SCCAL champ Soquel awarded top seed in CCS D-III playoffs

Soquel High's boys basketball team earns No. 1 seed in Division III for upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Soquel High's boys basketball team, enjoying the program's first Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title since 2013, received the No. 1 seed in Division III in the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs. The Knights (21-5 overall) won't see action until Tuesday's quarterfinals, where they'll host the winner of Friday's play-in games. In total, 10 boys teams from Santa Cruz County made the playoffs, with 7 of them opening with play-in games.

Why it matters

Soquel High's top seed in the CCS D-III playoffs is a significant accomplishment for the program, as it marks their first league title since 2013. The Knights will have the advantage of hosting playoff games, which should provide a boost as they aim to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Soquel High's boys basketball team, led by second-year head coach Chris Christensen, earned the No. 1 seed in Division III of the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs. The Knights finished the regular season with a 21-5 overall record and won the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title, their first since 2013. Soquel will host the winner of Friday's play-in games in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

  • The CCS boys basketball playoffs begin with play-in games on Friday, February 19, 2026 at 7 p.m.
  • Soquel High will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, February 25, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Soquel High

The Soquel High School boys basketball team, who won the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title this season and earned the No. 1 seed in the CCS Division III playoffs.

Chris Christensen

The second-year head coach of the Soquel High boys basketball team.

Lawan Milhouse

The Santa Cruz High School coach and SCCAL representative who participated in the coaches' seeding meeting.

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What they’re saying

“The biggest thing we try to do is make it equal and fair. We want to get it right across the board. I think we did that.”

— Lawan Milhouse, Santa Cruz High School coach and SCCAL representative (santacruzsentinel.com)

“There's obvious program and Soquel community excitement that we have the opportunity to host some playoff games. We're appreciative of our league rep and coaches that voted us as the top seed. We understand that it's just a number until we actually do something with it. We expect to move forward, but gratitude that we keep playing together is the main sentiment driving this group now.”

— Chris Christensen, Soquel High School boys basketball head coach (santacruzsentinel.com)

What’s next

The play-in winners from Friday's games will advance to the second round on Saturday, February 22, 2026. Soquel High will then host the quarterfinal game on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.

The takeaway

Soquel High's boys basketball team's top seed in the CCS D-III playoffs is a testament to their successful regular season and the community's excitement around the program. The Knights will have the home-court advantage as they aim to make a deep postseason run, but they understand that the top seed is just a number until they can prove themselves on the court.