It appears over the last few years the CIF basketball playoffs have gotten more and more confusing. Teams from the same league are competing in different divisions, and it seems the teams in those divisions change every year.
All of which is true.
As these playoffs wind down, let's take a look at how it began.
The CIF Southern Section basketball playoffs are composed of 12 divisions and began with 371 teams. There are 549 member schools that field boy's basketball teams which means approximately 67% of the teams make the postseason. How all of this is composed is can be a rather intricate process.
It begins with league rankings to complete the automatic qualifiers. The top two teams in four-team leagues gain an automatic berth. For leagues with five or six teams, the top three teams gain automatic berths and leagues with seven, eight, or nine teams are awarded four automatic berths.
Teams that do not receive an automatic berth and freelance teams can petition for an at-large berth. Any school can apply for an at-large berth but only those that apply will be considered. Some of the criterion considered by the committee for at-large teams include: head to head competition against other teams up for consideration, strength of league, and overall win-loss record. Much like the NCAA Tournament Committee looks at the last 10 games a team has played for a spot in its tournament, the CIF looks at the last three games of the regular season.
Now, here comes the tricky part, the divisions. Unlike their football counterparts, leagues do not designate basketball playoff divisions. Three years ago, the CIF member schools made a revision to the way it conducted its playoffs. Four divisions were added, which opened the gates for more teams to be accepted. Additionally, basketball teams are placed in divisions based on their individual success rather than the success of the league as a whole. Before each season, the schools are grouped according to enrollment. From these groupings, a formula is used to determine how competitive and how successful teams have been in the playoffs. This formula awards teams points from the wins they had in the previous postseason. Each school's individual point total determines which division they will be in based on competitiveness and enrollment.
Therefore, the school's individual point total will determine rather they move up or down divisions based on the previous years playoff success.
Take La Verne Lutheran for example. Last season, the Trojans won the CIF 5-AA Division and continued on to win a Division V State Championship. Because of their overwhelming postseason success from a season ago, this season, they were moved up to Division 3-A. That's a climb of four divisions.
The same can be said for Leuzinger, who won a CIF Division 1-A Championship last season and this season moved up to Division 1-AA.
Furthermore, this explains how Mater Dei can be the two-seed in Division 1-AA but its Trinity League rival Orange Lutheran, can be the newly minted champion in Division 4-AA.
The designations begin with the "top" division being 1-AA, down to 6-A. This, the CIF member schools believes, creates more competitive equity.
As they move on to the State Tournament, the Divisions are a little less complicated. Any team in Divisions I, II, or III in the Southern Section are considered for the same division in the State Tournament. For example, teams placed in Division 1-AA or 1-A will only be considered for Division I in the State. Those schools in Division 4-AA and 4-A will be considered for Division IV in the State, unless their enrollment is above 1,250 students. Schools with more than 1,250 students will be considered for Division III. Teams in Divisions 5-AA and 5-A will also be considered for Division IV in the State, unless their enrollment is less than 500 students. Schools with less than 500 students will be considered for Division V. Schools in Divisions 6-AA and 6-A will be considered for Division V in the State, provided their enrollment is less than 500 students.
The state bracket is comprised of the Northern California Bracket and the Southern California Bracket. Southern California puts together teams from the Southern Section, the Los Angeles City Section, the Central Section, and the San Diego Section.
The Southern Section, the largest Section in the state, is awarded eight teams in each Division. Each section determines which teams represent them in the State Tournament.
Last season, the Southern Section elected the four semifinalist from Divisions 1-AA and 1-A to represent the Southern Section in Division I of the State Tournament. Hence, the rematch between Long Beach Poly and Etiwanda in the second round of the Southern California Bracket last season and why we could see the same this season.
