The CIF Southern Section’s decision to include 12 teams for this year’s Open Division boys water polo playoffs had a trickle down effect on the Inland area’s top squads.

Yucaipa finished 17th in the final in-season rankings, which are being used for the first time to determine which playoff division teams are placed. If the section chose to stick with eight teams in the Open Division, the Thunderbirds likely would have been on the road for a playoff opener. Instead, the Citrus Belt League champs earned the No. 5 seed in Division 1 and will host Crean Lutheran on Thursday night at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa. The T’Birds are the only Inland team in the Division 1 field.

The Open Division lineup also had a positive effect for Murrieta Valley, which finished 29th in the final section rankings. With 12 teams in the Open and 16 in Division 1, the Southwestern League champs picked up the No. 1 seed in the Division 2 bracket. The Nighthawks also received a first-round bye and will host Burbank Burroughs or Beckman in a second-round match Thursday evening.

Seven other Inland boys water polo teams received a top-five seeding in their respective playoff divisions.

Hemet is the No. 2-seeded team in the Division 5 bracket and has a first-round bye. The Bulldogs will host Baldwin Park or Estancia in a second-round match Thursday. Fontana is seeded No. 5 in Division 5 and also has a bye in the opening round. The Steelers host Arlington or Palm Springs in Thursday’s second round.

Inland squads picked up the top five seeds in the Division 6 bracket: Pacific (No. 1), Arroyo Valley (No. 2), San Bernardino (No. 3), Patriot (No. 4) and Montclair (No. 5). All five teams will hosts first-round matches Thursday.

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS WATER POLO PLAYOFFS

(Matches scheduled for 5 p.m. Dates, sites and times subject to change)

Division 1

Thursday’s first-round matches

Crean Lutheran vs. Yucaipa at Crafton Hills College

Division 2

Tuesday’s first-round matches

Crescenta Valley at Rancho Cucamonga

Temecula Valley at Aliso Niguel

Chino Hills at Woodbridge

Etiwanda at Santiago

Alta Loma at Ventura

Northwood at Damien

Riverside Poly at Camarillo

Thursday’s second-round match

Burbank Burroughs or Beckman at Murrieta Valley

Division 3

Tuesday’s first-round matches

Muir at Great Oak

Redlands East Valley at King

Centennial at Rio Mesa

Bonita at San Marino

Beaumont at Santa Monica

Upland at Redlands

Walnut at Los Osos

Corona at Santa Barbara

Division 4

Tuesday’s first-round matches

Citrus Valley at Santa Ana

Ramona at Buena Park

Liberty at Fountain Valley

South Torrance at Murrieta Mesa

Ayala at Glendale

Xavier Prep at Valley View

Elsinore at Thousand Oaks

Don Lugo at Cate

Norco at Malibu

Western at Diamond Bar

Charter Oak at San Dimas

Division 5

Tuesday’s first-round matches

Palm Springs at Arlington

North at Pam Desert

Chaffey at Rowland

Pioneer at Webb

Thursday’s second-round matches

Palm Springs or Arlington at Fontana

Orange or Cathedral at Temescal Canyon

Baldwin Park or Estancia at Hemet

Division 6

Thursday’s first-round matches

California at Pacific

Notre Dame at Edgewood

Sierra Vista at Montclair

Heritage at Patriot

Tahquitz at San Bernardino

Summit at Santa Fe

Hillcrest at Montebello

Channel Islands at Arroyo Valley