Alemany Takes Its Game to Another Level : Girls’ basketball: Indians, looking for Woodbridge rematch, rise to Division II-AA.

MISSION HILLS —  The Alemany High girls’ basketball team will climb to Division II-AA, should the Indians qualify for the Southern Section playoffs, Coach Melissa Hearlihy said Friday.

Alemany, ranked second in the state, was placed in Division III-AA last month. The Southern Section classifications are based on enrollment, but schools have the option to move up one full division.

“If you have the caliber of team we have, you need to (move up),” Hearlihy said.

The Indians have four returning starters from a 30-1 team that won the Southern Section Division II-A championship and advanced to the State semifinals last season.

Woodbridge, which defeated the Indians, 46-41, in that semifinal on its way to the Division II state championship, has been moved to II-AA based on enrollment.

It’s not a coincidence that the teams are back together in the same playoff grouping, Hearlihy said.

“That game has been killing me,” Hearlihy said of the semifinal, which Alemany led in the final minutes. “I’ve died a million deaths over that game since.”

Alemany’s request for the move was due by next Friday.

“And it will be approved,” Southern Section Commissioner Dean Crowley said. “It’s automatic.”

Said Woodbridge Coach Eric Bangs: “On behalf of all the Division II teams, I can honestly say that this is definitely bad news.”

By jumping to the higher division, the Indians have cleared a path for Newbury Park, which entered the season ranked 10th in the state, but would have played under Alemany’s considerable shadow in Division III-AA.

Newbury Park Coach Nori Parvin received the news Friday morning in a phone call from Hearlihy, a close friend.

“She wanted to tell me in person,” Parvin said. “She wanted another chance at Woodbridge and to give Newbury Park a shot. It’s a long season, though, and anything could happen between now and the playoffs.”