4 locals in CIF field

Xavier Castellano has led the Estancia High girls’ basketball team to the playoffs in each of his two seasons alongside co-coach Judd Fryslie.

For the second time, the Eagles open the CIF Southern Section Division playoffs against a team from the strong Trinity League.

Getting out of the first round will be a challenge again for Estancia. Expect that to be the case for the other three Newport-Mesa programs that start the postseason Thursday night at 7.

Along with Estancia, Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor and Costa Mesa learned Sunday of their respective opening-round opponents. In Division IV-AA, the Eagles (14-12) play host to Rosary (15-11), while Corona del Mar (14-12) is at fourth-seeded La Canada (23-3).

Newport Harbor (9-17) is at North Torrance (22-3) in Division III-AA.

Costa Mesa (14-12) is at home against Malibu (11-11) in Division IV-A.

Of the locals, the Eagles enter the playoffs with the most momentum. They have only dropped two games since the New Year, both to Godinez in Orange Coast League play.

The losses still put Estancia in a tough first-round game. If the Eagles had defeated Godinez, they’re league champions and open the playoffs with an easier game. Castellano clearly understands this, but he said the Eagles, who placed second in league, are ready for the postseason this time around.

“Last year was the first time we got [to the playoffs] in a [handful] of years, just getting there was an accomplishment in itself,” said Castellano, whose team in the first round last season recorded its lowest point total of the season by losing to JSerra, 62-20, at home. “[The Royals are] going to be just as good [as JSerra]. They’re not super tall, but they press and run up and down.

“They play in the league with Mater Dei, the team [ranked fourth in the country by ESPN RISE].”

Rosary finished tied for last in the Trinity league and earned an at-large playoff berth. The Royals prevailed once in league play and they haven’t won since Jan. 25.

Castellano said he hopes the Royals aren’t due for a victory.

Estancia will be without senior Erika Soto, who is out for the season with a torn meniscus. Soto missed the playoffs last season with the same knee injury, and her unavailability caused problems as the Eagles turned the ball over in bunches.

With a more experienced team, Kassie Stratton, Yessenia Maldonado and Brenda Soto now juniors, and a tougher regular-season schedule, Castellano believes Estancia has a shot to win. One common opponent is Newport Harbor, which Rosary beat by nine points, while the Eagles lost to by one back in December.

“If we can handle the press, rebound and our shots are falling, we’ll be in it,” Castellano said. “We have one of the most underrated players in [Orange County] in Kassie. We can’t replace Erika, but Yessenia has done a great job [at point guard].

“The good thing is the playoff game is at our house.”

Playing at home can increase a team’s chance at winning. The Sea Kings and Sailors won’t have that advantage in the first round.

CdM received an at-large berth after finishing fourth in the Pacific Coast League. Post players Katie Bergsma and Caro van der Velde have led the Sea Kings since Coach Mark Decker said guard Kayla Marolt injured her anterior cruciate ligament in the summer.

The Sea Kings enter the playoffs having split their last six contests. La Canada has been steady, having won its last 11 contests.

The Rio Hondo League champion Spartans are 3-1 against teams ranked in the final Division IV-AA coaches’ poll, having beaten No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Chaminade and No. 16 St. Lucy’s.

The Sea Kings open the playoffs for the second straight season at La Canada. The Spartans ousted CdM, 57-31, last season, Decker’s first playoff appearance at CdM.

“I guess it’s a good and bad thing,” Decker said of facing the Spartans again. “They’re a very good team and return most of the team from last season. We know what to expect.”

A couple of coaches, Newport Harbor’s Justin Long and Costa Mesa’s Nichole Maddox, make their postseason debut in the first season with their respective schools.

Long leads a Sailors program that has won three games in the Sunset League in four seasons into the playoffs. Newport Harbor, which received an at-large berth after a dead-last finish in league, faces North Torrance, which split the title in the competitive Pioneer League.

Maddox thought the Mustangs’ first playoff appearance since 2007-08 would be on the road in Santa Maria. Costa Mesa earned a first-round home game against Malibu, the fourth-place team out of the Frontier League.

The Mustangs, who placed third in the Orange Coast League, have turned things around under Maddox. They’ve won nine more games than last season.

“We had zero wins last year in league,” Maddox said. “I can take that and I’m excited that we’re going to CIF.”