The Lady Wildcats (13-9) play 11th-seeded South East in the first round Thursday night. 

Should University prevail it will either host No. 14 Sun Valley Poly or travel to No. 3 Kennedy in the quarterfinals Feb. 21.