The potential playoff teams from the Mission League are starting to come into focus. And the picture could be clearer after the Notre Dame-Alemany contest that takes place on Friday, Oct. 19.
The two teams will finish the regular season at .500 or better and should make the Southern Section’s Division II 16-team playoff slate. But Alemany and Notre Dame, currently tied for second place in the Mission League, are in a “must win” situation for any hopes of a decent first round playoff game.
Both teams are trailing Bishop Amat High of La Puente — a Division I team — which is undefeated in league play and plays Loyola High of Los Angeles on Friday. Alemany (6-2, 2-1) still has a shot at the league title if the Warriors beat Notre Dame and then defeat the Lancers next Friday. Winning out would, in all probability, earn them one of the division’s Top 4 seeds.
Notre Dame (5-3, 2-1) has already lost to the Lancers. A loss to the Warriors on Friday slams the Knights into third, and they would have to deal with a hungry Chaminade team in the season finale next week. Chaminade (3-5, 1-2) is playing Serra High of Gardena on Friday, and must win out to guarantee itself a .500 record and a probable Division I playoff slot.
The Alemany-Notre Dame kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Alemany High School.
Other games involving Valley area teams:
Friday, Oct. 19
Del Rey League
St. Genevieve at La Salle
East Valley League
Monroe at Grant
North Hollywood at Chavez
Verdugo Hills at Poly
Mission League
Notre Dame at Alemany
Serra at Chaminade
Olympic League
Valley Christian vs. Village Christian, Burbank High School
Valley Mission League
Canoga Park at Kennedy
Sylmar at San Fernando
Van Nuys at Reseda
West Valley League
Birmingham at Chatsworth
El Camino Real at Taft
Granada Hills at Cleveland
Nonleague
Sierra Canyon at San Pedro
Saturday, Oct. 20
Angelus League
Salesian at Crespi, 12 p.m.
Gold Coast League
Campbell Hall at Brentwood
All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.
Mike Terry@fridaynitemike