San Diego Section Open Division boys basketball playoff bracket breakdown: Can anybody take down St. Augustine?
The San Diego Section released its 2022 high school basketball playoff brackets for all six divisions on Saturday, Feb. 12. The first round of Open Division games will begin on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Open Division boys basketball bracket:
OPEN DIVISION BRACKET | ALL CIF-SDS BASKETBALL BRACKETS
TOP STORYLINES:
Who can beat St. Augustine?
The Saints entered the season as San Diego's top team and when healthy have performed as such. St. Augustine was down several players including four starters due to COVID-19 protocols during a stretch in late December, but have bounced back to win 11 of their past 12 games and went unbeaten in the Western League. The Saints are battle tested having taken on Sierra Canyon, West Ranch, and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame all from the Southern Section as well as out of section opponents in Sheldon (Sacramento) and Liberty (Las Vegas). They have a record of 7-0 this season against teams in the Open Division bracket and have played all of them with the exception of Torrey Pines and San Marcos.
What's the status of Devon Arlington?
The star senior guard at San Marcos has put up over 2,000 points for the Knights during his career and is having another great year, averaging 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game but an injury in their last game has left his status unknown. Arlington suffered an Ankle/Achilles injury in Friday's regular season finale against Mission Hills. The Knights had led by double digits in the first half before Arlington's injury, but Mission Hills regrouped without the Knights' leader on the floor and took control in the second half for a ten-point win that gave the Grizzlies the Palomar League title. It remains to be seen whether Arlington will be on the floor Saturday night when the Knights take on San Ysidro for the second time in just two weeks.
Who wins the rematches?
All four first round games in the Open Division feature rematches from the regular season. In the case of St. Augustine against Mission Bay and Mission Hills against La Costa Canyon, they'll be playing for the third time this season. The higher-seeded teams combined to go 6-0 during the matchups in the regular season, will any road teams be up to the test to grab a first round upset?
FIRST ROUND (QUARTERFINALS) MATCHUPS AND PLAYERS TO WATCH:
No. 1 St. Augustine (20-7) vs. No. 8 Mission Bay (19-8)
The Saints are into the Open Division bracket for the ninth straight season and are looking to get back to the championship game for the first time since 2016-17. St. Augustine took both meetings from the Buccaneers during Western League play, 67-49 at home and 60-45 on the road. Junior guard Jurian Dixon was excellent for the Saints in both outings, combining for 55 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists and six steals. He's certain to be a main focus of the Buccaneer's defense, potentially freeing up some of the other Saints' underclassmen to step up.
Mission Bay is led by junior guard Angelo Gil. The talented playmaker is capable of taking a game over and he'll be looking to do just that when he takes the floor against the Saints for the third time on Saturday night. Mission Bay will need senior Rami Anglo and sophomore Charlie Hutchison to be at their best alongside Gil if they hope to pull the upset over the top-ranked Saints.
No. 4 Mission Hills (21-6) vs. No. 5 La Costa Canyon (19-6)
The Grizzlies have been one of the section's most consistent teams throughout the season and have been on a roll since the end of December. Following their loss to Heritage Christian on December 20th, Mission Hills has won 16 of their past 17 games and were able to get redemption from their loss against San Marcos by beating the Knights in the regular season finale to claim the league title. Senior forwards Justin and Jayden White lead the way and can play inside and out while junior Caleb Hofmeister can knock down three-pointers in bunches if left open. They'll be left with the unenviable task of beating a team three times in one season.
La Costa Canyon began the season 1-3 but has since won 18 of 21 games with the three losses during that stretch coming against Mission Hills and twice against Torrey Pines. The Mavericks own wins over San Ysidro and Cathedral Catholic as well as an impressive 17-point win over San Marcos that showed they're capable of playing with anybody in the county. Junior wing Christian Brown has had a breakout junior season that earned him a spot on the North County Coastal League First Team. Brown along with Brayden Hendricks, and Ty Hendler are the Mavericks' leading scorers and will certainly be looking to flip the script on the Grizzlies from their first two matchups.
No. 3 Torrey Pines (22-5) vs. No. 6 Cathedral Catholic (19-9)
The Falcons and Dons, who have met in each of the last two Open Division Championship games, played early in the season, a game the Falcons led throughout for a 56-44 win. The Falcons will try to recreate that result again on Saturday with seniors Otto Landrum and Logan Huston leading the way as they have throughout the season. The duo were both named to the North County Coastal League First Team with Landrum adding player of the year honors. The Boston University-signee has been a force for opponents this season, averaging 19 points and ten rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the field.
The Dons are led by their two returning contributors from a season ago, senior guard Jaden Lebel and junior guard Shea Fitzgerald. The duo combine for just over half of Cathedral Catholic's points this season. Lebel stuffs the stat sheet, averaging ten rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals per game to go along with his 19 points while Fitzgerald averages 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game. The Dons will be looking for an additional player or two to step up as they head down Del Mar Heights Road looking to pull the upset.
No. 2 San Marcos (22-5) vs. No. 7 San Ysidro (21-7)
San Marcos and San Ysidro met at the Battle at the Bay just two weeks ago and will now face off in the first round of the Open Division playoffs. San Marcos was in control of the first matchup before a late run by the Cougars cut the final deficit to 67-61. Now with the status of senior guard Devon Arlington in question due to injury, San Marcos senior core of Max McCall, Evan Record, Lucas Gordon, and Jacob Baba must be ready to step up in the event of Arlington's absence.
San Ysidro enters the playoffs with a 1-4 record against Open Division teams this season though the four losses have come by a combined 14 points. The Cougars finished up the regular season with four league wins to stay unbeaten in the Mesa League and will be ready to go after making the trek north with a chance at an upset on the line. Seniors Martin Flores and Sebastian Medina have been scoring machines throughout the past two seasons for San Ysidro will not go down without a fight come Saturday night in San Marcos.
