New unis, same old Grant as Pacers race to NorCal win
The Grant Pacers slipped on the new uniforms Tuesday night for the biggest basketball game of the young lives.
The slick white tops with blue trim had this splashed across the front in bold lettering: NORTH. As in north Sacramento, and Del Paso Heights to be even more specific, where the Pacers have for decades been cheered and beloved.
“When you talk Sacramento basketball, people typically talk about Sheldon, a great program, but they’re in (the Elk Grove Unified School District),” Grant coach Deonard Wilson explained. “The real tradition starts in the north, here, and we’re proud of it.”
The tradition dates back to the 1930s, with championship banners from that era dotting the gymnasium walls. Tradition ages well here, and it continues as Grant impressively extended its season with a 74-54 triumph of visiting San Leandro in a CIF Northern California Division I Regional contest Tuesday.
The CIF’s newish competitive-equity model fits here. Grant has gone from Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion, the program’s first such achievement in 21 seasons, to moving up in division because the seeding committee deemed the Pacers worthy entrants. Seeded sixth in this field, Grant certainly looked the part, racing to a 15-4 lead on the 11th seed after Davell Brown hit a long 3-pointer and was fouled.
The burly senior forward then walked over to Wilson for a quick high-five, then made the free throw. Grant led 34-29 at the half, 55-45 after three quarters, and then stomped on the gas with an 18-5 run to blow it open down the stretch.
The Pacers (26-5) had fresh legs just as the Pirates of the North Coast Section were losing theirs. Grant guards A.J. McGee and Corey Yerger again led the charge, scoring 24 and 23 points, respectively, while also handling the ball and playing defense. Yerger had two dunks in the closing minutes and didn’t even seem winded after the game.
Brown had 15 points and yanked down 11 rebounds, and Jonathan Schooley, Myles Haynes, Jordan Bobo and Jayson Matthews all contributed hustle points. But it all starts with McGee and Yerger.
“McGee is our leader,” Wilson said. “After we got done warming up before the game, he came back out for 20 more shots. I love our backcourt. They give us everything. They all have generations of family that came before them here.”
Yerger’s grandfather, Paul Edwards, played at Grant years ago. He’s a regular to games. Yerger promised a section banner and delivered. Now the Pacers want bigger prizes.
“I think we can get to the state championship, if we play the way we’re capable of,” Yerger said. “I know this all means a lot to the community.”
Winning revs up any campus and community. Grant has been a football powerhouse for generations and has again surged in hoops. The Pacers are the talk of Del Paso Heights, and Tuesday’s game was another overflow setting with the backdrop sound of Grant’s terrific drumline under director James Van Buren.
Grant music teacher Garrett Perkins set the mood with a moving rendition of the national anthem on his sax, and then he sat next to the coaches and charted stats on an iPad.
“We all get involved here,” Perkins said with a laugh.
Said Wilson, the coach, “You wouldn’t believe how excited people are for these kids and this team. It means so much to people around here. I could probably get a free meal anywhere I want in Del Paso Heights.”
The next team meal may come in the East Bay on Thursday, when the Pacers visit longtime powerhouse Salesian of Richmond in the next round. Usually an Open Division team, Salesian is seeded third in this bracket and crushed a good Rocklin club 80-28 on Tuesday to move to 27-6.
Wilson said the momentum of last week’s spirited section effort to beat St. Mary’s of Stockton carried over into this week. He is especially pleased for his seniors for enduring frustrating section-title losses in each of the previous two seasons.
“I told them to hold onto that hurt and that those same tears can turn into joy, and that it comes from the same place — your soul,” Wilson said. “We’re really enjoying this season.”
CIF Northern California boys basketball regionals
Division I
Riordan 82, Modesto Christian 51
Vanden 101, Clovis West 93
Menlo-Atherton 57, Doughtery Valley 54
De La Salle 67, Memorial 52
Salesian 80, Rocklin 28
Grant 74, San Leandro 54
Campolindo 65, Serra 57
Capital Christian 76, Clovis North 61
Thursday quarterfinals, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Vanden at No. 1 Riordan
No. 5 Menlo-Atherton at No. 4 De La Salle
No. 6 Grant at No. 3 Salesian
No. 7 Campolindo at No. 2 Capital Christian
Division ll
Whitney 71, Granada 65
St. Mary’s 73, Clovis East 71
Oakland Tech 56, Menlo School 48
Weston Ranch 79, Piedmont 74
Sacred Heart Prep 61, Alameda 40
Branson 51, Jesuit 43
De Anza 65, Saint Francis 56
St. Patrick-St. Vincent 58, San Ramon Valley 57
Thursday quarterfinals, 7 p.m.
No. 16 Whitney at No. 9 St. Mary’s
No. 5 Oakland Tech at No. 4 Weston Ranch
No. 6 Branson at No. 3 Sacred Heart Prep
No. 10 De Anza at No. 2 St. Patrick-St. Vincent
Division lll
Wood 40, Palo Alto 33
Pleasant Valley 68, Central Catholic 55
Sacred Heart Cathedral 60, Lowell 57
Saint Mary’s 72, Half Moon Bay 50
Sequoia 67, Sonora 57
Foothill 68, Palma 51
Carmel 56, Marin Catholic 53
St. Ignatius 52, Bullard 50
Thursday quarterfinals, 7 p.m.
No. 16 Wood at No. 8 Pleasant Valley
No. 5 Sacred Heart Cathedral at No. 4 Saint Mary’s
No. 14 Sequoia at No. 11 Foothill
No. 7 Carmel at No. 2 St. Ignatius
Division lV
Stuart Hall 55, Santa Cruz 54
Brookside Christian 49, University Prep 43
Hillsdale 78, Urban 77
Hoover 66, Liberty Ranch 64
University 60, Oakland 55
Golden Valley 61, Santa Teresa 41
Clear Lake 66, Kingsburg 53
Lincoln 67, Union Mine 60
Thursday quarterfinals, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Brookside Christian at No. 1 Stuart Hall
No. 5 Hillsdale at No. 4 Hoover
No. 6 Golden Valley at No. 3 University
No. 10 Clear Lake at No. 2 Lincoln
Division V
Pierce 61, Durham 46
Calaveras 64, Fresno Christian 63
Eastside College Prep 62, Oroville 48
Christopher 55, Mt. Shasta 46
San Domenico 75, East Nicolaus 22
Gridley 52, Argonaut 44
Pacific Bay Christian 47, Denair 44
Bradshaw Christian 67, Los Molinos 49
Thursday quarterfinals, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Calaveras at No. 1 Pierce
No. 5 Eastside College Prep at No. 4 Christopher
No. Gridley at No. 3 San Domenico
No. 7 Pacific Bay Christian at No. 2 Bradshaw Christian