CIF finals for most winter sports planned at school sites; revised dates for regular season

Players from Calvary Chapel (dark uniforms) and Saddleback compete in a game last week. (Photo: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

Basketball teams have a busy two weeks ahead as they try and reschedule games postponed due to COVID-19 and health and safety protocols before the start of the CIF playoffs.

Northwood’s boys basketball team has four games scheduled, including games on three consecutive days.

CIF officials announced on Jan., 12 an extension of the regular season for girls and boys basketball, soccer and water polo.

Officials also noted that the CIF finals for basketball and soccer will be held at designated home sites, rather than one or two locations. Water polo finals will be held at the Woolllett Aquatics Complex. Before the coronavirus pandemic, CIF finals for basketball and soccer were held at neutral sites for most divisions.

ADJUSTED SCHEDULE:

Boys/Girls Basketball

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Time – TBA

Wild Card – Boys – Wednesday, Feb. 9; and Girls – Tuesday, February 10 

1^st  Round – Boys – Friday, Feb. 11; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 12 (Open – 1^st Round)

2^nd Round – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 15; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 16 (Open – 2^nd Round) 

Quarterfinals – Boys – Friday, Feb.18; Girls – Saturday, Feb.19 (Open – 3^rd Round)

Semifinals – Boys – Tuesday, Feb.22; Girls – Feb. 23 

Finals (All Divisions – Home Sites) – Friday/Saturday, Feb. 25/26 

Boys/Girls Soccer

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Time – TBA

Wild Card – Boys – Wednesday Feb. 9; Girls – Thursday, Feb. 10 

1^st Round – Boys – Friday, Feb. 11; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 12

2^nd Round – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 15; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 16

Quarterfinals – Boys – Friday, Feb. 18; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 19 

Semifinals – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 22; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 23 

Finals (Home Sites) – Saturday, Feb. 26 

Girls Water Polo

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Monday, Feb. 7 – 1 p.m.

Wild Card – 32-Team Brackets Only – Tuesday, Feb. 8 

1^st Round – 32-Team Brackets or Wild Card 16 -Team Brackets – Wednesday, Feb. 9

Round of 16 – Thursday, Feb. 10 (Open – 1^st Round)

Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 12 

Semifinals (All Divisions) – Wednesday, Feb. 16 

Finals (All Divisions – Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine) – Saturday, Feb. 19

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com