Palm Desert Earns At-Large Bid to Regional Hoops Tourney

The Palm Desert Aztecs boys basketball team will indeed “live to play another game.” After Friday night’s loss to Arroyo Grande in the C.I.F. Division 3AAA semi-finals, Palm Desert was left to wonder if they had done enough to earn a spot in the Regional tournament. On Monday, the welcome answer came in a phone call from the C.I.F. President to Head Coach Don Brady.

“We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Brady. The Aztecs were selected as 1 of 16 teams to play in the Southern California Regional Championship tournament, and will open their run on March 7. Palm Desert is one of just 8 teams selected from the CIF Southern Section to join the regional bracket.

Palm Desert has only advanced to this stage of the playoffs one other time in school history. In 2002, the Aztecs lost in the second round. Palm Desert finds out who, when, and where they play on Sunday.