‘You’ve got to get locked in’: It’s section playoff time in basketball and soccer
Now is the time for the storied programs to flex their muscle, for the upstarts to make a stand and for the underdogs to pounce.
The Sac-Joaquin Section girls basketball playoffs start in earnest Tuesday, with the boys tipping off Wednesday.
So, how does one survive and advance? It boils down to fundamentals.
“It comes down to rebounding, toughness, communication, playing through adversity,” Jesuit boys coach Jon Rotz said. “That’s playoff basketball. You’ve got to get locked in.”
Rotz locked in during his days at Jesuit in the early 1990s, playing guard for section championship teams. Jesuit over the decades has reached 18 section title games, winning 11, but tradition doesn’t box out and rebound or make free throws. Players do.
Jesuit is seeded seventh in as loaded a Division I field as there has been since the tournament started in 1972. The Marauders host 10th-seeded Lincoln of Stockton, and the winner likely earns second-seeded Modesto Christian, winner of a section-record 18 banners. That is, if Modesto Christian tops No. 15 seed Turlock, as 15 seeds have bounced 2 seeds before.
Lincoln is led by 6-foot-8, Cal-bound forward Andre Kelly, who will go against Jesuit’s 6-9 forward Elias King.
“Lincoln’s the best 10 seed in section history,” Rotz said.
Other playoff nuggets to ponder:
Timberwolves time – A year ago, Woodcreek was the top-ranked boys team in Northern California, and backed it up with thrilling, last-minute section D-I and Northern California Open Division titles over Sheldon.
The loss of 6-11 All-American center Jordan Brown to Prolific Prep in Napa didn’t derail the Timberwolves. They earned a No. 9 seed and play at Tracy, where a win could land them into a rematch scenario with Sheldon, the top seed with a 16-game winning streak, thanks to terrific defense and a flurry of guards in Dale Currie, Dom Johnson, Justin Nguyen and Kaito Williams.
Standing tall – In a D-I field featuring size, two bigs to consider are Sheldon’s 6-10 center Chris Wriedt and Folsom’s 6-9 Mason Forbes (7-1 with the ’fro). Defense will be telling.
Staying power – Foothill is in the boys playoffs for a section-best 28th consecutive season, a good many of those under Drew Hibbs, the only regional coach to win two CIF State basketball championships (1994, 2003).
Stephen Colton has coached Foothill the last two seasons. He was on the 2003 Mustangs championship team. The Mustangs play El Dorado in a Division IV opener.
Déjà vu – A year ago, Vista del Lago stunned top-seeded Vanden in overtime in a D-III boys semifinal. The teams play in a D-III opener, with Vanden again the heavy favorite.
Vanden exacted a measure of revenge last season in the NorCal playoffs, prevailing by 12.
They’re back – Ranked No. 1 in the state at Division VI for boys by MaxPreps, here comes Sacramento Adventist again. A year after winning the first section title for any sport in school history, the Capitals of Carmichael are led by program career-scoring leader Griffin Trull, a 5-11 senior guard who has 1,264 points over three varsity seasons and is averaging 19.3 this winter.
Girls basketball
Que Ngo is the tireless assistant coach to Jeff Ota of McClatchy, the defending NorCal D-I champions which loom as a D-I section threat as a No. 5 seed. The Lions open against Brookside Christian of Stockton, a program Ngo willed into a powerhouse, punctuated by a 30-4 season and a state D-V championship in 2012.
The Lions are skilled with size behind Kayla Fermil, Bella Garcia, Kamryn Hall, Nia Lowery and Richelle Turney.
Alumni flashback – Michele Massari will face her old school in a D-II opener, when Sacramento hosts Nevada Union.
Massari, in her 10th season with the Dragons, played at NU in the 1990s under coach Craig Strohm, who led a section powerhouse. Massari is a lot like her mentor: constant energy, animated and proud. They talk regularly.
Soccer
Folsom, ranked second in the state by MaxPreps, is the top seed in the D-I section boys playoffs with a score to settle.
The Bulldogs were the overwhelming favorite to win it last season but a 5-0 semifinal win over Sheldon was forfeited due to a player having competed with a club team on a trip to Germany. That player, Ethan Atteberry, is back, and the 18-0-4 Bulldogs aim to finish this one out. Kevin Grewal and Quinten Petcu lead Folsom with 23 and 14 goals, respectively.
Jesuit, the No. 2 seed in D-I, won the title last season and seeks its ongoing section record 13th banner, all under coach Paul Rose, whose 724 victories are the most in California history. Jordon Vice leads Jesuit with 25 goals.
Folsom beat Jesuit 1-0 Dec. 21 on a Chris Cearlock goal.
Davis is the top seed in girls D-I, seeking a three-peat and the program’s seventh championship. Under coach Sara Stone, Davis has not lost since 2015 in compiling a 61-0-7 record.
