It’s Easier to Figure Who Will Miss City 4-A Playoffs

With just over one week remaining in the regular season and 16 of the 18 teams assured berths in the City 4-A playoffs, it’s easier to speculate on who will not advance than on who will. Five teams in each of the three 4-A leagues plus one sixth-place team qualify for the playoffs which begin Feb. 15

Unless winless Dorsey (0-8) in the Central League and Monroe (0-8) in the Valley 4-A League manage to win at least one of their final two games, both teams will miss the playoffs. The only other 4-A teams in danger of missing the playoffs are Gardena (1-7) and Locke (2-6) in the Pacific League and San Fernando (1-6) in the Valley 4-A League.

Crenshaw, the Times’ No. 1 team, has clinched the Central League title, but there is a scramble for the four remaining spots. Washington (5-3) is at Dorsey (0-8) and Hamilton (4-4) is at Crenshaw (8-0) today and Westchester (4-4) is at Palisades (3-5) tonight. On Friday, Hamilton is at Westchester, Washington is at Crenshaw in the afternoon and Dorsey is at Palisades in the evening.

In the Valley 4-A League, Cleveland (8-0) is at Kennedy (7-1) today in the title-decider and El Camino Real (5-3) travels to Taft (3-5) in a battle for third and fourth.

Four teams are within one game in the Pacific League. League-leading Manual Arts (6-2) plays host to Gardena, Banning (5-3) is at Fremont (5-3) and Locke is at Carson (5-3) today. Friday, Fremont is at Carson, Manual Arts is at Banning and Gardena is at Locke.

Here’s a look at the situation in the five 3-A leagues. The first three teams in each league plus one at-large team qualify for the playoffs.

EAST VALLEY LEAGUE--Van Nuys (8-0) has clinched the title. Poly (6-2) and Marshall (5-3), which plays host to Birmingham (4-3) today, should also qualify.

EASTERN LEAGUE--San Pedro (8-0) is assured of at least a share of the title. South Gate (6-2) is at Bell (6-2) in a battle for second. All three have qualified for the playoffs.

NORTHERN LEAGUE--Wilson (9-0), Roosevelt (8-2) and Eagle Rock (7-2) are all playoff- bound. Eagle Rock is at Wilson tonight.

VALLEY 3-A LEAGUE--Granada Hills (7-1) has qualified and Reseda (6-2) should have no trouble advancing. Chatsworth (4-4) plays visiting North Hollywood (5-3) tonight in a key game affecting who will make the playoffs.

WESTERN LEAGUE--Fairfax (8-0) is assured of the title. Three teams are tied for second. Los Angeles (5-3) is at Venice (5-3) and Jefferson (5-3) is at Fairfax tonight and Los Angeles is at Hollywood (0-8) and Jefferson is at Venice Friday afternoon.