Looks like a wide open race down the stretch for PCL boys basketball title

Northwood (light uniforms) and Portola played a PCL game Wednesday night. (Photo: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

It could be an interesting couple of weeks as Pacific Coast League boys basketball teams scramble to complete their regular season schedules following a number of postponements due to COVID and safety and health protocols.

Each team is scheduled to play a 12-game league schedule. CIF officials allowed a couple extra days for makeup games to be played, extending the season until Sunday, Feb. 6. The CIF playoffs begin after that.

Woodbridge (5-1) is atop the league standings. But University (5-2) and Portola (4-2) are also in the hunt. Northwood (2-3) and Laguna Hills (3-3) are looking for big finishes to wrap up league. Laguna Hills has won six in a row overall.

Two games coming up figure to play a role in determining the eventual league champion. On Friday night, Woodbridge plays at University and on Monday, Portola and Woodbridge meet in a makeup game at Woodbridge.

“We’re stuck right now, the last two games we haven’t played very well,” said Portola Coach Brian Smith after his squad lost to Northwood Wednesday. “Uni is playing really well and Woodbridge is coming on. We were playing well and now we’re kind of struggling. It’s part of the process and part of the highs and lows of the season.”

Smith believes the Bulldogs should be considered for the CIF playoffs regardless of how they wind up in league play.

“I hope so, and I think we’ve played a pretty tough schedule outside of league, hopefully the committee will look at that and say we’re deserving,” he said.

Northwood played its first game Monday after a two-week break and defeated Portola 53-52 Wednesday night. Coach Christian Manalo is hoping his team can finish strong. The Timberwolves will play four games next week, including games on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

“We’re going to really find out what we’re made of against teams that are playing really well and playing really hard,” Manalo said. “All we can ask is that we can play it out. We don’t want to forfeit any games, we don’t want any cancellations.

“Everybody is healthy and we’re going to make sure we’re doing our part in staying safe so we don’t have any setbacks.”

Teams from Beckman (2-5) and Irvine (1-6) are looking for strong finishes and possible CIF playoff consideration in their divisions.

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