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It was billed as the Open Division, but the new Central Coast Section playoff bracket pretty much turned into a West Catholic Athletic League tournament on Friday night.

Out of total of 16 teams competing in the boys' and girls' Open Division, only two public schools survived the opening night while six of eight winners hailed from the WCAL.

Heading into the consolation bracket after the first night were the Palo Alto boys plus the Pinewood and Eastside Prep girls.

Palo Alto's trip to the inaugural Open Division proved unsuccessful as the No. 5-seeded Vikings dropped a 58-47 decision to No. 4 Riordan at Piedmont Hills in San Jose. The loss ended a 21-game winning streak by the Vikings (23-2), who hadn't lost since Dec. 6.

Paly trailed 24-16 at halftime but got it to 32-27 just before the end of the third quarter, before Riordan (18-9) pulled away. Paly, which got 24 points from senior Aubrey Dawkins, lost standout junior center Keller Chryst to an ankle injury in the second quarter. He's expected to miss the rest of the CCS playoffs and perhaps the remainder of the postseason.

The Vikings will play No. 8 Soquel on Tuesday in the consolation round at Independence High at 5:30 p.m. Soquel (20-7) lost to Mitty on Friday, 59-57.

Despite the setback, Palo Alto nonetheless has qualified for the CIF NorCal playoffs along with the other seven Open Division teams. The Vikings will return to Division I for NorCals.

In girls' action:

Facing defending Division II state champion Mitty in the first round, No. 7 Pinewood was no match for the No. 2 Monarchs and dropped a 47-26 decision at Oak Grove High in San Jose.

Mitty (22-6) blanked Pinewood (20-7) in the first quarter while streaking to a 23-2 halftime lead. At one point, the Monarchs' lead ballooned to 30 points.

Pinewood next will face No. 3 St. Ignatius (18-9) in the consolation semifinals Tuesday at Oak Grove at 5:30 p.m. No matter what happens, Pinewood will advance to the CIF NorCal playoffs and will compete at the Division V level.

At Santa Teresa High, No. 4 Eastside Prep led after the first quarter and at halftime, but let it get away in the second half while dropping a 45-36 opener to No. 5 St. Francis.

Panthers' senior Hashima Carothers did produce 19 points and 12 rebounds but her teammates combined for only 17 as Eastside Prep fell to 20-7. Sophomore Destiny Graham added seven points and 12 rebounds for the Panthers, who last season won the Division V title.

The Panthers now will have to face top-seeded Sacred Heart Cathedral in Tuesday's consolation round at Oak Grove High at 7:30 p.m. The Irish (20-6) suffered a 46-44 upset loss to No. 8 Lynbrook on Friday.

The only other public school to emerge victorious was No. 6 Wilcox, which upended the No. 3 St. Ignatius girls, 49-42.

In the boys' Open Division, four WCAL teams -- Sacred Heart Cathedral, Serra, Riordan and Mitty -- all advanced to the semifinals.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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