BHHS Teams Ready for CIF Playoffs

This has been a season full of "firsts" for the girls soccer team and it hopes to add one last footnote in the upcoming CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The team  last week—its first league crown since leaving the Pioneer League in 2003-04—and now wants to extend its success into the postseason.

In nine years under current coach Ryan Franks, BHHS has not advanced beyond the second round of the CIF playoffs, but this could be the Normans' best chance because the team is built for defense. Anchored by goalkeeper Ida Trevino and a steady back line of Arielle Harris, Monica Salandra and Elena Rust, BHHS allowed a mere five goals in 10 league games while posting seven shutouts.

The Normans (13-6-3 overall, 8-1-1 league) won 17 games and finished second to Santa Monica in league play last winter, but lost to South Torrance 1-0 in the second round of the playoffs. They open the 2011-12 postseason on Friday at 3 p.m. at Nickoll Field against Los Angeles Baptist in the first round of the single-elimination Division 4 tournament. The winner advances to the second round to play the La Reina-Bloomington winner Feb. 22. 

Click here to view the complete CIF-SS girls soccer playoff brackets.

BOYS SOCCER

Beverly Hills opens the Division 4 playoffs at home Thursday (kickoff at 3 p.m.) against Baldwin Park Sierra Vista, which finished third in the Montview League. The winner will move on to play either a wildcard winner or L.A. Salesian in the second round Feb. 21. 

Steve Rappaport's team (12-5-7, 6-1-3) finished second in the Ocean League behind Santa Monica. The Normans took four of their final five regular season games, including one-goal victories over Inglewood and archrival Culver City. Last winter, BHHS beat Workman 1-0 in its playoff opener, then lost to Artesia 4-0 in the second round of the Division 4 tournament.

Click here to view the complete CIF-SS boys soccer playoff brackets.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Despite its 10-18 overall record and a 2-8 league ledger, coach John Braddell's squad received an at-large berth into the Division 3AAA bracket. The Normans will travel to ninth-seeded Norwalk, the Suburban League runner-up, in Thursday's first round. Should BHHS upset the Lancers, it would face either Hemet or No. 8-seeded Esperanza in the second round Saturday night.

Norwalk and BHHS share no common opponents. The Normans will try to slow down Lancers senior center Nia Lateju, who is averaging 13.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. Norwalk (19-7) is riding an eight-game winning streak while BHHS lost seven of eight games to close the regular season.    

Last year, the Normans were in the Division 2A playoffs. They edged Arroyo 36-33 in the first round but fell to Eisenhower 54-42 in the second round.

Click here to view the complete CIF-SS girls basketball playoff brackets.

BOYS BASKETBALL

After , coach Jarvis Turner's squad qualified for the Division 3AAA playoffs and earned the No. 14 seed in the 32-team draw. The Normans (17-9, 6-4) must travel to El Monte to play Mission Valley League runner-up Arroyo in the first round Wednesday night. Should it win, BHHS would likely face third-seeded Palm Springs, the Desert Valley League champion, in the second round Friday.

The Arroyo Knights (14-12) share no common opponents with Beverly Hills. They are averaging 46 points per game, paced by junior post player Primitivo Gomez (21.3 points, 9.7 rebounds per game). Arroyo won seven of its last 10 regular season games. BHHS won four of its last five, including a road upset over Ocean League runner-up Inglewood.

Last year, the Normans played in the Division 3A playoffs. They routed Rancho Alamitos 85-21 on the road before falling 65-55 to Encino Crespi in the second round.

Click here to view the complete CIF-SS boys basketball playoff brackets.

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