Where We Stand: A FTH Mid-League Update

Though it might sound hard to believe, we're less than two weeks away from CIF Selection Saturday and the release of the Section Playoff brackets.

And this season has gone anything but according to the script.

It was only a month ago where a Montgomery vs Carlsbad sequel in the CIF Open Division finals seemed like a safe bet, Saint Augustine was on the verge of failing to make the Open Division for the first time in school history and several other teams looked like solid bets to win league.

Today, Montgomery is in a dogfight with a tough Olympian team that handed the Aztecs their first loss in San Diego since last December, Torrey Pines has all but guaranteed that Carlsbad will not win its second consecutive Coastal League championship and some of those other races are completely up in the air.

Let's take stock at where the major CIF League races stand at the midpoint of League play and look at how each CIF division looks headed into the final two weeks of the regular season.

North County Coastal

The Leader

Torrey Pines. The Falcons opened North County Coastal League play with a stunning blowout of Carlsbad on the Lancers gym, sending shockwaves through the section. Friday, the Falcons all but eliminated the Lancers from the league title race with a 69-68 overtime win at the Olive Garden. With four games left, the Falcons would have to have an epic collapse to not at least share the league title, but right now, they control their destiny for their first outright League title since 2022.

The Race

Essentially, the attention turns to the race for second place, with Carlsbad and El Camino tied at 4-2, but the Lancers holding the tiebreaker by virtual of winning the first matchup between the two teams. The Wildcats, who played Torrey Pines tough on the road, will get shots at the Falcons at home on Feb. 7 and will close the season Feb. 14 at Carlsbad. Rancho Buena Vista sits at 4th at 3-3, and had a chance to take down the Falcons at home in a game which they lead 19-0 at the outset, only to fall 57-55. They have the toughest path of the three teams, facing El Camino and Carlsbad at home before finishing the season on the road at Torrey Pines and at rival Vista. La Costa Canyon and Vista round out the rear of the race at 1-5 and 0-6, respectively.

Mesa

The Leader

Olympian. The Eagles are 5-0 with three games remaining to pull off the biggest upset of the year, winning the Mesa League title over Montgomery. The Aztecs were overwhelming favorites coming into league play when the Eagles beat them 53-47 in one of the biggest upsets in recent SD memory. To Head Coach Marty Ellis, this wasn't an upset more so than a glimpse of his team's capability. Tristan Anderson has emerged as a potential All-CIF first team selection.

The Race

Essentially, this race comes down to Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Montgomery, when the Aztecs and Eagles square off for round two. Montgomery will be looking for a share of the title, and Olympian will be looking to win it outright.

Western

The Leader

St. Augustine. As improbable as it sounds, the 10-14 Saints control their destiny to win a fourth straight league title in sweeping fashion, going through the first pass at 4-0. The second half of Western League play gets tougher, as the Saints have to go on the road for three of their final four games, including a tough one Feb. 11 against Mission Bay. The lone home game in that stretch? Their rivalry "Holy War" game against Cathedral Catholic. While they still have a chance to make it into the Open Division picture, those prospects took a hit last week when Sage Creek beat them in Carlsbad 62-53.

The Race

The Western League crown is still in the balance, as Cathedral is only a game back of Saints in the loss column and have an easier remaining schedule, facing Mission Bay at home and playing Scripps Ranch twice (an earlier game was postponed due to lack of officials). If they can beat the Saints on the road, the final stretch of the season will be interesting. Mission Bay is also still alive in the league races, but will have to sweep Cathedral (road) and Saints to give themselves a chance. University City and Scripps Ranch are fourth and fifth, respectively.

Coastal

The Leader

Santa Fe Christian. The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 start in league, including a key 60-58 OT home win against La Jolla Country Day, which didn't have Wyatt Tilson available. For SFC, the math is simple: win out and you clinch the title outright. Drop one of your final four games and it will be a shared title. The schedule isn't favorable, as the Eagles have four straight road contests to finish the season: at Parker, at Country Day, at Maranatha Christian and at Bishop's.

The Race

La Jolla Country Day (4-1) and Francis Parker (3-2) are still alive for a share of the league title and a spot in the Open Division playoffs. In contrast to SFC, the Torreys have all three remaining league games at home: Friday vs SFC, Monday vs Maranatha and a Valentine's Day tilt against Parker. Maranatha Christian and Bishop's are in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Palomar

The Leader

San Marcos. The Knights have a two game lead over Mission Hills and Del Norte, and have already swept the Nighthawks. In short, barring the unforeseen, the Knights have the title in the bag.

The Race

The race for second place is between Mission Hills and Del Norte, and the Nighthawks currently have the edge by virtue of a big win over the Grizzlies Jan. 21. The Grizzlies get a chance to avenge the loss on Feb. 11, but face competitive Poway and Westview squads before the matchup. The Titans and Wolverines both are 2-4, with Westview recently beating Poway. Mt. Carmel brings up the rear at 0-6.

