Prep playoffs: NCS brackets for girls volleyball, flag football released
Draymond Green famously referred to the NBA Playoffs as the Warriors Invitational during a run of six finals appearances and four titles for Golden State. The North Coast Section Open Division playoffs are only in their second year but have already been shaping up as something of an MCAL Invitational.
Last season, MCAL teams made up half of the six-team field and two of them met in the final with Branson taking the inaugural crown. The bracket sets up similarly this season, with Redwood (19-8) as the No. 1 seed following its five-set win against Marin Catholic in Friday’s MCAL title game. MC (24-6) took the second seed, sending both teams into the semifinals on Nov. 5 with first-round byes.
Branson, which lost to MC in five sets in an MCAL semifinal Wednesday, was selected as the No. 4 seed. The Bulls (17-7) travel to face No. 5 San Ramon Valley (25-8) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The Wolves get the home game as a designated league champion.
The winner of that game faces Redwood on Nov. 5. Branson defeated San Ramon Valley 2-0 at a tournament on Oct. 11. No. 3 James Logan (25-7) and No. 6 Campolindo (25-6) complete the field with that winner facing MC on Nov. 5
Division I
The fourth- and sixth-place teams in the MCAL this season — Tam (20-10) and San Rafael (23-8), respectively — both got pulled into D-I this year. The Red-tailed Hawks will have fond memories of D-I from last season when they came into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed and won the tournament.
That title represents the high-water mark for the Tam program to this point and the Red-tailed Hawks are well positioned to try go back-to-back as the No. 2 seed. They’ll host San Rafael, which drew the No. 15 seed, at 7 p.m. in Tuesday’s first round.
The Bulldogs, coming off one of the better seasons in recent program history, are competing in D-I for the first time. Tam defeated San Rafael 3-0 in the regular-season finale for both teams on Oct. 17.
Division II
Three more Marin teams were selected to the D-II bracket, led by No. 4 seed Marin Academy (24-11). The Wildcats made it to the D-II semifinals last season from the same No. 4 seed, falling to eventual champion Head-Royce in three sets.
MA is coming off a three-set loss to University in the Bay Counties League West title on Friday. If the seeds hold, the two rivals would see each other in the semifinals with the top-seeded Red Devils hosting MA.
Archie Williams (12-10), which missed out on the MCAL playoffs this season, is the No. 6 seed and hosts No. 11 Mission San Jose (19-9) on Wednesday.
Terra Linda (18-14), which just missed making the MCAL playoffs after losing to San Rafael in a play-in game, is seeded ninth and travels to face No. 8 Amador Valley (14-12) on Wednesday.
Other divisions
San Marin, which took the fifth spot in the MCAL playoffs via draw number in a three-way tie with San Rafael and TL, is slotted as the No. 4 seed in D-III. The Mustangs (16-18) host No. 13 Freedom (14-8) on Tuesday.
Tomales (10-7) made it in as the No. 8 seed in D-VI and hosts No. 9 Trinity Prep (17-7) on Wednesday.
Flag football
Three of the five Marin-based MCAL teams made the section playoffs and will all compete in the D-II bracket. San Marin (13-4) is the highest seeded of the trio at No. 5 and faces No. 12 Bethel (12-7) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cardinal Newman High in Santa Rosa.
The playoffs are set up to play multiple night games at the same site and although San Marin has lights, the first round games will be held at Cardinal Newman, Benicia, Acalanes, and Hercules.
Novato (10-5) is the No. 9 seed and faces No. 8 Encinal (7-6) at 7:30 Tuesday at Benicia High. Terra Linda (11-7) is the No. 13 seed and faces No. 4 Arroyo (17-6) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Acalanes High.
Redwood (11-10) was not selected to the D-I playoffs. The Giants were ranked 28th in D-I by MaxPreps.