NCS basketball playoffs 2026: Boys, girls first-round schedule

North Coast Section basketball playoffs begin Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday across seven divisions, including Open

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The North Coast Section basketball playoffs are set to begin on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday across seven divisions, including the Open Division. The boys and girls brackets feature matchups between top teams from around the Bay Area, with the first round games taking place at various high school gyms.

Why it matters

The NCS playoffs are a highly anticipated annual event that showcases the top high school basketball talent in the region. These games will determine which teams advance to the later rounds and potentially earn a spot in the state championships.

The details

The boys Open Division features top seeds Salesian and Clayton Valley with byes, while Moreau Catholic faces De La Salle and Dougherty Valley takes on Marin Catholic in the other first-round games. In the girls Open Division, San Ramon Valley and Carondelet have byes, while Bishop O'Dowd plays Clayton Valley Charter and Cardinal Newman faces Piedmont.

  • The NCS basketball playoffs begin on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The boys Open Division first-round games are scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • The girls Open Division first-round games are scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Salesian

The No. 1 seed in the boys Open Division with a 25-3 record.

Clayton Valley

The No. 2 seed in the boys Open Division with a 25-3 record.

Moreau Catholic

The No. 5 seed in the boys Open Division with a 23-3 record.

De La Salle

The No. 4 seed in the boys Open Division with a 22-6 record.

San Ramon Valley

The No. 1 seed in the girls Open Division with a 24-3 record.

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The takeaway

The NCS basketball playoffs will showcase some of the top high school talent in the Bay Area, with several highly anticipated matchups in the first round. Fans will be eager to see which teams emerge victorious and advance to the later rounds of the tournament.