Presented are each Sections' NorCal playoff eligibility criteria. Not saying which ones better. Some are geared toward advancing the stronger school teams regardless of enrollment size, others favor a more enrollment "equity."
Central Coast Section (CCS): Total of 21 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
All eight Open division teams (8 teams)
Finalists in Divisions 1 - 5 (10 teams)
Three (3) semifinalists from Divisions 1 - 5 who do not advance to the CCS finals (3 teams)
Note: does not specify the criteria how those three semifinalists are selected.
North Coast Section (NCS): Total of 25 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
All six teams competing in the Open division (6 teams)
Finalists in Divisions 1 - 3 (6 teams)
and the final four (4) teams (semifinalists) competing in NCS Divisions 4-6 will receive automatic berths (12 teams)
The 25th entry will be assigned to the highest seeded (smallest number) semifinal losing team in Divisions 1-3 only.
Sac-Joaquin Section (SJS): Total of 23 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
Finalists from Divisions 1 - 5 (10 teams)
Semifinalists from Divisions 1 -5 (10 teams)
Finalists from Division 6 (2 teams)
One "at-large" team with the highest MaxPreps ranking not advancing to the semifinals.
North Section (NS): Total of 10 Teams per North Section Rules; 12 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
Note: North Section does not have any D1 - D2 schools based on enrollment
Finalists from Divisions 3 - 5 (6 teams)
Semifinalist loser with the best seed (smallest number) from Divisions 3 -5 (3 teams)
Either the other Semifinalist loser from Division 4 and from Division 5, using a tie-breaking formula (1 team)
or the other Semifinalist loser from D3, if the D4 or D5 team above opts-out
San Francisco Section: Total of 2 Teams
Section Finalists (2 teams) - The S.F. section only consists of 10 schools/teams
Lowell and Immaculate Conception should be finalists
Oakland Section: Total of 2 Teams
Section Finalists (2 teams) - The Oakland section only consists of 8 girls basketball schools/teams
Oakland Tech will win section easily--excellent schedule strength (dangerous team);
KIPP King Oakland should be other finalist
Central Coast Section (CCS): Total of 21 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
All eight Open division teams (8 teams)
Finalists in Divisions 1 - 5 (10 teams)
Three (3) semifinalists from Divisions 1 - 5 who do not advance to the CCS finals (3 teams)
Note: does not specify the criteria how those three semifinalists are selected.
North Coast Section (NCS): Total of 25 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
All six teams competing in the Open division (6 teams)
Finalists in Divisions 1 - 3 (6 teams)
and the final four (4) teams (semifinalists) competing in NCS Divisions 4-6 will receive automatic berths (12 teams)
The 25th entry will be assigned to the highest seeded (smallest number) semifinal losing team in Divisions 1-3 only.
Sac-Joaquin Section (SJS): Total of 23 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
Finalists from Divisions 1 - 5 (10 teams)
Semifinalists from Divisions 1 -5 (10 teams)
Finalists from Division 6 (2 teams)
One "at-large" team with the highest MaxPreps ranking not advancing to the semifinals.
North Section (NS): Total of 10 Teams per North Section Rules; 12 Teams per State CIF Blue Pages
Note: North Section does not have any D1 - D2 schools based on enrollment
Finalists from Divisions 3 - 5 (6 teams)
Semifinalist loser with the best seed (smallest number) from Divisions 3 -5 (3 teams)
Either the other Semifinalist loser from Division 4 and from Division 5, using a tie-breaking formula (1 team)
or the other Semifinalist loser from D3, if the D4 or D5 team above opts-out
San Francisco Section: Total of 2 Teams
Section Finalists (2 teams) - The S.F. section only consists of 10 schools/teams
Lowell and Immaculate Conception should be finalists
Oakland Section: Total of 2 Teams
Section Finalists (2 teams) - The Oakland section only consists of 8 girls basketball schools/teams
Oakland Tech will win section easily--excellent schedule strength (dangerous team);
KIPP King Oakland should be other finalist
