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Craig Snyder and the Raiders will still get in the dance despite the loss to West Covina Thursday night

Certain things had to happen Thursday night to create a four way tie at the top of the Hacienda League. Well, everything that needed to happen did and West Covina, Bonita, Diamond Ranch and Rowland are all 4-2 in league after the final regular season game.

West Covina beat Rowland 28-7 and Diamond Ranch shut out Walnut 35-0. Bonita had a 24-7 lead over Diamond Bar but the Brahmas rallied to score 18 consecutive points and beat the Bearcats 25-24. And there you go…everybody is tied. Now what?

Everybody had coin flips on their mind but it turns out there isn’t a need for any spare change after all. The tie breaker is based on a points system and it appears all four teams are in the playoffs.

Roddy Layton will apply for an at large berth for Diamond Ranch

“There is a point system. We will go in as the number one seed, Bonita number two, Rowland as a three and Diamond Ranch as the wild card,” said West Covina Coach Mike Maggiore. “I believe that D-Ranch will get the wild card. They aren’t officially in but they have the best record and they’re tied for first in the best league. We’ll find out Sunday.”

“There’s no guranteed spots. We will apply for an at large berth and hope our record, opponents, strength of league’s history and our history is good enough for a berth,” said Diamond Ranch Coach Roddy Layton. “The breakdown was based on league rules and points by victories.”

So while West Covina, Bonita and Rowland are assured of spots, Diamond Ranch has to sit, wait and hope. With a 7-3 overall record and losses to Elsinore, West Covina and Rowland, the Panthers have a good shot. Of course you never know. Stranger things have happened.

As Maggiore said, we’ll find out Sunday.