NCS 2-A picture

Locks: Las Lomas (9-0, 8-0 DFAL), Heritage (6-3, 5-2 BVAL), Bishop O’Dowd (7-2, 5-1 HAAL), Encinal (7-2, 5-1 ACCAL)

Near locks: Piedmont (7-2, 5-0 BSAL)

Bubble teams: El Cerrito (5-4, 3-3 ACCAL), Miramonte (4-5, 3-5 DFAL), Northgate (5-4, 4-4 DFAL), Ygnacio Valley (6-3, 4-3 BVAL), Acalanes (6-3, 6-2 DFAL), Campolindo (6-3, 5-3 DFAL)

My picks/seedings: 1. Las Lomas; 2. Bishop O’Dowd; 3. Heritage; 4. Encinal 5. Acalanes; 6. Campolindo; 7. Ygnacio Valley; 8. Piedmont.

This class has gotten a little tricky because Ygnacio Valley has taken a nose dive lately. They get De La Salle in the final game so will finish 6-4. Northgate has snuck into the hunt and if they beat Alhambra this week will also finish 6-4. El Cerrito gets Berkeley this week and a loss probably drops them out of the race for a spot. But I think a win could get them into the playoffs over Ygancio Valley or Northgate because none of the three have a significant win yet. The reason I have Piedmont as the No. 8 seed is because they haven’t beaten anybody at all. I have them into the playoffs because of the solid overall record. They have St. Patrick/St.Vincent this week for the BSAL title and league’s automatic berth. If they win that one, then they could move up in the seeding. Anyway, I would say the three teams fighting for a spot right now are El Cerrito, Ygnacio Valley and Northgate.  Northgate has the best chance to win this week against Alhambra, while Ygnacio Valley has no chance against De La Salle and El Cerrito has a slim chance. If Northgate loses and El Cerrito loses then pencil in Ygnacio Valley.

As for predictions. I see O’Dowd and Las Lomas in the final here. O’Dowd has been scary good lately. I think they will beat Las Lomas in the Regional final and play Novato in a great game for the championship.