Islanders reach playoffs
-- without even playing
The Hawaiian Islanders had the week off, but still managed to qualify for the arenafootball2 playoffs yesterday.
The Islanders clinched a postseason berth thanks to Tennessee Valley's 51-36 win over Memphis at the DeSoto Civic Center.
The Islanders (9-4) will make their first appearance in the af2 playoffs a year after going 5-11 in their inaugural season. They missed out on an opportunity to qualify for the playoffs a week earlier with their 54-36 loss to Quad City on June 28, but earned a berth with Tennessee Valley's help.
"We can breathe a sigh of relief now that we are in the playoffs," Islanders general manager Chris Dey said. "It's a good feeling and says a lot about the organization."
The Islanders hold a one-game lead over Wichita in the National Conference West Division and are currently seeded third in the National Conference standings.
If the Islanders finish third or fourth in the conference, they will host a first-round playoff game on Aug. 1 at Blaisdell Arena. The game time has yet to be determined.
If they can finish in the top two in the conference, they will earn a first-round bye and host a second-round game on Aug. 10 or 11.
The Islanders return to action Saturday with a road game against National Central leader Tulsa (10-3). A win over Tulsa, which also had a bye this week, would vault Hawaii into the second seed in the conference.
Tulsa has won a league-record 25 consecutive regular-season games at home.
The Islanders close the regular season with a game at San Diego on July 18 and a home game against Bakersfield on July 27.
National Midwest champion Quad City (11-2) moved into the top spot in the conference with a 75-29 win over Green Bay yesterday.
Tennessee Valley, the league's only undefeated team, improved to 13-0 in the American Conference's South Division with yesterday's win. Memphis fell to 5-8 in the National Central Division.
ARENAFOOTBALL2 STANDINGS
National Conference
x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title
Central Division W L Pct. Str x-Tulsa 10 3 .769 L1 Arkansas 7 6 .538 L1 Memphis 5 8 .387 L1 Bossier City 3 11 .214 L6 Midwest Division W L Pct. Str. y-Quad City 11 2 .846 W10 Peoria 4 9 .308 L2 Cincinnati 5 8 .387 W1 Louisville 4 10 .286 W1 Green Bay 2 11 .154 L1 West Division W L Pct. Str. x-Hawaii 9 4 .692 L1 Wichita 8 5 .615 L1 Bakersfield 6 7 .462 W1 San Diego 5 8 .385 W1 Playoff seeding
Through yesterday
6. Bakersfield 6-7
1. Quad City 11-2 2. Tulsa 10-3 3. Hawaii 9-4 4. Wichita 8-5 5. Arkansas 7-6