Folsom's gutty rally Saturday night was a night to remember. That's because this team is a team to remember.
The Bulldogs came into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title game against upstart Franklin on a roll unlike few large-school teams over the years, winners of 27 straight and boasting of a 29-1 mark (now an even more glossy 30-1 after taking down Franklin 52-50 in one of the best title games we've seen).
Folsom clearly ranks as one of the best D-I teams we've seen from these parts in some time. The old-timer coaches on hand at Arco nodded affirmatively when asked about that, and these are coaches who have led or gone against or watched some of the best teams in regional history.
Off the top of my head, I can only recall the Kennedy team coached by Spider Thomas and led by Andre Watson, Leland Johnson and Scott Saber of 1991 that was this hot. That team started 31-0 before falling to Bishop O'Dowd of Oakland in a NorCal opener, prompting O'Dowd coach Mike Phelps to comment, "31-0 up here isn't like a 31-0 down where we're from." Spider still fumes that the game was moved from Kennedy's cozy home confines to more spacious American River College to accommodate more fans, thus wiping away any home-court advantage.
The Jesuit team of 1993, coached by Hank Meyer and led by State Player of the Year Isaac Fontaine thundered to a 35-1 start, losing only to nationally ranked superpower St. Elizabeth of New Jersey in an early tournament before falling in overtime in the state finals to national No. 2-ranked Crenshaw.
The 1983 Highlands team bolted to a 33-0 start behind coach Carl Montross and high-flyer Sean Chambers before losing in a NorCal opener. And the 1982 Kennedy bunch led by Spider and all-time area great Ernest Lee started 29-0, received an at-large berth after losing in the section semifinals and then was quickly eliminated in the NorCal field.
The point is this: Folsom has something unique brewing here with a golden chance to seize some historic standing. Sacramento basketball has a good reputation, particularly in lower divisions, with Oak Ridge and standout Ryan Anderson stunning national No. 4-ranked Mater Dei in the state D-II finals in 2005, Foothill and coach Drew Hibbs winning two state D-III titles, and the work Meyer did with Jesuit.
But mostly, the D-I field from Sacramento hasn't warranted much respect from the Bay Area folks. And it's warranted. Until the Sacramento region wins more NorCal games at D-I, the Bay Area teams will garner the love, and the victories and the banners.
The Bulldogs, coached by a man whose reputation and pedigree soar by the season in Mike Wall, have one special ingredient. They win all the close games. They do so with experience and poise.
They play defense, they share the ball. And they have a star player in guard Tony Johnson who doesn't view himself as any different than any of his teammates, when clearly, he most certainly is in a class by himself. And he has a steady, reliable support crew. Even when they can't shoot straight like the other night, they compete, they hustle, the will themselves to win. Kori and Brandon Babineaux, Tucker Howarth, Scott Moore, Jordan Richards and Patrick Akins are the cogs that make Johnson so good.
Still, if there was a ripe chance for Folsom to be plucked it was Saturday. Franklin played a perfect first period, storming to leads of 10-0, 15-2, 24-5 and 29-12 on a barrage of Ryan Sypkens plays and Michael Rosaroso three-pointers.
But the Bulldogs kept with it, even when the offense struggled, when only Johnson seemed to have any scoring success. Defense and confidence in each other allowed Folsom to keep the dream season intact.
"Sometimes I look at our team and the tough games we've played and wonder how we have such a great record because you're going to lose games sometimes," Wall said. "But we keep sticking together."
The together includes the coaching staff losing it after downing Franklin. Losing it as in dancing, high-fiving and hugging any soul within grasp. Wall is assisted by Matt Mills and Bryan Greenwalt.
Now: more work. The NorCals are here, and that means the road gets much more daunting. Skyline of Oakland is a traditional power, and as some of those great teams of yesteryear can surely attest, a great record is good for window dressing only.
