CIF-SS girls water polo playoffs
Division 7 breakdown
1st round starts: Feb. 14
Top 4 seeds: 1. Santa Ynez, 2. Diamond Bar, 3. Chaffey, 4. Whittier
Number of teams: 32 teams (32-team bracket)
League champions: Fontana, San Bernardino, Chaffey, Villanova Prep, Pomona Catholic
Where are last year’s finalists? Champion Hillcrest won the River Valley League but drew No. 2 seed Redondo in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs. Runner-up Foothill Tech also jumped to Division 3, earning a wild-card date with Irvine.
O.C. best hope: Western. The Pioneers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. They finished in a three-way tie for second in the tight Empire League, losing narrow games against champion Kennedy (3-2) and Cypress (6-4). Western starts in the same quarter of the bracket with No. 4 seed Whittier, which beat the Pioneers, 7-6, at the Diamond Bar tournament.
Fun facts: It’s a division with new contenders. Santa Ynez is the only top-four seed that made the playoffs last season, losing its first game. … Chaffey is the only league champion ranked in the final division poll. … Whittier and Santa Fe are from the competitive Del Rio League.
Final poll: 1. Santa Ynez, 2. Diamond Bar, 3. Chaffey, 4. Whittier, 5. Santa Fe, 6. Western, 7. Valley View, 8. Estancia, 9. Fontana, 10. La Sierra
