CIF Southern Section OKs Power Ratings for Playoffs

The CIF Southern Section has approved a power-rating system that will be used to determine at-large entries for the basketball playoffs this season.

The system, to be announced Monday by the Southern Section office, awards points to teams for meeting various criteria.

The five ways teams can earn a point are: 1) Playing a team in a higher Southern Section division; 2) Beating a team in a higher Southern Section division; 3) Beating a team in the same Southern Section division; 4) Beating a Southern Section league champion; 5) Winning a non-league tournament.

For example, in the best possible scenario, a team that won a tournament by beating an eventual league champion that is also in a higher division would be awarded four points.

Games against non-Southern Section opponents will not be counted.

The system will be used to fill out a 32-team playoff bracket in each of the 10 Southern Section divisions. Teams that finish first through third in their league automatically qualify for the playoffs.

Coach Bill Shannon of Woodbridge High in Irvine is credited with proposing the power-rating system, which replaces last year’s system that allowed only teams with records of .500 or better to qualify for at-large playoff berths.