Local Girls Basketball – 3/5

Of the three teams we’ve been following who remained in playoff tournaments since our last edition, one ended the 2025-2026 season by taking their division championship, one was upset in the first round of their division playoffs, and one advanced to the semifinals of their division. Here are the results of last week’s games and the outlook for the team remaining in a playoff tournament:

Chester Volcanoes: As predicted, last Friday night the Volcanoes easily beat the Butte Valley Bulldogs, 42-31, to take the NSCIF Division 7 championship and finish their season with a 23-5 overall win-loss record. Since the team was composed of only three seniors and seven sophomores, the Volcanoes have an excellent chance to repeat this year’s successful season when taking the court in 2026-2027.

Modoc Braves: The Braves, seeded number one inthe NSCIF’s Division 5, had a bye in the first round of this tournament. Thus, tonight, 3/5, the Braves, witha 23-5 win-loss record, will host the 19-12, number nine seed, Marin Academy Wildcats in Round II of these playoffs. Given their record and their much higher MaxPreps.com rating, the Braves have to be favored to win tonight and progress on to the semifinal round against either the 27-4 Durham Trojans or the 26-6 Escalon Cougars on Saturday, 3/7.

Placer Hillmen: After polishing off the Manteca’s East Union Lancers last Saturday, 58-43, the Hillmen were seeded number one in the NSCIF’s Division 3 playoff. Unfortunately, Hillmen’s 18-game winning streak ended in the first round of the Division 3 tournament when Belmont’s Notre Dame Tigers pulled off a major upset by outscoring the Hillmen, 44-39. Again, with only one senior on this year’s 13-player roster, the Hillmen are well-positioned to win their conference and return to postseason play in 2027.