Bobcats open the playoffs on Wednesday

The Saddleback men's basketball team will open the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs on Wednesday when they travel to Santa Monica College.   The Bobcats were seeded No. 20 for the regional playoffs.

Saddleback finished the regular season at 15-13 overall and in a tie for third place in the Orange Empire Conference at 8-8.  The Bobcats will travel to Santa Monica, who finished 16-12 overall and in third place in the Western State-South Division at 9-5.  Tip time is scheduled for 7:00 PM. 

Saddleback and Santa Monica last met during the 2022-23 season when the Bobcats defeated the Corsairs 69-66 in Santa Monica in a non-conference matchup.  James Burries led the Bobcats with 22 points and 10 rebounds in that contest.

Saddleback leads the lifetime series against Santa Monica, 14-5. 

The winner of Wednesday's game will face Chaffey College on Saturday in Rancho Cucamonga. 

Saddleback is one of four Orange Empire Conference teams to make the field.  Fullerton (24-4) was named the top seed with Santiago Canyon (22-6) getting the 7-seed and Irvine Valley (17-11) getting the 19-seed.