Joe Davidson: 916-321-1280, @SacBee_JoeD
SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
All games start at 7 p.m., unless noted
Boys
Division I
Wednesday
No. 16 Edison at No. 1 Sheldon
No. 9 Woodcreek at No. 8 Tracy
No. 12 Oak Ridge at No. 5 Sacramento
No. 13 River City at No. 4 Folsom
No. 14 Vacaville at No. 3 Capital Christian
No. 11 Gregori at No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 7 Jesuit
No. 15 Turlock at No. 2 Modesto Christian
Finals: March 3 at Pacific
Division II
No. 16 Rodriguez at No. 1 Antelope
No. 9 Laguna Creek at No. 8 Del Oro
No. 12 Wood at No. 5 Grant
No. 13 Bear Creek at No. 4 El Capitan
No. 14 Lincoln at No. 3 Whitney
No. 11 Rocklin at No. 6 River Valley
No. 10 Burbank at No. 7 Roseville
No. 15 Stagg at No. 2 St. Mary’s
Finals: March 2 at Pacific
Division III
No. 9 Christian Brothers at No. 8 American Canyon
No. 12 Benicia at No. 5 Patterson
No. 13 Cordova at No. 4 Del Campo
No. 14 Vista del Lago at No. 3 Vanden
No. 11 Yuba City at No. 6 Rio Americano
No. 10 Manteca at No. 7 Golden Valley
No. 15 Los Banos at No. 2 Beyer
Bye: No. 1 Central Catholic
Finals: March 3 at Pacific
Division IV
No. 9 Foothill at No. 8 El Dorado
No. 12 Marysville at No. 5 Weston Ranch
No. 13 Hughson at No. 4 West Campus
No. 14 Highlands at No. 3 Dixon
No. 11 Union Mine at No. 6 Placer
No. 10 Calaveras at No. 7 Ripon
No. 15 Livingston at No. 2 Liberty Ranch
Bye: No. 1 Sonora
Finals: March 2 at Pacific
Division V
No. 9 Western Sierra at No. 8 Golden Sierra
No. 12 Le Grand at No. 5 Elliot Christian
No. 13 Holt Academy at No. 4 Bradshaw Christian
No. 11 Denair at No. 6 Summerville
No. 10 Hughes Academy at No. 7 Mariposa
Byes: No. 1 Argonaut, No. 2 Colfax, No. 3 Brookside Christian
Finals: March 3 at Pacific
Division VI
Feb. 16
No. 9 Stockton Christian 73, No. 8 Big Valley Christian 69
No. 12 Forest Lake Christian 50, No. 5 Sacramento Country Day 42
No. 4 Sacramento Waldorf 68, No. 13 New Life Christian 31
No. 6 Vacaville Christian 62, No. 11 Alpha Charter 38
No. 7 Foresthill 87, No. 10 Valley Christian 64
Byes: No. 1 Sacramento Adventist, No. 2 Ripon Christian, No. 3 Faith Christian
Wednesday
No. 9 Stockton Christian at No. 1 Sacramento Adventist, 7:30 p.m.
No. 12 Forest Lake Christian at No. 4 Sacramento Waldorf
No. 6 Vacaville Christian at No. 3 Faith Christian
No. 7 Foresthill at No. 2 Ripon Christian
Finals: March 2 at Pacific
Girls
Division I
Feb. 16
No. 15 Kennedy 50, No. 18 River City 46
No. 16 Enochs 71, No. 17 Chavez 47
Tuesday
No. 16 Enochs at No. 1 St. Mary’s
No. 9 Woodcreek at No. 8 Turlock
No. 12 Brookside Christian at No. 5 McClatchy
No. 13 Pitman at No. 4 Edison
No. 14 Vintage at No. 3 Cosumnes Oaks
No. 11 Franklin at No. 6 Oak Ridge
No. 10 Lincoln-Stockton at No. 7 Davis
No. 15 Kennedy at No. 2 Folsom
Finals: March 3 at Pacific
Division II
No. 16 Lodi at No. 1 Antelope
No. 9 Roseville at No. 8 St. Francis
No. 12 Nevada Union at No. 5 Sacramento
No. 13 Wood at No. 4 Del Oro
No. 14 Rodriguez at No. 3 Whitney
No. 11 Inderkum at No. 6 Vanden
No. 10 Elk Grove at No. 7 Granite Bay
No. 15 Modesto Christian at No. 2 Bear Creek
Finals: March 2 at Pacific
Division III
No. 16 American Canyon at No. 1 Christian Brothers
No. 9 Vista del Lago at No. 8 East Union
No. 12 Valley at No. 5 Bradshaw Christian
No. 13 Bethel at No. 4 Merced
No. 14 Rio Americano at No. 3 River Valley
No. 11 Los Banos at No. 6 Beyer
No. 10 Manteca at No. 7 Patterson
No. 15 Rosemont at No. 2 Kimball
Finals: March 3 at Pacific
Division IV
No. 16 Orestimba at No. 1 Foothill
No. 9 Sonora at No. 8 El Dorado
No. 12 Calaveras at No. 5 Ripon
No. 13 Hilmar at No. 4 Lathrop
No. 14 Livingston at No. 3 West Campus
No. 11 Liberty Ranch at No. 6 Placer
No. 10 Mountain House at No. 7 Bear River
No. 15 Dixon at No. 2 Union Mine
Finals: March 2 at Pacific
Division V
No. 9 Buckingham Charter at No. 8 Waterford
No. 12 Greene Academy at No. 5 Mariposa
No. 13 Adams Academy at No. 4 Summerville
No. 11 Holt Academy at No. 6 Western Sierra
No. 10 Hughes at No. 7 Golden Sierra
Byes: No. 1 Colfax, No. 2 Argonaut, No. 3 Capital Christian
Finals: March 3 at Pacific
Division VI
Feb. 16
No. 10 Stockton Christian 45, No. 7 Big Valley Christian 40
Monday
No. 9 Turlock Christian at No. 8 El Dorado Adventist
No. 5 Vacaville Christian at No. 4 Valley Christian
Tuesday
El Dorado Adventist/Turlock Christian winner at No. 1 Forest Lake Christian
No. 6 Sacramento Waldorf at No. 3 Ripon Christian
No. 10 Stockton Christian at No. 2 Woodland Christian
Finals: March 2 at Pacific
This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 5:15 PM with the headline "‘You’ve got to get locked in’: It’s section playoff time in basketball and soccer."