Hart Faces Postseason Shutout : Results of Other Games Will Decide Team’s Fate

First, the Foothill League winning streak went south, and now, as the Hart High football team prepares for the final week of the regular season, the Indians’ playoff hopes may be headed in the same direction.

Even if Hart (5-4, 2-2 in league play) closes the season with a win over San Gabriel (2-7, 1-3) at East Los Angeles College on Thursday, the Indians will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1980 unless they get some help. Hart also will need a victory by Alhambra (4-5, 1-3) over Burbank (6-3, 2-2) to earn a berth in the Southern Section Division III playoffs that begin next week.

But if Burroughs (6-3, 3-1) defeats Schurr (7-2, 3-1) on Thursday to win the league championship, and Burbank defeats Alhambra, the Indians will finish in a 3-way tie for second with Schurr and Burbank. The Indians lost to both teams and would become the odd team out.

In that scenario, Hart still holds the faint hope of earning the division’s only at-large entry in the 16-team field.

Other Valley-area leagues in which the playoff picture is uncertain:

DIVISION I

Del Rey League--Crespi (5-4, 3-0) and Loyola (9-0, 3-0) have clinched the top 2 playoff berths and play Saturday for the league title. St. Francis (3-6, 1-2) can clinch the third-place berth with a win over St. John Bosco (1-8, 0-3) on Thursday. Alemany (4-5, 1-3) can tie for third if St. Francis loses, forcing a coin flip to determine the league’s final entry.

DIVISION II

Marmonte League--Thousand Oaks (6-2-1, 5-0) has clinched a playoff berth and plays for the league title Saturday against Channel Islands (7-2, 4-1). Channel Islands would enter postseason as the league’s top representative with a win, but a loss would create a three-way tie for second if Camarillo (4-5, 3-2) and Royal (4-5, 3-2) each win. Camarillo plays Westlake (1-8, 1-4) at home Thursday and Royal plays Newbury Park (2-6-1, 2-3) Friday at Simi Valley. A coin flip would determine the odd team out.

Newbury Park can tie Camarillo for third but would miss the playoffs based on its 17-13 loss to the Scorpions.

Pacific League--Crescenta Valley (3-6, 2-2), which plays at Arcadia (6-3, 3-1) on Friday, can clinch the league’s third-place playoff berth with a victory and if Muir (6-3, 3-1) upsets Pasadena (7-2, 4-0). If Crescenta Valley and Pasadena win, forcing a three-way tie for second, a coin flip will determine the odd team out.

DIVISION VII

San Fernando Valley League--Chaminade (7-2, 3-0) and Notre Dame (7-2, 3-0) play Friday for the league championship. The winner of Saturday’s game between Harvard (6-3, 1-2) and Bell-Jeff (1-8, 1-2) clinches the third-place berth.

DIVISION IX

Alpha League--Montclair Prep (6-3, 4-0) has clinched a playoff berth and can win the league title outright with a win Saturday over Village Christian (7-2, 2-2). Village Christian is a strong candidate for an at-large berth based on its record.

CITY SECTION

North Valley League--The winner of Thursday’s game between El Camino Real (1-5) and Canoga Park (0-6) will earn the league’s third-place entry in the 4-A Division playoffs.