Several key components make up a good high school sports program.

No. 1 is winning. No. 2 is making the playoffs.

Winning a championship is just icing on the cake.

Four Culver City high school teams are enjoying cake this week.

Boys soccer, girls soccer, girls basketball and girls water polo all have qualified for the CIF playoffs.

A fifth team, boys basketball, missed the playoffs by one game.  Four out of five is impressive.

The Ocean League champion boys soccer team will host a first round game against Lompoc on Friday at 3. The Centaurs finished the regular season with an overall records of 9-1 and 17-6.

Their only league loss was in double overtime to Santa Monica. If they win their first playoff game, the second round will be played next Wednesday.

The girls soccer team will host their first round playoff game Thursday at 3. They will face either Marymount and Cabrillo of Lompoc.

If the Lady Centaurs win, their next match will be on Tuesday.  They were 7-3 I league and 12-8 for the season.

The girls basketball team will take a six- hour bus ride Thursday to Arroyo Grande.  Second in the Ocean League at 7-3, they were 17-8 for the year.

The girls water polo team (7-13) opened the  playoffs against Xavier Prep.  The  second round is today.

Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com

Mr. Laase may be contacted at gmlaase@aol.com