8 team Nor Cal Open?

[northbaybbguru]

I know it's early but it's looking like to me that we may have enough OPEN level teams in the North to have an 8 team bracket. Of course no one is close to Mitty so they will all be cannon fodder for Mitty but:

CCS:
Mitty
PW
Priory

NCS:
CLET
Acalanes

SJS:
Folsom
CKM

Central:
CW


Im always for less in the OPEN anyways but if they did decide to go 8 we have the teams.

The South is loaded as always so I'd think they'd still send CW north.

 

[ClayK]

They will have the same number in both, I'm pretty sure. But no one really wants to be in the Open except for a few teams, so I'm guessing six might be the number. Realistically, there are four serious contenders: Mater Dei, Etiwanda, Ontario Christian, and Mitty.

 

[Peninsula Pete]

Sierra Canyon will have something to say about that.

 

[cptmycpa]

I know it's early but it's looking like to me that we may have enough OPEN level teams in the North to have an 8 team bracket. Of course no one is close to Mitty so they will all be cannon fodder for Mitty but:

CCS:
Mitty
PW
Priory

NCS:
CLET
Acalanes

SJS:
Folsom
CKM

Central:
CW


Im always for less in the OPEN anyways but if they did decide to go 8 we have the teams.

The South is loaded as always so I'd think they'd still send CW north.

Now that most large holiday tournaments are over, league play starts this week, transfers are now playing games, and using the eight (8) team concept (not opposed to less) the OPEN Division for the NORCAL CIF playoffs is looking like this "IF" based SOLELY on MaxPreps Rankings as of 1/6/2025 (meaning uneven number of teams from each section):

1. Mitty (9-1)
2. Clovis West (18-0)
3. Acalanes (12-1)
4. Clovis (14-3) - plays CW twice on 1/21 & 2/7
5. Folsom (9-2)
6. Priory (10-1)
7. San Ramon Valley (10-2)
8. Saint Francis, Mountain View (11-1)

Outside Looking In:
Piedmont (10-1) - 2nd easiet schedule going forward; plays BOD twice
Pinewood (5-2) - plays Priory on 1/14, SRV on 1/18, Priory on 1/31
Carondelet (12-3) - plays SRV on 1/14 & St. Mary's on 1/25
Sacred Heart Cathedral (9-1) - tough schedule going forward; plays WCAL teams twice
Cardinal Newman (11-3) - easiest schedule going forward

McClatchy (8-5) - plays at Acalanes on 2/1, Antelope (10-4) twice and Grant (12-3) twice (No SJS Open Div.--no guarantee to advance to NorCals--possible Antelope, Lincoln-Stockton (11-4), Oak Ridge or Whitney upset in SJS Rd. 2)

St. Mary's Stockton (8-7) - very tough schedule forward; Acalanes, Priory, Carondelet, Oakland Tech, and Lincoln-Stockton twice (No SJS Open Div.--no guarantee to advance to NorCals--possible Antelope, Lincoln-Stockton, Oak Ridge or Whitney upset in SJS Rd. 2)

 

[ClayK]

First, I doubt very much it will be an eight-team Open. I think, looking at the SoCal numbers, it's more likely to be six.

Remember, after the few teams with a legit shot to win the Open, no one wants to be in it, and their section commissioners will be lobbying hard to keep them out.

So rather than "outside looking in," it's "outside and running away."

And I do think both Clovis schools will come north. It makes much more sense from a competitive level.

Finally, with Woliczko presumably out, Mitty is not a lock to get to the state game. They're still the best team, but they are thin inside and could fall to any number of teams if they have a bad night and the opponent hits 15 threes.

 

[northbaybbguru]

Mitty still the best post injury but it does close the gap for sure. Anytime u lose the (arguably) best player in the country you are gonna feel it.

Im always down for less and 6 does seem reasonable. But I won't believe the NCS commissioner will fight NOT to put at least 2 in until i actually see him do it. The CCS and SJS will absolutely sandbag and only throw 1 in if possible.

Obviously the NCS Open winner is going...I don't know about the runner-up this year as the CCS Open runner up will be VERY good (assuming Mitty wins) between PW and now (with their Russian? Ukrainian? mid season adds) possible Riordan...

If CW does come north that only leaves 1 spot in 1 of the sections.

CW
SJS: Folsom, CKM. SMS( would need to win D1..won't get in as runner up)
CCS: PW, Riordan, SHC( if they beat PW /Riordan to get there)
NCS: Acalanes, CLET, SRV, Piedmont, CN...

3 winners go...which 2 runner ups?

If they follow the MaxPreps football seedings...h2h and common opponents were ignored (mostly) and the committee went straight by the rankings. (Lazy bullshi*)

Cptmycpa is correct as I think CN has the easiest schedule going forward. They have a SMS MLK day game that they could lose otherwise it's all league games and no one will sniff. (Before the NCS Open).

At least now that we have the NCS Open/CCS Open/SJS D1 (defacto open) the teams will earn their way into the Norcal Open and not leave it up to some stupid effing committee. I certainly remember the days of the NCS getting 3 or 4 teams sacrificed in the Open while the SJS would send 1 under the amazing leadership of NCS commish Gil Lemon. 🙄