The Northern Section released its latest point standings on Tuesday, showing that the two top seeds in Division 3 girls basketball are still Chico and Pleasant Valley while the Vikings still lead the boys’ standings.
While teams can improve their point standings in the final two games of this regular season, the seeding meeting on Saturday will ultimately decide where those teams will rank.
Girls
Pleasant Valley and Chico High will settle the Eastern Athletic League Championship and likely the No. 1 seed in the section playoffs tonight at Varley Gym.
The points standing currently shows the Vikings as the leader, with Chico as No. 2. But the Panthers (19-7) rallied from two double-digit first-half deficits on Tuesday night to beat Foothill, 70-62, to maintain an unbeaten league mark (9-0).
On Tuesday night, the Vikings defeated Shasta, 59-35, to move their record to 20-7 — but they still trail the Panthers by one game in the league race, as they are 8-1.
A Viking victory would give them a share of the Eastern Athletic League title with the Panthers but could also hand them the top seed. A Panther victory should lock down both the top seed and the league title.
The rest of the points at Division 3 are pretty well stable. Foothill is third in the point standings, followed by Shasta. Enterprise is fifth, coming off a one-point victory Tuesday night at Red Bluff, which remains 6th. Seventh-rated Las Plumas defeated eighth-rated Corning, 38-28, Tuesday night.
There is a chance the committee could seed the Thunderbirds (13-12) ahead of the Spartans. That could mean that Red Bluff (8-17) might open the Division 3 section playoffs at either Chico school instead of playing at Foothill.
In Division 4, University Prep (21-5) leads the points standings, but the Panthers were beaten by Northern League rival West Valley, 70-47, on Tuesday. The Eagles, who are third in the points race, now trail the Panthers by a game going into the final contest Friday night at Anderson.
The Cubs (21-5), who are No. 2 in the points standings, could pull within one game of the Northern League lead if they beat Yreka on Wednesday night (after publication deadline), creating a second-place tie with West Valley.
If Anderson wins Wednesday and Friday night, and West Valley defeats Lassen Friday night, it will create a three-way tie for the Northern League lead. Theoretically, it also creates a tie for the top spot in Division 4, since teams cannot be seeded out of league finish.
Sacramento Valley champion Colusa (21-5) sits in fourth place, followed by Winters, Gridley, Yreka, Pierce, Orland, Oroville, Lassen and Willows, sitting in the 12th and final playoff spot.
The Honkers are just ahead of Central Valley, which sits 13th.
In Division 5, where eight schools make the playoffs, Modoc (17-8) is in the No. 1 spot, just ahead of Quincy (22-4). Hamilton is currently the third in points, ahead of Trinity, East Nicolaus, Durham (15-11), Portola, and Los Molinos (6-18). The Bulldogs seem to be safely ahead of No. 9 Mount Shasta for the final spot.
In Division 6, Weed and Fall River are fighting for the top two seeds, while Biggs is in the fourth spot in points.
Boys
Pleasant Valley (19-7) has locked up the top postseason spot in Division 3. The only question is how the rest of the division shakes out.
Chico High (15-11) was fourth in points going into Tuesday night’s 68-53 loss at Foothill. That’s where the Panthers will stay, because even if they can climb into a third-place tie with Enterprise, the Hornets have beaten them twice this year.
Following Chico to round out the division are Las Plumas (18-9), Shasta, Corning (11-13), and Red Bluff (7-17). The Cardinals and Spartans are currently tied for seventh in points, but the Spartans won 53-38 on Dec. 5.
The Thunderbirds are set to play Gridley for the Butte View League title on Friday night in Gridley. The Bulldogs (18-6) lead the Division 4 points standings, ahead of University Prep.
The Panthers are followed in the league standings by Colusa, Orland, West Valley, Lassen, Winters, Pierce, Yreka, Oroville and Paradise, while in the 12th and final playoff spot currently is Anderson. The Bobcats (8-14) helped their cause by defeating East Nicholas on Tuesday night, 45-42.
In the 13th spot is Willows, but it is three games behind Paradise in the Sacramento Valley League with two left.
In Division 5, Weed and Mount Shasta have locked down the top two seeds as the two square off Friday night at Mount Shasta for the Cascade League Crown. The winner should also be the top seed in the Division 5 playoffs.
Durham (21-6) is currently third in points going into its Sacramento Valley League championship game in Durham against Colusa (20-5) Friday night.
Following Durham in the Division 5 points standings are Portola, Los Molinos, Modoc, Hamilton East Nicolaus, Quincy and Trinity.
East Nicolaus and Quincy are tied in the point standings for the final playoff spot. Los Molinos (15-12) is second in the Mid-Valley League behind Biggs.
The Wolverines (18-5) are second in the Division 6 playoff point standings behind Fall River.
