Local high school teams ready for postseason push
Competition is fierce
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Over the past few months, many local high school teams have played well enough to get into the playoffs. Here is a list of the teams that made the postseason and what lies ahead for them in the first two rounds.

Basketball

The Camarillo High boys' basketball team will begin the CIF-Southern Section Division IIA playoffs tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Highland High. Highland finished the year with a record of 19-8 overall and 12-2 in the Golden League.

Camarillo finished with a 15-11 overall record and a 7-3 mark in the Pacific View League. The Scorpions come into the postseason having won their last four games.

"We're peaking at the right time," ACHS head coach Mike Prewitt said. "This team has little postseason experience, but honestly I think that might be a good thing. They don't feel the pressure that most experienced teams would feel."

The Scorpions will need to get continued stellar play from Steve Planteberg, Josh Creighton and Thomas Reilly, who, according to Prewitt, are all averaging nearly 12 points and seven rebounds per game.

"As a team, we're playing with a lot of confidence right now," Prewitt said. "We need to do a better job on the boards, but we're improving every day."

In Division IIIAA girls' basketball, Rio Mesa High played Thursday night against Arroyo Grande, but as of press time the score was unavailable.

Water polo

In girls' water polo, Camarillo defeated Paso Robles 75 in its Division IV firstround game Tuesday, setting up a second-round contest against top-ranked Harvard Westlake Thursday afternoon.

Rio Mesa, the Pacific View League winner, earned a bye in the first round. The Spartans hosted St. Joseph of Santa Maria on Thursday.

The Division IV semifinals will take place Wednesday at a site to be determined.