Photo by Steve Watson/The Artful Photographist – Mayleah Jackson and the CR women will open the playoffs at home against Hartnell on Wednesday evening.

Playoff college basketball returns to the North Coast on Wednesday evening after the College of the Redwoods women were handed a home game to tip off their postseason.

The state brackets were announced on Sunday, and as expected both CR teams made the field after each finished second in the Golden Valley Conference.

The CR women received the No. 12 seed in NorCal and will open at home against No. 21 Hartnell.

Tip off for that game is set for 5 p.m.

Hartnell tied San Jose for the best record in the Coast-South Conference (7-1) and is 17-10 overall.

The Panthers will carry some momentum into the playoffs, having won six of their last seven games.

A win for the CR women, who are 16-12, would see them play at No. 5 Santa Rosa in second-round action on Saturday.

GVC champs Butte received the No. 6 seed and has an opening-round bye.

The NorCal bracket features 24 teams, with the top four advancing to the state tournament.

The CR men, meanwhile, received the No. 23 seed in their NorCal bracket and will open at No. 10 Sierra, also on Wednesday.

Tip off for that game is set for 7 p.m.

Redwoods is 19-9 on the season.

Merritt finished in a three-way tie for second in the Bay Valley Conference and has an overall record of 16-12.

The winner of Wednesday’s playoff opener will advance to play No. 7 Las Positas in the second round on Saturday.

GVC champs Feather River received the No. 13 seed and will open against No 20 Merritt.

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The CR men will open the postseason at Sierra on Wednesday night.