Eastern

The Leader

San Diego and Christian: The Cavers and Patriots beat each other on their respective home courts, essentially setting up a "who blinks first" stretch run. The Cavers have the more friendly finish: they host rivals Lincoln and Hoover before finishing the league slate on the road against a Patrick Henry team that almost beat them a week ago. Christian gets Patrick Henry at home Tuesday before finishing on the road against Lincoln and Hoover.

The race

Lincoln (2-2) will get cracks at the league leaders this week, starting Tuesday at San Diego and Friday at home against the Patriots. Patrick Henry (2-3), has three games left, on the road against Christian before finishing with a two-game homestand against Lincoln and San Diego. Hoover will look to play spoiler and pick up their first league win.

Other league races:

Grossmont Hills: Steele Canyon holds a two game lead over Mount Miguel and Helix, but will have to beat both on the road in order to clinch.

City: Madison all but wrapped up the league title with a 76-62 win over primary contender Mira Mesa on Friday. Their path to an undefeated League championship runs through two road games against Coronado and Canyon Hills and two home games against La Jolla and Point Loma.

Pacific: Tri-City Christian, which has won 8 of 10 contests since the end of the sit-out-period, has a two game lead in league and will host Army-Navy and St. Joseph Academy before finishing league on the road against Del Lago Academy. Barring any stumbles, they're in the driver's seat.

Avocado: There quietly might not be a hotter team in San Diego than the Bobcats, who have won 7 straight games and are steamrolling teams in league play. They're en route to an undefeated league crown.

Valley: Rancho Bernardo (6-0) has a two game lead over its two closest competitors, Ramona and Fallbrook.

Central: Crawford at 6-0 has the pole position and beat their closest competitor, Kearny, on the Komets' home court in January. They will face Kearny Feb. 7 for a chance to put the league title on ice.

Divisional Races - If the playoffs started today:

Open

1 Montgomery vs 8 La Jolla Country Day

2 Carlsbad vs 7 Cathedral Catholic

3 San Marcos vs 6 Santa Fe Christian

4 Mission Bay vs 5 Torrey Pines

Division 1

1 Francis Parker vs 16 Hoover

8 Victory Christian vs 9 La Costa Canyon

5 Sage Creek vs 12 Vista

4 Mission Hills vs 13 Mater Dei Catholic

3 St Augustine vs 14 Lincoln*

6 Rancho Buena Vista vs 11 Del Norte

7 Victory Christian vs 10 University City

2 San Diego vs 15 Scripps Ranch

*CIF likely to flip Lincoln and Scripps Ranch to avoid a first round matchup of league opponents

Division 2

1 Olympian vs 16 Monte Vista

8 La Jolla vs 9 Eastlake

5 Madison vs 12 Steele Canyon

4 Bonita Vista vs 13 Canyon Crest

3 Christian vs 14 Patrick Henry*

6 Bishop's vs 11 Westview

7 Poway vs 10 Vincent Memorial

2 Mira Mesa vs 15 Helix*

*Patrick Henry holds h2h win over Helix

Division 3

1 Point Loma vs 16 Valley Center

8 Coronado vs 9 Oceanside*

5 Rancho Bernardo vs 12 Mount Miguel

4 Southwest SD vs 13 Canyon Hills

3 Maranatha Christian vs 14 Clairemont

6 Fallbrook vs 11 Imperial

7 Central vs 10 Valhalla*

2 Calexico vs 15 High Tech Chula Vista

*Oceanside holds H2H win over Valhalla

Division 4

1 Tri-City Christian vs 16 Calvin Christian

8 Del Lago Academy vs 9 Granite Hills

5 Army Navy vs 12 West Hills

4 Foothills Christian vs 13 Morse

3 Brawley vs 14 Coastal Academy

6 Kearny vs 11 Mar Vista

7 Escondido Charter vs 10 Calipatria

2 Crawford vs 15 Palo Verde Valley

Division 5

1 Pacific Ridge vs 16 Southwest EC

8 Sweetwater vs 9 High Tech NC

5 Preuss UCSD vs 12 Holtville

4 Chula Vista vs 13 Gompers

3 Escondido vs 14 Hilltop

6 Santana vs 11 Bayfront Charter

7 O'Farrell vs 10 Castle Park

2 High Tech Mesa vs 15 Classical Academy

Division 5AA

1 So Cal Yeshiva BYE

8 Horizon Prep vs 9 Liberty Charter

5 Warner vs 12 Cristo Rey

4 Escondido Adventist BYE

3 San Diego Academy BYE

6 Monarch vs 11 West Shores

7 CVLCC vs 10 Ocean View Christian

2 The Cambridge School BYE