With strong seniors and smothering defense, Whitney keeps finding a way to win
Nick French has turned Whitney High School into an area basketball powerhouse since he took over the Placer County program in 2013.
The coach instilled a culture that starts with defense and playing fast. And in the biggest moment of Whitney’s season, his team stayed true.
Against Sacramento in the section quarterfinals Friday, the second-seeded Wildcats played difficult defense to force a missed 3-pointer that would’ve sent the game to overtime. Instead, senior Liam Graf came down with the rebound at the buzzer to seal the 50-47 win in the Division II playoff game in Rocklin. Graf also hit a key shot with 17 seconds left to give Whitney that 50-47 advantage.
“I asked these seniors what’s going to be your legacy,” French said. “At the end of the game, all our seniors made big plays for us. I thought we got the monkey off our back on Wednesday night when we beat Cordova, but I am so proud to see our team finally come through in those big moments and make a basketball plays.”
The theme of the game and this season has been the seniors. The star of that group is Ryan King, who led all scorers with 17 points and had two critical layups in the final three minutes. He was big on the defensive side too, blocking shots, getting rebounds and doing whatever his coach asked.
“Tonight was all about defense,” King said. “When we needed a stop, we got it. Our defense really came together in those last few minutes.”
Caveli Hensley and Dom Spence are two more critical senior leaders, both multisport athletes. Hensley was a CIF state champion in the high jump last May and will continue after high school at UC Davis. He had a block off the backboard that got the crowd on its feet in the fourth quarter. Spence was one of the heroes on a Whitney football team that reached the Division II section finals. He was second on the team with six points and had a pair of steals in the fourth quarter.
It’s not unusual for the Wildcats to have athletes who star in more than one sport.
“We push it at this school to do different sports,” French said. “(Football) coach (Zac McNally) and I both come from the same background. Some of my best basketball players were football guys. We love multisport kids.”
French serves as a mentor and coach to all of his players on the off the court. They respect and play hard for him.
“These players are like my children and they mean everything to me,” French said. “I have three sons but my players are just as important. We ask them to do so much throughout the year and they have given us everything. These are the type of kids you want your son to grow up to be.”
On the sidelines, French is fiery and passionate. His players preach it’s the same off the court too.
“(Coach French) is just as intense in practice,” King said. “He pushes us to be better. I know if I listen to him, I’m going to be a better person and basketball player. He’s a great role model and even though he’s very hard on us we always know it’s for a good reason.”
A year after getting eliminated in the first round by Woodcreek, Whitney will host a semifinal contest against the surging Grant Pacers on Tuesday with a trip to the Division II section finals at Golden 1 Center on the line.
“I love it,” French said on playing Grant “The entire year we have been neck-and-neck in the rankings with them. We kinda knew and hoped we would play Grant. It will be fun, hopefully this place is rocking on Tuesday.”
SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION PLAYOFFS
Boys
Division I
Sheldon 98, Gregori 65
Rocklin 69, Modesto Christian 57
Weston Ranch 68, Cosumnes Oaks 64
Capital Christian 85, Franklin 68
Tuesday semifinals, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Rocklin at No. 1 Sheldon
No. 14 Weston Ranch at No. 2 Capital Christian
Division II
Jesuit 83, Ponderosa 59
St. Mary’s 65, Burbank 62
Grant 71, Elk Grove 50
Whitney 50, Sacramento 47
Tuesday semifinals, 7 p.m.
No. 5 St. Mary’s at No. 1 Jesuit
No. 6 Grant at No. 2 Whitney
Division III
Vanden 84, Mountain House 62
Golden Valley 66, Christian Brothers 57
Wood 63, Manteca 40
Central Catholic 77, Del Campo 53
Tuesday semifinals, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Vanden at No. 5 Golden Valley
No. 3 Wood and No. 2 Central Catholic
Division IV
Sonora 65, West Campus 60
Calaveras 57, El Dorado 47
Liberty Ranch 56, Amador 53
Union Mine 69, Venture 68
Tuesday semifinals, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Calaveras at No. 1 Sonora
No. 3 Liberty Ranch at No. 2 Union Mine
Division V
Brookside Christian 90, Hughes 47
Argonaut 77, Sacramento Adventist 74
Denair 61, Buckingham 51
Bradshaw Christian 78, Woodland Christian 66
Tuesday semifinals, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Argonaut at No. 1 Brookside Christian
No. 3 Denair at No. 2 Bradshaw Christian
Division Vl
Ripon Christian 67, Lodi Academy 41
Alpha Charter 62, Sacramento Waldorf 60
Foresthill 65, Vacaville Christian 52
Stockton Christian 74, Victory Christian 58
Tuesday semifinals, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Alpha Charter at No. 1 Ripon Christian
No. 3 Foresthill at No. 2 Stockton Christian