Sage Hill earns No. 3 seed in IV-A

cif girls hoops pairingsLightning coach critical of draw, but likes his team’s chances. CdM, Costa Mesa happy to be in the mix.Having guided the Sage Hill School girls’ basketball team to a 21-3 record, an unbeaten Academy League campaign and the No. 3 seeding in the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A playoffs, first-year coach Jim Perez has established he knows what he is doing.

But Perez didn’t let long-standing postseason protocol -- part of which calls for coaches to never get caught looking past a playoff opponent -- to stand in the way of calling attention to what he perceived as unfair placement for the Lightning in the playoff pairings announced Sunday.

Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa will also represent Newport-Mesa in the playoffs, having qualified in Division III-AA and Division III-A, respectively.

At issue with Perez is a potential clash with JSerra (21-4) in the quarterfinal round Feb. 22.

Sage Hill, one of two teams in Division IV-A to receive a first-round bye, would first have to get past either Sherman Indian (12-4) or Linfield Christian (14-7), to advance to the quarterfinals.

“Being the No. 3 seed was not unexpected, but drawing JSerra in the quarterfinals was,” Perez said. “I don’t believe ourselves, or JSerra were given the proper respect by CIF. It’s going to be a great game, but I didn’t think it would happen until at least the semifinals.”

The Lightning defeated JSerra, a freelance school, 53-44, in a nonleague game Jan. 30 at Sage Hill.

Despite his displeasure with the draw, Perez said he has little complaint with the way his team is playing.

“I feel good about our team, absolutely,” Perez said. “Our last game, we were up, 32-3, at halftime against Whitney, which is a pretty good team. The way we’ve been playing is phenomenal.”

The play of Yale-bound senior Haywood Wright, a 6-foot-2 senior center, would put a smile on most any coach’s face. A second-team All-CIF Division IV-A performer as a junior, Wright is averaging 14 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 5.1 blocks for the Lightning, who have three players from the girls’ volleyball team that won the CIF Division IV-A title in the fall.

Senior guard Laura Schaefer (9.4 points per game and 60 three-pointers) leads a solid supporting cast that also includes Rebecca Hembarsky, Kaitlin Tyre, Tierney Danner and Katie McKeon.

CdM (13-11), which won a playoff game Friday to claim fourth place in the Pacific Coast League, opens Thursday at Western (15-10).

The Sea Kings are led by Katie Schulte (11.6 ppg), Megan Benbow (10.9 ppg), Allie Duernberger (9.3 ppg), Shannon Johnson (7.3 ppg) and Kristina Wayte (6.2 ppg and 7.6 rebounds per game).

A first-round win would put CdM into the second round Saturday at No. 3-seeded Palos Verdes (22-5).

Costa Mesa (12-14) returns to the postseason after its streak of 15 straight playoff appearances was snapped last season.

The Mustangs, who tied for third in the Golden West League, visit No. 6-seeded Bishop Montgomery (19-9) in Thursday’s first round.

Coach Jim Weeks’ Mustangs are led by senior Tracy Bjelland.