The pairings were announced this morning. Wow! Ayala gets to go toe to toe with Norco. What a first round playoff game. The Cougars were last years at-large team and takes the CIF-SS title for the Inland Division. This year, Cougars head coach Todd Gerhart's team makes it back, but this time as the #2 team in the Mountain View league. If this years team looks like anything we saw at the Home Depot Center, all their opponents better watch out.
As for Ayala, what a difference a year makes. I know the bulldogs faithful knew that their team was in route to the playoff berth this year. It's just too bad that not many of us thought the same way earlier in the year. The pre-season talk was weather or not Diamond Bar or Ayala would be the lonely one at the bottom of the standings. Well, the Bulldogs proved us all wrong. After covering a game where Ayala played Diamond Bar, I could see that this team had a very good chance of being a playoff contender. What was even more convincing, was the way head coach Tom Inglima's relationship with his players was a truly a genuine, "I love these guys," attitude. When Diamond Bar fumbled the ball and Ayala recovered it. Coach Inglima jumped right into the arms of the player who recovered the fumble and hugged him like there was no tomorrow. After seeing that, I knew this team not only had skill, but also the chemistry.
So, for round one of the playoffs, Ayala (Sierra #2) and Norco (Mountain View #2) go head to head on Friday, November 16th at Norco high school. Although I love the chemistry and storybook comeback by the Bulldogs, I'll have to pick the Cougars to take the win.
Tell me your thoughts and let me know if you're choosing a winner.
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