The East Union and Lathrop girls basketball teams could get reacquainted later this week in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.

They’re among the 11 Manteca-area teams that have qualified for the postseason. The SJS released brackets Saturday with its annual online selection show on NFHS Network. Out-bracket games were played Monday for girls and take place tonight for boys. First-round contests are Tuesday for girls teams and Wednesday for the boys.  

East Union (22-5) is seeded third in Division III behind defending champion Vanden (21-7) and Lincoln (24-3), the runner-up. The Valley Oak League champion Lancers start with 14th-seeded Los Banos (15-13) of the Western Athletic Conference.

Meanwhile, outright WAC champ Lathrop (21-6) is the No. 6 seed and hosts No. 11 West Park (13-13), a second-year varsity team out of Roseville. Although East Union and Lathrop no longer compete in the same league, they’ve squared off three times in recent years — the Spartans dominated their one-sided first-round playoff game in 2019, and East Union took the rest in the Tracy Breakfast Lions Tournament the following two seasons.

Also in Division III, No. 10 Sierra (11-12), which finished fourth in the VOL, travels to Sacramento to face Greater Sacramento League champion West Campus (16-4).

Manteca’s girls and boys teams are both in competitive Division II brackets as No. 8 seeds. The girls (18-7) will welcome No. 9 Atwater (16-12) for the second time this season. The Buffaloes took care of the Central California Conference titlist 52-42 in a non-league tilt on Jan. 20. The winner likely tangles with top-seeded Sacramento power Christian Brothers (26-2).

The VOL co-champion Manteca boys (22-6) are paired with Capital Valley Conference third-place team Bella Vista (20-8) of Fair Oaks. Top-seeded Rio Americano (24-4) looms as the potential second-round opponent for the victor.

East Union and Lathrop are also represented in the Division III boys field.  East Union (17-10), the third automatic qualifier out of the VOL, earned the No. 9 seed and heads to No. 8 Del Campo (11-17), which took fifth in the competitive Capital Athletic League. Reigning champion Vanden (19-9) tops the bracket and is the likely foil for the EU-Del Campo winner.

WAC champion Lathrop (19-8), the No. 6 seed, plays host to No. 11 Kimball (16-12), the VOL’s fourth-place finisher.

Ripon’s boys and girls teams are taking long trips for their Division IV openers. The boys (10-18) are seeded 12th and headed to Placer County to encounter Twelve Bridges (20-8) of Lincoln. The Lady Indians (11-15) are the No. 13 seed and traveling to No. 4 Marysville (24-4).

In Division V, Ripon Christian’s girls (10-14) are the road team in the Nos. 8-9 matchup with Westlake Charter (11-7-1) in Sacramento. Ripon Christian’s boys (20-7) were awarded the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye after running the table in the Trans-Valley League. The Knights await the winner of No. 10 Sacramento Adventist (18-10) and No. 7 Leroy Greene Academy (15-5) on Friday.

The Section finals for both genders and all levels are on Feb. 24-25 at Golden 1 Center.