Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer
The Granada Hills boys' basketball team ended the regular season in a nosedive, losing three consecutive and six of its last eight overall, and it appeared as if the Highlanders had squandered any chance at receiving a berth in the Championship bracket of the City Section playoffs.
But despite the late-season swoon, the Highlanders received some good news and a small measure of respect on Saturday when they were announced as the 16th-seeded team in the Championship bracket.
That was the good news. The bad news for Granada Hills is that it opens the playoffs against top-seeded Fairfax of Los Angeles.
``We're honored to be up there playing with the big dogs,'' Granada Hills coach Don Loperena said. ``Our plan was to just let the chips fall where they may. Tell us where we're going to play and we will.''
The Highlanders have the unenviable task of traveling to Fairfax (22-2) for a first-round game Friday at 7 p.m. to face the defending Div. I state champion. The Lions have won 13 consecutive and 48 of their last 56 over the past two years.
``It's David vs. Goliath,'' Loperena said. ``Athletically, we don't have a chance at matching up against them. But remember, these are high school kids. Anything can happen. If we go down, it's going to be fighting.''
Granada Hills (15-10) is battled-tested having played in the highly competitive West Valley League, a league from which three other teams - No. 3 seed Taft of Woodland Hills, No. 9 seed Chatsworth and No. 15 seed Birmingham of Lake Balboa - received berths in the Championship bracket, giving the league four entries.
The Highlanders lost to No. 7 seed Sylmar earlier this season, defeated No. 11 seed Poly of Sun Valley and played seven Southern Section teams that will likely qualify for the postseason when the pairings for each division are announced later this afternoon.
``We're not into the hoopla,'' Loperena said. ``Let's play.''
Sean Ceglinsky, (818) 713-3607
sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com
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CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS: BOYS' BASKETBALL
