CIF Selection Sunday Not the Same

Rosemead and DC Mark Paramo Travel to San Marino in First Round

Rosemead and DC Mark Paramo Travel to San Marino in First Round

It’s not quite the same as the old days when almost all of the playoff selections took place out at the CIF offices in Los Alamitos. The Southeast is still there but since the realignment a couple of years ago the Mid-Valley Division pairings are handed out at Covina High School.

  It doesn’t seem like as big of a deal. In the old days the coaches would stand around and eat donuts and drink coffee while waiting for the brackets to be handed out. Most of them would show up early and shoot the breeze about defenses and offenses and reminisce about that special moment or game. It was a time to renew old acquaintances and relive memories.

  But when the sheets did arrive everybody rushed the podium in a quest to get possession of that precious information that let them know who they get in the first round and what bracket they were in. I usually waited for it to die down a little bit so I wouldn’t get killed.        

  At Covina High on Sunday I sat in a classroom with all the coaches for a couple of minutes. I arrived at 10:50 for the 11:00 distribution. Covina Coach Darryl Thomas walked out about 10:55 with the sheets, explained that they came in early and tossed them on the table. A representative from each school walked up, casually picked one up and walked back. No bull rushes here. No mad dash. A few coin flips later to determine second round home field advantage and we were out of there by 11:10.

  I love the new realignment. It just makes CIF selection Sunday a little less exciting.

  Word out of Lancaster is that Paraclete is still the team to beat in the Mid-Valley Division. The Spirits didn’t even win their league losing to Valley Christian in the season finale but yet I was called retarded for ranking that same team ahead of Paraclete in the Top 30. So much for head to head competition. At least Paraclete fans are serious about their football.  

  No I don’t think South El Monte can “pull something” against Monrovia. And San Dimas will work Workman. But I still think La Puente has an outside shot to surprise Paraclete. If you read “Game Night” you’ll see that I did pick Paraclete to win. But if LP avoids turnovers and gets and early lead and the crowd behind them, the Warriors have an outside shot. Here come the e mails again.

  Arroyo may have gotten the shaft having to play Whittier Christian in the first round. The Heralds stayed with St. Margaret’s earlier this year falling only by 12 and also lost to Paraclete by a dozen. But it could be worse for the Knights. They could be Monrovia.

  The Wildcats got the number one seed but they also get a trip out to Paraclete in the second round providing both teams advance. Terrible, terrible things happen in Lancaster. While I can tell you a story about burned finger tips Matt Koffler can tell you a story about missed tackles and missed opportunities. A trip to Lancaster is never fun. We can both vouch for that.

  Speaking of Koffler and Rosemead the matchup between San Marino and the Panthers could be the best game in the first round. If Joey Diaz is healthy things could get dicey for the Titans. No, Diaz won’t replace Matt Fregoso but it’s a nice one-two punch.

  Azusa will beat Covina. It’s déjà vu all over again for the Colts.

  In the Southeast, is there really anything to break down? Sure there are some interesting first round games – Rowland – California and Diamond Ranch – Burroughs come to mind. I think San Gabriel has a shot to beat West Covina and Alhambra – Burbank is interesting.

   But if you’re looking for a winner – looking for the team that is still standing in four weeks- there is really only one answer. Charter Oak.

  Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com.

Leave a Reply