Redemption and rematches inspire Sac-Joaquin Section basketball finalists at Golden 1
Now is the time to redemption, or rematches and whatever else might inspire the student-athletes that dot the high school basketball playoff rosters. The Sac-Joaquin Section basketball tournaments conclude Thursday and Friday at Golden 1 Center — six divisions for the girls, six for the boys.
Why no games Saturday? That’s on Miranda Lambert. The country music singer has a concert at Golden 1. The entertainment at Golden I will include programs looking for repeat or finish off unfinished business, or, for El Dorado girls, a shot to win their first blue championship banner in 41 seasons.
Breaking down some storylines:
You, again?
Grant and St. Mary’s at 8 p.m. Thursday meet for the third successive season in the Division II boys finals, the Rams of Stockton winning both in thrilling fashion. Said Grant coach Deonard Wilson, “St. Mary’s ... they’ve been our Krytonite, the team we can’t seem to get past. Great games, great teams, but close losses like we’ve had against them? Those sting the most.”
Looking a great deal better than its No. 6 seed, Grant (24-5) has rolled into the finals. The Pacers have beaten Antelope 72-61, Elk Grove 71-50 and second-seeded Whitney in a semifinal, 61-54 behind guards A.J. McGee, Corey Yerger and Jonatham Schooley-Tyson and forwards Myles Haynes and Davell Brown.
Fifth-seeded St. Mary’s (23-8) is coming off a 48-42 win at top-seeded Jesuit as guard Jamar Marshall scored 23 for coach Ken Green, a graduate of the school.
Rematch, Part II
In boys D-IV, No. 3 Liberty Ranch plays top-seeded Sonora at 4 p.m. Thursday, a rematch of last season’s finale won by Sonora, 73-70 in a terrific showdown of Pattersons.
A year after going for 29 points for Sonora, 6-foot-4 guard Austin Patterson is back to face Liberty Ranch’s Jalen Patterson, who had 19 in that title loss and is averaging 28.4 points this season for the Hawks (18-13. Austin is scoring 22 a game for the Wildcats (27-3), who lost to Liberty Ranch 86-83 in overtime on Dec. 27 behind 42 points from Jalen Patterson.
Sheldon-Capital Rematch, Part III
Sheldon (26-5) is in a section D-I final for the ninth time since 2010, seeking its seventh title. Capital Christian has won titles in lower divisions and is in its first D-I final. The teams meet at 8 p.m. Friday to cap the two days of title games. They played Jan. 18 in a nonleague game, won by Sheldon 88-68 as Josh Williams scored 24 and Marcus Bagley 22.
Capital Christian (24-7) is a young team with one senior starter for first-year coach Matt Filer, a small-school product from Victory Christian whose kids were star hopers for the Cougars in recent years.
VCA Rematch, Part IV
Valley Christian Academy (23-1) has a 21-game winning streak and faces Forest Lake Christian at 10 a.m. Thursday again after posting a 56-50 win over its rival in last year’s final. To add to the intrigue is Forest Lake Christian (22-5) stuck VCA with the lone loss — 63-58 in overtime Dec. 6. VCA has three titles under coach Kim Contreras since 2014.
Freshmen twins Christelle and Gracie Williams average 16.0 and 14.5 points for the Lions of Roseville.
Vanden road warriors
Top-seeded Vanden rolls into Friday’s 4 p.m. boys D-III finale used to the road. The Vikings (25-6) had to play each of their games on the road as sanctions punishment for popular and successful coach Michael Holloway, whom the section office ruled that he confronted a referee after a game earlier this season, though he and the school insist that never happened. It’s a he-said, he-said issue that has motivated Vanden, which reached a final for the first time since 1996 behind leading scorers Teiano Hardee and Agjanti Miller.
Next is No. 2 Central Catholic, led by Dayton Magana’s 18.8 average. Vanden beat Central 83-67 in Dec. 12.
