The CIF-Southern Section girls basketball and soccer playoffs commenced on February 12, 2024, with a remarkable performance from High Desert teams. Thirteen teams from the region progressed to the second round, showcasing their talent in both sports. Six basketball teams and five soccer teams will continue their playoff journeys, with six of the upcoming games scheduled to take place in the High Desert.
Basketball Highlights from the First Round
The first round featured several competitive girls basketball games, starting with a tense matchup between **Mira Costa** and **Oak Hills**. The Bulldogs faced elimination after a 39-45 defeat at home. Despite a strong start, with **Bella Rincon** scoring 12 points in the first quarter, Oak Hills struggled in the second quarter, managing only two points. They trailed **Mira Costa** 20-23 at halftime and could not recover, despite a late-game surge that briefly tied the score at 34-34. Rincon finished the game with 21 points.
In another thrilling encounter, **Silver Valley** pulled off an upset against the No. 2 seed, **Valley Christian**, winning 54-51. **Naomi Durrah** scored an impressive 35 points, helping the Trojans build a 12-point lead before sealing the victory with a crucial free throw by **Aubrey White** in the final seconds.
**Barstow** edged out **Coastal Christian** 47-45, led by **Emily Franco**, who contributed 25 points. The Aztecs’ victory will see them face **Burroughs**, which defeated **Chaffey** 40-32. Additionally, **University Prep** triumphed over **Anaheim** 40-38, thanks to a last-minute shot from **Camila Zapeta**. They will host **Norwalk**, which won against **Elsinore** 44-36.
The **Victor Valley Christian Royals** celebrated their first playoff win since 2020, defeating **Saddleback** 28-26. **Olivia Metler** led the team with 10 points, while the Royals will now face **Santa Clarita Christian**.
Soccer Successes in the First Round
The girls soccer matches also brought excitement, with **Granite Hills** dominating **Culver City** 4-2. **Lianna Tsabur** was the standout performer, scoring four goals and leading her team to victory. The Cougars will now host **Temescal Canyon** after their win over **Santa Fe**.
At **Oro Grande**, **Riverside Prep** secured a solid 5-0 victory against **Gahr**, with **Jimena Nunez** scoring twice. The Silver Knights will next challenge **Segerstrom**, which advanced by defeating **Palmdale** 2-0.
**Adelanto** progressed to the second round of the Division 6 playoffs for the third consecutive year, winning 3-0 against **Temecula Prep**. Goals from **Destiney Olague**, **Giselle Perez**, and **Samantha Aguilar** propelled the Saints forward. They are set to face top-seeded **Beverly Hills**, which won its previous match in penalty kicks.
The first round of playoffs saw numerous other exciting games, with results from across the High Desert including victories for **Westlake**, **Woodrow Wilson**, and **Holy Martyrs** in girls basketball, as well as **Santa Monica**, **Apple Valley**, and **Sultana** in girls soccer.
With intense competition and standout performances, the High Desert teams are poised for an exciting second round of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.