For the second straight season, Yucaipa has finished the regular season as the top Inland team in the CIF Southern Section boys water polo rankings.
The Thunderbirds were 14th in the final rankings this season. With eight teams being selected for Open Division pool play, Yucaipa earned the No. 6 seed for this year’s Division 1 playoffs. The Citrus Belt League champions will host Sage Hill in a first-round match Friday, Oct. 31, at Crafton Hills College.
Yucaipa advanced to the Division 1 semifinals last season as the No. 5-seeded team in the bracket.
A total of 39 Inland teams qualified for the playoffs by securing an automatic playoff berth from their respective leagues or by receiving an at-large entry.
Baseline League champion Chino Hills picked up the No. 1 seed in the Division 2 bracket. The Huskies open the postseason at home Thursday, Oct. 30, against Redlands East Valley. Ivy League champion Riverside Poly is seeded second in Division 2. The Bears host Cate in a first-round match Thursday.
Six additional Inland teams received a top-four seeding in their respective playoff divisions.
Upland is the No. 2 seed in the Division 3 bracket, while Temecula Valley is seeded third in that division.
Corona is seeded second in the Division 4 this season, while Hemet is the No. 4 seed in that bracket.
Fontana secured the No. 1 seed in the Division 5 bracket, while Norte Vista is seeded fourth in that division.
CIF SOUTHEN SECTION BOYS WATER POLO PLAYOFFS
(Games scheduled for 5 p.m. Dates, sites and times subject to change)
DIVISION 1
Friday’s first-round match
Sage Hill vs. Yucaipa at Crafton Hills College
Division 2
Thursday’s first-round matches
Redlands East Valley at Chino Hills
Etiwanda at Santa Monica
Alta Loma at La Habra
Damien at Crescenta Valley
King at Royal
Santiago at Ventura
Anaheim Canyon at Murrieta Valley
Cate at Riverside Poly
Division 3
Thursday’s first-round matches
Long Beach Poly at Bonita
Roosevelt at University
Redlands at Malibu
Elsinore at Arcadia
Valley View at Temecula Valley
Rancho Cucamonga at Glendora
Yorba Linda at Great Oak
Cathedral at Upland
Division 4
Thursday’s first-round matches
Webb at Charter Oak
Temescal Canyon at Placentia Valencia
Aquinas at Buena Park
Paloma Valley at Hemet
West Torrance at LIberty
Sonora at Don Lugo
Garden Grove at Corona
Division 5
Thursday’s first-round matches
Bolsa Grande at Fontana
Edgewood at Lakeside
Heritage at Ramona
Chino at Los Amigos
Summit at Westminster
Artesia at Norte Vista
Chaffey at La Mirada
Westminster La Quinta at San Bernardino
Indio at Hillcrest
Notre Dame at Kennedy
West Valley at Baldwin Park
