NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYOFFS BRACKET

For the first time since the 2015-16 season, Fresno City College has captured a Central Valley Conference women's basketball championship.

The Rams completed a perfect conference schedule, posting a 12-0 record to outpace second-place College of the Sequoias at 9-3. Reedley College finished a game back of COS at 8-4 for third place, followed by a surprising Taft College squad in fourth at 6-6. Merced College (4-8), Porterville College (3-9), and West Hills College Lemoore (0-12) round out the final CVC standings.

Sequoias proved to be Fresno's biggest challenge to the CVC title and undefeated conference slate. On Jan. 27, Fresno edged COS 77-73 in Visalia. The Rams wrapped up the regular season on Feb. 21 with a 70-60 win over the Giants at home.

With a 24-4 overall record, Fresno earned the conference's top seed into the Northern California Regional Playoffs that get underway on Feb. 28. FCC was named the No. 3 seed and also received a first-round bye as a top-8 seed. The Rams will host the winner of No. 14 Skyline College and No. 19 Modesto Junior College on March 2 in a second-round game.

Sequoias (18-9) also secured a bye as the No. 7 seed and will host either No. 10 Santa Rosa Junior College or No. 23 Mission College in a Round 2 matchup.

Reedley was named the No. 20 seed for the playoffs and will travel to No. 13 College of the Siskiyous for a first-round game. Taft, making its first postseason appearance since the 2011-12 season, received the No. 22 seed and will travel to No. 11 Chabot College for its opening-round contest.

Teams are looking to advance to the 3C2A State Championships on March 14-17 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.