WCSSAA Tuesday: Standings Log-Jam to Get Sorted....Or Will It?

Today marks the final day of the WCSSAA regular season, and, from my perspective, it's been one of the most entertaining in recent memory due to the depth and competitiveness of both the WCSSAA senior and junior circuits.

Both leagues are (at least) 8 deep in terms of solid teams that could potentially make some noise in the playoffs, which should make for some interesting quarterfinals.

Let's start with the senior side of things, looking at potential standings implications from today's games and then going on to my picks....

WCI-Cameron:  Game of the Day
Obviously, the WCI-Cameron Heights game is the "game of the day" as far as the playoff picture is concerned.  The Vikes win, and they hold tiebreaks over (several of the) teams that they'd be tied with, meaning that they'd certainly finish no worse than 4th (first round bye).

Of course, a WCI win also creates potential for an interesting 4-way tie at 8-3 (KCI, Grand River, and Galt will all be "favoured" in their games today).  Among those teams, WCI is 2-0 (KCI/GRCI), KCI is 2-1 (wins over GRCI & Galt), and Grand River is 1-2 (win over GCI).

A Cameron Heights win, on the other hand, could drop the Vikes as low as 7th, assuming those other three teams win their games today.  WCI would be tied with Eastwood at 7-4, with the Rebs having the head-to-head tiebreak.

Pretty amazing for a team to have that "range" of possible finishing positions entering the final day of the season!

Other Intriguing Match-Ups
Everything else is pretty much set, unless a team is caught looking ahead to the playoffs and gets upset.

Both KCI (vs. Jacob Hespeler) and Galt (at Preston) will be heavily favoured today.  Grand River will also be favoured at Huron Heights, although the Huskies play very well at home (having beaten KCI and played CHCI within single-digits).

Both Bluevale and Southwood are 2-8 (winner gets in for sure), but will make the playoffs regardless of what happens today unless Jacob Hespeler beats KCI.  Both SSS & BCI have defeated JHSS (also 2-8) during the regular season, so would have the tie-breaker edge. 

Today's Picks
SSS (by 4) over BCI
KCI (by 19) over JHSS
GRCI (by 11) over HHSS
SJAM (by 18) over FHCI
GCI (by 17) over PHS
CHCI (by 8) over WCI

Junior
On the junior side, we'll start with Glenview Park, who at 8-3 can clinch a first-round bye today with a win at winless Elmira, combined with a Forest Heights loss to SJAM.  If the Trojans upset the 'Landers, we'll go to tiebreaks, but I believe the Panthers still have the edge there (e.g., common opponents).

Tiebreakers should be the theme of the day elsewhere, with Bluevale & Eastwood (both 9-2 entering play) heavily favoured in their games.

Five teams -- including the aforementioned Panthers & Trojans, Cameron Heights, Huron Heights and Grand River -- also enter play today either 7-4 or 8-3.

As for the final playoff spots, Southwood (3-8) and Galt (3-8) are in to the playoffs unless Preston can defeat the Ghosts today.  If that happens (and SSS loses to BCI), we'd have to sort out that three-way tiebreaker.  WODSS (at home vs. ECI) could also join the tiebreaker party if they can pull an upset in their game.

Needless to say, should be an exciting and entertaining day!