Overview

The CIF-Southern Section playoffs are set to begin on February 11, with several local teams vying for success. La Mirada High School has once again made it to the Open Division, while Cerritos High, Gahr High, and Norwalk High will host their first-round games after finishing in the top three of their leagues.

Key details

  • La Mirada High is the 12th seed in the Open Division.
  • The Matadores have an overall record of 22-6 and went 8-0 in the Gateway League.
  • La Mirada will face #4 Notre Dame High from Sherman Oaks, which has a record of 19-6.
  • Last season, La Mirada was seeded eighth in the Open Division and finished with a 1-3 record.
  • The Matadores defeated JSerra High 64-58 in their last game of the previous season.
  • This season, the Open Division has expanded to 12 teams.
  • Head coach Randy Oronoz notes the achievement of returning to the Open Division despite losing key players to graduation.
  • La Mirada lost to Notre Dame 71-65 last Valentine's Day and 77-60 in their season opener this year.
  • The two teams have met once before in the last two decades, with Notre Dame winning 57-36 in December 2021.
  • Oronoz expressed concerns about the seeding process and transparency from CIF.
  • La Mirada has won over 20 games for the fourth consecutive season.
  • The team had a 14-game winning streak leading up to the playoffs.

Context

The CIF-Southern Section playoffs are highly competitive, particularly in the Open Division, which is regarded as one of the toughest playoff brackets in the nation. La Mirada's return to this level reflects both the team's resilience and the talent of new and returning players.

What happens next

The first round of the playoffs will commence on February 11, followed by the second round on Friday and the quarterfinals on Tuesday. La Mirada's performance against Notre Dame will be critical in determining their playoff journey.

What we don't know yet

Details regarding the outcomes of the first-round games and the specific results of other teams in the playoffs are not confirmed.