CALLER 1: OK, Green Phone. So I understand that the CCS
basketball playoffs are based on enrollment as far as which
division each school is in.
CALLER 1: OK, Green Phone. So I understand that the CCS basketball playoffs are based on enrollment as far as which division each school is in. But the schools in the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) should be absolutely embarrassed. It’s bad enough that Mitty, which has been ranked No. 1 or 2 in the CCS is playing in Division II and will play the likes of a 10-14 Leland team. Then, in Division III, you will find St. Francis of the WCAL possibly playing a Del Mar team which is 9-16 on the year. So let’s go to Division IV now. Things get uglier. Palma, 20-5 Palma [ed. note: the Chieftains are in the TCAL], might end up playing Gonzalez, with its 7-16 record. If that’s not bad enough, Valley Christian, again in the powerful WCAL, which arguably is one of the best leagues in Northern California, if not the state, if not the nation, has decided to play in Division IV. Along with Palma, they can play powerhouse Harker Academy and they can also wind up playing an Oceana team that went 9-13. If you go to the girls’ brackets, you have the same problem. Archbishop Mitty, which was one of the top two teams in the CCS, is opening up against Lincoln High School. That’s a big challenge, isn’t it? Then when you go to Division III, you have 20-7 St. Ignatius and they’re playing a 9-16 Harbor team. And again, Valley Christian takes the cake. They’re in Division IV and they could end up playing a 9-15 Carmel team. This is absolutely ridiculous. These teams should be embarrassed. I’m not sure what the point is of these private school teams deciding to go to these lower divisions to beat up on schools that have no chance whatsoever. Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Thanks Caller 1. But just when we thought you were finished, you called back…
CALLER 1: (again): OK, Green Phone, this is a follow-up call to my call the other day about these perennial high school private school basketball teams playing in weak divisions, lower divisions than they should in the CCS playoffs. Looking at the box scores Thursday morning, this is a joke. This is an embarrassment. Mitty beats Lincoln 56-11. I don’t understand the point to that. St. Ignatius beat Harbor 74-9 and (was) winning 51-2 at halftime. Those (losing) teams shouldn’t be playing at all in the CCS and the St. Ignatiuses and Mittys of the world should be playing Division I, absolutely, positively. The only reason they don’t is because they want to win state championships. And they want to play in a lower division when they play the schools from Southern California because they know if they go Division I in CCS, they’re gonna have to play the Mater Dei’s of the world, and the big powerhouses in Southern California that will kick their butts. And I’m not a bitter ex-public school person talking. I’ve been at private schools my whole life. I played high school sports and I would be ashamed if we had played anything but the best of Division I. These schools should be absolutely embarrassed. I do not understand why a team that is 9-17 would even be playing in the CCS, let alone against a perennial powerhouse Catholic league school. You’re down 51-2 at halftime. I know quitting is not cool, but if a team refused to come out in the second half, it would be hard to argue with them. I just don’t even see the point of playing the second half and I don’t think that would necessarily be a character builder either. I think it ruins the spirit of the game and the spirit of the athletes. Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Caller 1, you’re not particularly heated about this subject, are you? But seriously, it really is sad that the WCAL schools are so dominant over everyone else in the CCS. But you must remember two things. First of all, the CCS does not allow a team to play “up” a division, even if it would make competition more equal. A few years ago, the CCS did allow teams to do this. But that rule has since been changed. For instance, Division IV school Valley Christian could not play at the Division III or II level, even if it wanted to. So technically, the private schools aren’t at fault for playing in weak divisions. Secondly, Division I is not the “best” division just because the schools with the largest enrollments play in it. In theory, it should be. But as you’ve pointed out, the strength of the private schools – even the small ones – throws that off. In reality, both the boys and girls Division I fields this year are arguably weaker than the Division II or III fields. As for opening round blow-outs, what were you expecting? Nail-biters? Yes, 50-point romps are a bit much. But first-round games between high and low seeds typically are not close, even in the NCAA tournament. Now, when you have a title game won by 30 points? That’s when you have a real problem.
