Prep playoffs: Marin Catholic boys net a home game in the Open

The Marin Catholic boys basketball team made a late move up in the North Coast Section rankings to not only guarantee a spot in the Open Division playoffs, but also secure a home game as well.

The Wildcats (23-3) posted double-digit wins against both Redwood and Branson in the MCAL playoffs and went from being a potential No. 5 seed to earning the No. 3 seed when the brackets for basketball and soccer were unveiled on Sunday.

MC opens up at home against No. 6 Dougherty Valley (20-8) at 7 p.m. Thursday with a spot in the NorCal playoffs already secure. All six Open teams are guaranteed to make NorCals, with third- and fifth-place games scheduled to help determine seeding for that.

Dougherty Valley’s win against De La Salle on Friday shook up the Open rankings, dropping De La Salle below MC. The Wildcats also held a head-to-head victory over De La Salle this season.

Two other newly minted MCAL champions just missed out on the Open Division experience. The Redwood girls basketball team was ranked No. 7 in the NCS while the Branson School girls soccer team was ranked No. 5 – only the top four teams make the Open in soccer, which is new for this year.

The end result was both teams earned top seeds – Redwood in D-I and Branson in D-II. As a Division IV team, the Bulls could only move up to the Open playoffs or be capped moving up two divisions as the top seed in D-II.

The Redwood girls (22-6) received a bye straight into Saturday’s quarterfinals. Branson (20-1-2) opens at home against No. 16 Newark Memorial (14-4-0) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Boys basketball

Two MCAL teams were selected for the D-I tournament with Archie Williams earning the No. 8 seed and Redwood taking the No. 15 seed. The Peregrine Falcons open at home against No. 9 Acalanes on Tuesday while the Giants open at No. 2 Amador Valley.

Branson was picked as the top seed in the D-III tournament, which houses three other Marin teams. The No. 1 Bulls open against No. 16 Napa on Tuesday. No. 4 San Domenico opens at home Tuesday against No. 13 Mt. Eden while No. 9 Marin Academy hits the road to face No. 8 College Prep.

The Bulls could potentially see MA in the quarterfinals and San Domenico in the semifinals.

San Rafael also landed in D-IV, snagging the No. 10 seed. The Bulldogs open on the road against No. 7 Bentley on Tuesday.

San Marin, which missed out on the MCAL playoffs due to a three-way tie for fifth place in league with San Rafael and Tam, saw its playoff luck turn as the top seed in D-IV. The Mustangs host No. 16 Arroyo on Wednesday.

The Red-tailed Hawks also landed in D-IV as the No. 13 seed and face a road game against No. 4 Mission San Jose on Wednesday.

Girls basketball

San Marin was taken into the D-I tournament along with top-seeded Redwood. The Mustangs drew the No. 13 seed and travel to face No. 4 Acalanes on Tuesday.

Marin Catholic is the only team from the county in D-II and hosts No. 10 Ukiah as the No. 7 seed on Wednesday.

Archie Williams is the lone Marin team in D-III and travels to No. 5 Saint Mary’s as the No. 12 seed on Tuesday.

No. 2 Branson and No. 6 Marin Academy both landed in D-IV. The Bulls host No. 15 Hayward and the Wildcats host No. 11 Piner on Wednesday.

San Domenico made the D-V tournament as the No. 6 seed but goes on the road to face No. 11 Redwood Christian on Tuesday.

Boys soccer

Three of the top four teams in the MCAL were selected to the D-I bracket, led by MCAL regular-season champion Tam at No. 7. The Red-tailed Hawks host No. 10 Amador Valley on Wednesday.

MCAL postseason champion Archie Williams, which finished fourth in league before winning three games en route to the title, sits at No. 8 and hosts No. 9 Windsor on Wednesday.

San Rafael snagged the No. 13 seed and travels to face No. 4 Albany on Wednesday.

Terra Linda, fresh off an appearance in the MCAL final, is the lone Marin team in D-II and checks in as the No. 4 seed. TL hosts No. 13 Foothill on Tuesday.

Redwood is the lone Marin participant in D-III as the No. 4 seed, hosting No. 13 Freedom in Tuesday.

Three Marin programs are in the D-IV bracket, led by No. 2 Branson. The Bulls host No. 15 Kennedy (Richmond) on Wednesday. San Domenico pulled the No. 7 seed and hosts No. 10 Kennedy (Fremont) on Wednesday. Wins by Branson and San Domenico would send them into an all-Marin quarterfinal on Saturday.

Marin Academy was the last Marin team to make it in, landing at No. 8. The Wildcats host No. 9 Benicia on Wednesday.

Girls soccer

Redwood is the lone Marin team in D-I, taking the No. 15 seed. The Giants travel to face No. 2 Ukiah on Wednesday.

Top-seeded Branson leads a three-team Marin pack in D-II and could reasonably face the other two teams later in the tournament. Marin Academy is the No. 2 seed in the private school-heavy bracket and hosts No. 15 Justin-Siena on Tuesday.

If MA and Branson win out as the top two seeds, they’d see each other in the final. Before that happens, there’s a decent chance Branson could run into No. 9 San Rafael in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs open on the road against No. 8 Head-Royce on Tuesday.

Marin Catholic slipped just out of the D-II field and instead sits as the No. 1 seed in D-III. The Wildcats open at home against American on Tuesday. Archie Williams drew the No. 8 seed and opens at home against No. 9 Freedom on Tuesday. Wins would send MC and Archie Williams into a quarterfinal against each other.

San Marin is also in the D-III field as the No. 3 seed and opens at home against No. 14 Antioch on Tuesday.

Terra Linda is the only Marin team in D-IV but could be ready to make a run as the No. 2 seed. TL opens against No. 15 Athenian on Wednesday.