Gas pedals in D-V
The boys D-V game at noon Friday has top seeds Brookside Christian of Stockton and Bradshaw Christian and figures to be fast-paced and prolific.
Brookside (22-8) seeks a third title and is led by junior guard Geronimo De La Rosa, averaging 22.9 points. Bradshaw (18-12) has size and skill, headed by 6-8 forward Javion Cooper, averaing 12.6 points and 12 rebounds, and junior guard Jaylen Patterson, cousin of Liberty Ranch’s Patterson. He averages 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds. Bradshaw has a 70-65 win over D-I playoff regular Monterey Trail and competitive losses to D-I programs dotted across Northern California.
Ram power
Top-seeded St. Mary’s seeks its ongoing section record 13th consecutive title, spanning different divisions, and eighth in succession in D-I. The hurdle is formdable in No. 3 Oak Ridge on Friday at 6 p.m. The Rams (22-4) have won 20 section titles overall and Oak Ridge seeks its fourth under coach Steve White, a winner of 601 games. The Trojans (24-5) impressed in beating No. 2 McClatchy 66-52 in a semifinal with defense, depth and poise.
Falcons soar
Christian Brothers is in its fifth consecutive D-III girls final and third succession under one-time Falcon Shandyn Foster, the coach. She won the title in her first season and agonized over a tough loss a year ago to Bradshaw Christian. The Falcons face upstart Merced at 2 p.m. on Friday. CB (23-8) is led by Sarah Jackson and Bria Shine. No. 5 Merced (27-3) is coming off a 54-50 win over top-seeded Placer.
More storied Falcons
As steady youngsters, Grace Bliss and Jazzy Owens two seasons ago led Colfax past Argonaut 43-38 in overtime for D-V honors. Now they’re the veterans of the program, leading their top-seeded Falcons (26-4) against No. 2 Golden Sierra (14-10) on Friday at 10 a.m. with aim on the program’s 10th section banner.
Golden Sierra has surged this season under coach Meghan Wright and seeks its first title. It last played for a championship in 1984, falling to Colfax, which went on to repeat as CIF State D-III champions. with one of the region’s all-time great teams.
Titans time
Antelope won its first girls D-II banner two seasons ago when Jzaniya Harriel was a poised freshman. A year ago, Harriel wept as the Titans lost in the final seconds to Sacramento at Golden 1 in the finals. Now she’s back, averaging 25.3 points a game, for the top-seeded Titans (28-3) who face storied Del Oro (22-9 and all-time program great Madison Parry on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Cougar time
No. 2 El Dorado (23-7) is in a final for the first time since winning D-II in 1979, taking on top-seeded Argonaut (27-4), seeking its third title in five seasons. El Dorado coach Larry Gray has had balanced scoring, including 9.5 points and 10.2 rebounds a game from 6-foot senior Kim Quicksall.
SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Golden 1 Center
Thursday:
Division VI girls
No. 2 Forest Lake Christian vs No. 1 Valley Christian, 10 a.m.
Division VI boys
No. 2 Stockton Christian vs No. 1 Ripon Christian, noon
Division IV girls
No. 2 El Dorado vs No. 1 Argonaut, 2 p.m.
Division IV boys
No. 3 Liberty Ranch vs No. 1 Sonora, 4 p.m.
Division II girls
No. 3 Del Oro vs No. 1 Antelope, 6 p.m.
Division II boys
No. 6 Grant vs No. 5 St. Mary’s, 8 p.m.
Friday
Division V girls
No. 2 Golden Sierra vs No. 1 Colfax, 10 a.m.
Division V boys
No. 2 Bradshaw Christian vs No. 1 Brookside Christian, noon
Division III girls
No. 5 Merced vs No. 2 Christian Brothers, 2 p.m.
Division IV boys
No. 2 Central Catholic vs No. 1 Vanden, 4 p.m.
Division I girls
No. 3 Oak Ridge vs No. 1 St. Mary’s, 6 p.m.
Division I boys
No. 2 Capital Christian vs No. 1 Sheldon
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 1:28 PM.