CHATSWORTH'S REWARD IS `GREAT FOR VALLEY' CHANCELLORS ARE SEEDED 1ST, ABOVE NARBONNE, SYLMAR.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne Staff Writer

It almost seemed too good to be true. The more Chatsworth High girls' basketball coach Raquel Alotis crunched the numbers and compared schedules, the better things seemed to line up for her team heading into Saturday's City Section playoff-seeding meeting.

The Chancellors (21-4, 10-0) were one of three undefeated league champions, had a favorable record against common opponents and the most wins of any team in the City Section. Alotis nonetheless prepared for any eventuality, given San Fernando Valley schools' perception that they aren't accorded respect from their counterparts ``over the hill.''

As it turned out, she didn't have to worry.

After a relatively tame debate, Chatsworth was awarded the top seed in the City Section playoffs, beating second-seeded Narbonne of Harbor City (17-8, 10-0) and third-seeded Sylmar (16-8, 10-0) in a 7-3-3 vote at Manual Arts High in Los Angeles.

``I was surprised we got (the No. 1 seed),'' Alotis said, ``not because I thought we didn't deserve it, but because it was a fair, impartial vote where people really listened to all the evidence and voted for the team that deserved it the most. I think it's great for the Valley.''

The Chancellors seek to become the third Valley team in four years to reach the City championship game. Narbonne beat Chatsworth in the 2002 final and Sylmar in 2003. No area girls' team has won the City title since 1987, when Kennedy of Granada Hills won the second of back-to-back championships.

Sylmar coach Michelle Chevalier made a strong case for her team receiving the top seed, noting the Spartans played one of the most difficult nonleague schedules in the section. Chevalier said she believed Harvard-Westlake of Studio City's Jan. 29 upset victory over Sylmar cost her team the top spot.

Sylmar lost to Harvard-Westlake by three points, and Chatsworth beat Harvard-Westlake by 29 points early in the season.

``I'm not mad Chatsworth got the No. 1 seed,'' Chevalier said. ``I'm surprised, but I'm happy for them. It's good for the Valley.''

Chatsworth senior center Alisha Bryant said the deciding factor was her team's strong play at the close of the regular season.

``Last year, we lost a league game to El Camino Real (of Woodland Hills) and dropped to the seventh seed,'' Bryant said. ``Two years ago, we lost the last game of the year to Taft (of Woodland Hills) and dropped to fifth. This year, we took care of business.''

Chatsworth opens Friday night against visiting Gardena.

Sylmar plays host to King Drew, No. 7 seed El Camino Real is home against 10th-seeded Crenshaw, the defending City champion, and 13th-seeded Grant of North Hollywood, the Sunset Six League champion, plays at No. 5 Carson.

Valley Mission League runner-up Reseda was seeded 15th and will play at Narbonne.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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GIRLS' BASKETBALL CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS