Boys basketball playoffs: Who are the locks, and who's on the bubble?

The Sac-Joaquin Section basketball playoffs begin next week and the race for the postseason is scorching hot. Leagues with six or more teams earn three automatic bids for the postseason while leagues with fewer than six earn two, for a grand total of 75 spots. At-large bids will be given to teams that did not earn an automatic bid but are ranked in the top 15 in Divisions I through V on MaxPreps. Division VI schools in the top 10 on MaxPreps will earn an at-large spot. The divisions listed are not final, as some schools can move up or down depending on the enrollment numbers of the schools that qualify for the postseason. Here is where each local school stands: Automatic bids Folsom (22-3), D-I: The Bulldogs are leading the Sierra Foothill League and are the 22nd-ranked team in the state on MaxPreps. Folsom has already punched its ticket to the postseason and looks to be one of the top contenders in D-I. Woodcreek (21-6), D-II: The Timberwolves are the top-ranked team in D-II and sit comfortably in second place in the Capital Valley Conference. With one game remaining in the regular season, Woodcreek is guaranteed a top-three finish in league. Rocklin (18-8), D-II: The Thunder have found their stride and handed Folsom its only league loss. Rocklin also avenged its earlier loss to Jesuit last week and is tied with the Marauders in second in the SFL at 10-2. Rocklin has secured a top-three finish in the league. Placer (24-3), D-III: The Hillmen saw their 16-game winning streak snapped Monday night at Twelve Bridges, but they still sit on top of the Foothill Valley League and are the top-ranked team in Division III. Placer is in a race for the top seed and defeated Yuba City 75-68 on Wednesday to secure the league title. Twelve Bridges (20-7), D-III: The Rhinos are all the rage after Monday's upset win in which it held Placer to two points in the fourth quarter. Twelve Bridges has already secured a top-three finish in the FVL and it ighting for a top-four seed but lost to Roseville 60-57 on Wednesday. Roseville (18-10), D-III: The Tigers had their struggles in the beginning of the season while the football players were getting up to speed, but they have already guaranteed a top-three finish in the FVL and can earn a home playoff game after sweeping the season series with Twelve Bridges. Lincoln (20-7), D-III: The Fighting Zebras lost to Marysville 60-57 on Wednesday for the Pioneer Valley League championship. Lincoln is fighting to earn a home playoff game and is one team that can shake up the D-III bracket. Western Sierra (16-8), D-V: The Wolves are on the verge of a fourth consecutive unbeaten league campaign and have already secured the Sacramento Metro Athletic League championship. Western Sierra has been a regular in the postseason and is looking to make a deep playoff run in a tough D-V bracket. At-large locks Oak Ridge (16-8), D-I: The Trojans can finish no higher than fourth in the SFL, but they have done their part to earn a playoff spot. Oak Ridge has swept the season series with Whitney and has quality wins over Sacramento and Rio Americano. The Trojans are currently ranked No. 10 in D-I. Whitney (16-10), D-II: The Wildcats may be sputtering at the moment, but sitting at No. 11 in D-II entering the final week has them on solid ground to earn an at-large bid. Whitney had a strong start and has taken some lumps in a daunting SFL but can be a dark horse in the playoffs. Colfax (18-8), D-IV: The Falcons can still earn an auto bid as they are tied with Oakmont for third place in the PVL. Even if they don't finish in the top three, their ranking as the No. 7 team in D-IV locks them into the postseason. Colfax is still fighting for a top four seed in the division. Foresthill (14-11), D-VI: The Wildfires are on the verge of clinching an automatic bid as they sit in third place in the Central Valley California League but even if that doesn't happen, they will earn an at-large spot as the No. 4 team in D-VI. Things look good for Foresthill, as it swept Victory Christian and needs one win over Encina to earn that auto bid. On the bubble West Park (14-12), D-II: The Panthers can finish no higher than fourth in the Metro and as the No. 17 team in D-II, they will need a win and some help if they want to keep their season going. Oakmont (13-13), D-III: The Vikings are in an interesting position because they can still earn an auto bid as they sit tied with Colfax for third place in the PVL, but their No. 14 ranking in the division has them on the verge of missing the playoffs entirely. As it stands now, Oakmont would be in but a win this week would be a sigh of relief to its fans. Bear River (13-13), D-IV: The Bruins had a tough break last week, going 3-1 and upsetting Lincoln but slipping from No. 16 to 17 in the D-IV rankings. Calaveras jumped Bear River after going 4-0 and now the Bruins likely need to win out to stay alive. Valley Christian (10-14), D-VI: As it stands now, VCA would be in as the No. 9 team in D-VI but it is on the verge of missing the postseason. The good news for the Lions is that it split the season series with No. 10 Sacramento Country Day and won the second matchup, making it unlikely for the Cavaliers to jump them. John Adams Academy Roseville/Lincoln (11-9), D-V: The Patriots are above .500 and are No. 13 in D-V, which should be enough to get them into the postseason. A win over Victory Christian or SAEL this week would go a long way in locking up a bid.