Champions set up for more success - Marin Independent Journal

NORCAL PLAYOFFS

Champions set up for more success

Last year’s title winners positioned to make another championship run

Branson’s Avery Myerberg eyes the goal as Arcata’s Melanie Luh and Raymi Sharp defend in the North Coast Section Division IV semifinals on Wednesday in Kentfield. FRANKIE FROST — CONTRIBUTED

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By Ian Ross

iross@marinij.com

Last winter a trio of Marin teams won the most prestigious titles in their sports. The NorCal playoff brackets for soccer and basketball were released on Sunday and all three title-winning teams from last year are poised to make another serious run at a championship.

The girls basketball teams from The Branson School and San Domenico both won state titles in 2022. Both are very much in the conversation to make another run to Sacramento with Branson picked as the No. 2 seed in Division III while San Domenico secured the top seed in D-IV.

Last year, the Marin Academy boys soccer team entered the NorCal D-II playoffs as the lowest seed in the eight-team bracket and won all three games, including a victory against Archie Williams in the final.

This year, the Wildcats begin their quest from a much better position as the No. 1 seed in D-IV. MA could add another NorCal title — there is no state title in soccer — to its trophy case without ever having to leave the county.

All seven Marin basketball teams that made it to NorCals will stay at home in the first round. The Marin Catholic girls, seeded first in D-II, and Branson boys, seeded second in D-II, are also favored to make deep playoff runs.Boys basketball

Branson (27-3) opens from the exact same position as it did last year as the No. 2 seed in D-II. The Bulls made it to the NorCal title game last year, losing a 60-54 game on the road against No. 1 Elk Grove.

The Bulls, fresh off MCAL and North Coast section titles, face a familiar foe in the first round, No. 15 Saint Francis (14-12) of Mountain View. The Bulls defeated the Lancers in the NorCal quarterfinals last season. The Bulls are set to host at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second half of a doubleheader with the girls team — location still to be determined.

Marin Catholic (14-17) could also be set up for a run as the No. 3 seed in D-IV. The Wildcats host No. 14 Oakwood (23-5) of Morgan Hill at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second half of a doubleheader with the girls team.

San Domenico (22-8) also resides in D-IV and gets at least one home game as the No. 7 seed. The Panthers, also playing the second game of a doubleheader, open against No. 10 Half Moon Bay (17-10) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Girls basketball

Marin Catholic and San Marin were both picked for the D-II playoffs. The Wildcats (26-5), with MCAL and NCS titles already under their belt, could be poised to add a third title as the top seed.

MC opens at home against No. 16 Los Gatos (21-6) at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

San Marin, which made it to the NCS D-III final against Marin Catholic on Saturday, starts at the No. 7 seed in NorCals. The Mustangs (23-7) start with a home game against No. 10 Crystal Springs Upland (21-4) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Branson, which began its title quest last season as the No. 3 seed in D-IV, moves up both a seed and a division as the No. 2 seed in D-III. The Bulls (18-12) open up with No. 15 Los Altos (17-11) at 5 p.m. Tuesday — location to be determined.

San Domenico started its title journey last season as the No. 4 seed in D-V and enters as the favorite in D-IV this season. The No. 1 Panthers (23-7) host No. 16 Priory (14-13) of Portola Valley at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Boys soccer

Marin Academy has already claimed NorCal titles in 2019 and 2022 and could be set up to capture a third as the top seed in D-IV. The Wildcats (18-1-2) open at home against No. 8 Live Oak (19-0-4) of at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Terra Linda is making its debut in the NorCal playoffs and opens as the No. 4 seed in the D-III bracket. The Trojans (13-5-4) host No. 5 Overfelt (15-2-4) of San Jose at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Girls soccer

Branson and Marin Academy have been drawn into the same NorCal bracket twice in previous years and made it to the final against each other both times — in 2019 and 2020, with Branson winning both.

Both teams were pulled into D-II this year but will need to win some road games to set up another all-Marin final between them. (Branson also topped MA in an all-Marin NCS final last Friday).

Branson (21-1-4) is the No. 7 seed and opens on the road against No. 2 St. Ignatius (11-5-4) at 5 p.m. Tuesday. MA (13-4-3) is slotted one spot below Branson at the No. 8 seed and opens on the road against No. 1 Franklin (19-4-3) of Elk Grove at 3 p.m. Tuesday.