Prep playoffs: Ten teams in the hunt as NorCals begin
Five Marin teams went into games on Friday and Saturday needing victories to make sure their seasons extended into another week. It was mission accomplished for all five, doubling the number of local basketball and soccer teams still in the hunt for state titles.
The Marin Academy girls basketball team won a third-place game on Friday night to secure a spot in the CIF NorCal Regional Playoffs. The San Marin High boys basketball team followed suit on Saturday night.
The Terra Linda girls, Branson boys, and Marin Catholic girls soccer teams all played for section titles on Saturday and needed to win to continue their seasons. All three were victorious with Branson and Marin Catholic both securing No. 1 seeds when the NorCal brackets were unveiled on Sunday.
Boys basketball
Marin Catholic is competing at the highest level of any of the 10 remaining local teams, drawing the No. 8 seed in Division I. The Wildcats (24-4) are only guaranteed the one home game — Tuesday at 7 p.m. against No. 9 King’s Academy (23-4) — before potentially hitting the road Thursday for a date with No. 1 Buchanan (27-4).
Branson and San Marin both start their quests in the county in the D-III and D-V brackets, respectively. The No. 5 Bulls (18-15) open at College of Marin at 7 p.m. Tuesday against No. 12 Beyer (25-7). The No. 3 Mustangs (17-13) could host two games, starting with Tuesday’s 7 p.m. tilt against No. 14 Trinity (22-9).
Girls basketball
Redwood, fresh off the first Division I section title in program history, moves down to D-II for NorCals and is slotted in as the No. 3 seed. The Giants (25-6) could stay at home through Thursday and open against No. 14 Vanden (25-6).
NCS D-III champion Branson is up next as the No. 9 seed in the D-IV bracket. The Bulls (20-12) open on the road at 7 p.m. Tuesday against No. 8 Miramonte (18-13).
Marin Academy, which lost to Branson in the NCS semifinals on Wednesday, is also a No. 9 seed but in the D-V bracket. The Wildcats (18-12), playing what is believed to be the first NorCal game in program history, open on the road at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Washington (16-6) of San Francisco.
San Domenico has been no stranger to NorCals in recent years and makes it back as the No. 14 seed in D-V. The Panthers (12-14) open on the road at 7 p.m. Tuesday against No. 3 Palma (24-3).
Boys soccer
Branson was the only local team to make it to NorCals this season but could make the most of it after receiving the No. 1 seed in D-V. The Bulls (10-6-3) are set to play at College of Marin at 3 p.m. Tuesday against No. 8 Hamilton (16-4-1).
A pair of wins on Tuesday and Thursday would allow Branson to host a NorCal final at home on Saturday with a spot in the inaugural state title game up for grabs.
Girls soccer
Many of the juniors and seniors on Marin Catholic might be experiencing some deja vu after the Wildcats received the No. 1 seed in the D-IV bracket. MC occupied this exact same spot in 2024 and protected its home field en route to winning the title.
If the Wildcats are able to repeat that feat, they’ll earn a spot in the inaugural state title game. MC’s journey begins with a 5 p.m. kickoff against No. 8 Winters (21-2).
Terra Linda also landed in D-IV as the No. 6 seed. The Trojans (10-8-5), fresh off the first section title in program history, will make their NorCal debut on the road against No. 3 Menlo School (9-3-7) at 3 p.m. Tuesday.