Playoffs nearly here; who's in, who's out?

Incredibly, the playoffs are just about upon us already in high school sports. While football still has a ways to go — we enter Week 6 this weekend — the remaining sports will conclude this week with playoffs to start shortly after.

So here's a breakdown of each sport and what local teams are in or out.

GIRLS SOCCER

IN: Shoreham-Wading River, Rocky Point

The Eagles (6-3) clinched a playoff berth, their first since 2005, with a win Wednesday against Miller Place. The Eagles travel to unbeaten Harborfields Friday with a chance to boost their potential playoff seeding. The Eagles can do Shoreham a big favor with a win. If the Eagles can defeat Harborfields, it would set up a potential winner-take-all for League VI Tuesday at Shoreham. The Wildcats (8-1) need to beat Miller Place Friday to give themselves a chance at winning the league title, their third straight, Tuesday. Harborfields and Shoreham both play one game after Tuesday, but face weaker teams they should handle. If Harborfields beats Rocky Point, the best Shoreham can do is be co-champs.

BUBBLE: Mount Sinai, Miller Place

The Mustangs lost Wednesday, 3-2, against John Glenn to fall to 5-4 in League VII with three games remaining. They'll need one more win to clinch a playoff spot, their first since 2006. The Mustangs face a tough test Friday at Bayport-Blue Point, but should clinch against Southampton Saturday. The Mustangs beat Southampton, 8-0, in their last meeting Oct. 10. They end Oct. 23 against Mattituck.

Miller Place (4-5-1) dug itself a hole with a 0-0 tie last Saturday against East Hampton. The Panthers needed a win and must now beat Shoreham and Westhampton to clinch a playoff spot. The Panthers loss to Rocky Point Wednesday might have been their last chance to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Panthers could tie Shoreham and get in with a win at Westhampton. Don't expect the Wildcats, though, to bring anything but their 'A' game to Miller Place Friday.

OUT: Longwood (1-8-1)

BOYS SOCCER

IN: Miller Place, Mount Sinai, Shoreham-Wading River

The Panthers and Mustangs will face each other Saturday night in a game that will go a long way in determining the League VI champion. Miller Place sits at 7-1-3 and Mount Sinai is 8-2-1. The teams are tied in points so a win Saturday is crucial. Both teams still have to face Shoreham-Wading River, which is no easy task.  Miller Place faces the Wildcats Monday while the Mustangs meet the Wildcats Wednesday. Mount Sinai also faces East Hampton while Miller Place ends the season against Westhampton.

The Wildcats looked like a contender to win the League VI title, but stumbled by losing four of five games and lost its coach, Louis Manoussos, replaced by Sal Mignano. But the Wildcats are 2-1 under Mignano and clinched a playoff berth Thursday night with a 6-0 thumping of Amityville. The Wildcats (7-5) won't win the league title, but can still make noise in the playoffs and will be seeded lower than they really should be.

BUBBLE: Longwood

Longwood sits at 5-5-1 in League I and needs two wins in its last three games to clinch a playoff spot. With Brentwood looming in the season finale, that means the Lions need to win their next two games against Ward Melville and Sachem East. It won't be easy. The Lions lost to Melville, 3-1, their first meeting and tied Sachem East, 1-1.

OUT: Rocky Point (1-8-2 League V)

FIELD HOCKEY

IN: Shoreham-Wading River, Miller Place, Rocky Point

All three teams are in the Class B playoffs. The only question is where the teams will be seeded. Miller Place faces Rocky Point Friday for a pivotal game that will determine which team gets a higher seed. Shoreham will likely finish first in Division III once again. 

GIRLS TENNIS

IN: Longwood, Mt. Sinai

Correction to earlier post: The top four teams get in from the upper divisions, so Longwood (5-5) and Mt. Sinai are both in (4-6), but will likely face outbracket matches to get in to the 16-team tournament.

OUT: Rocky Point, Miller Place, Shoreham-Wading River

Miller Place (8-4 League VI) and Rocky Point (7-5 League VIII) needed to win their leagues to earn a spot in the 16-team tournament. Shoreham was winless entering Thursday in League VII.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

IN: Mount Sinai

The Mustangs benefitted the other day when Babylon lost to fall to 8-3. The Mustangs are 9-2, but still have to face John Glenn once more, which means they'll have at least three losses as well. So it shapes up for the Mustangs and Babylon to face off in the last game of the season to determine which team earns the home-court advantage in the first round of the Class B playoffs. The teams will then meet in the playoffs to determine who faces Glenn in the county championship. Babylon beat Mount Sinai in the first meeting this season. Mount Sinai beat Babylon in the playoffs last year. John Glenn will face Bayport. The Knights likely won't be tested until at least the Long Island championship, possibly later.

BUBBLE: Rocky Point, Miller Place

One team will be eliminated Friday when the teams face each other at Miller Place. The winning team will then likely be eliminated shortly after. The Panthers are 3-6 in League VI and need to win their last three matches. The Eagles are 3-5 with four matches left and need to win three of four.

OUT: Longwood (2-7 League I), Shoreham-Wading River (2-7 League VI)