Grant breaks through, wins section D-II for Del Paso Heights and their beloved coach
When it was over, players dropped to the knees and wept.
Coaches embraced, pulled away, smiled, and hugged again. They high-fived people they’re not even sure they know.
And there was a sing-song chorus of “Paaaacers” that rang throughout Golden 1 Center on Thursday night with the backbeat from the school’s nationally recognized drum line, all to celebrate their basketball guys. In downing a program that had their number and then some, the Grant Pacers defeated storied St. Mary’s of Stockton 61-46 to claim that Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship as their own.
The Rams edged Grant in D-II title thrillers in each of the previous two seasons and longed for a rematch. Grant coach Deonard Wilson said he had to explain exactly what kryptonite was to his teenagers, the mythical element in the Superman comic series that weakens powers. St. Mary’s had been his program’s strength-sapper.
Grant flexed the muscles this time with an impressive display of defense, passing, scoring inside and above the rim. Guard Corey Yeager scored 16 points to lead Grant (25-5) and backcourt mate A.J. McGee provided 12. Forward Davell Brown had 12 points and six rebounds and guard Johnathan Schooley-Tyson had nine points and 13 rebounds.
No St. Mary’s player reached double figures as Jadyn Marshall led the Rams with nine points and five rebounds.
This marks Grant’s first championship since 1999 when Tony Lowden was coach. Grant also won the D-III banner in 1996 under coach Eric Satterwhite. Grant’s tradition also includes its first title team of 1977, in D-I, under coach Ron Jones.
And now it’s the current edition that was giddy right on into the postgame news conference. For a fierce and formidable lot of Pacers, each young man was OK with showing raw emotions of tears and giggles. This continues to be a family program, where brothers, cousins and fathers played for the Pacers in previous generations. Grant’s success in athletics is shared by Del Paso Heights and, as coach Deonard Wilson says, “North Sacramento and the 95838” zip code.
Wilson is a Long Beach native in his 10th season leading the Pacers. He’s a Pacer to the core now. When he left the Golden 1 floor, longtime Del Paso Heights community leader Margo Santana yelled, “We love you, coach!” Said the coach, “Love you more!”
Said Grant athletic director Carl Reed, “It’s so hard to win your first title. It’s been a tough grind for Deonard. He goes above and beyond for our kids. They love him. He’s a Pacer for Life. He’s our model coach.”
“This is such a special group,” Wilson said of his team. “They genuinely love each other. They do everything right. They play the right way. They’re good kids, good students. They put the student in student-athlete.”
Wilson then flashed a double thumbs up.
“For my age, this means The Fonz (from the TV show “Happy Days”), but for us, it means, ‘I got you!,’” Wilson continued. “This championship is for these kids and for Del Paso Heights, and I can say, ‘I got you!’”
Brown, Grant’s powerhouse forward with a sweet jumper, lay on the floor after the final horn. He said this was a win for his teammates, his school, his community and his father, also named Davell. Pops played on Grant’s 1996 title team.
“I’m just so happy we won,” Brown said. “We’re very excited.”
St. Mary’s (23-9) eliminated top-seeded Jesuit in a semifinal with suffocating defense, and it gave Grant fits in the first half. In the third quarter, it was Grant that played the role of stopper. Midway through the fourth quarter, St. Mary’s had 37 points and was out of steam.
Said St. Mary’s coach Ken Green of Grant, “They’re athletic and experienced and that really showed tonight. They got contributions from multiple players. It wasn’t a lack of effort on our part. I love the way our guys are playing right now. Our season is not over and we are still a dangerous team.”
Both teams advance to the CIF Northern California Regional tournaments that start next week. Brackets will be announced by the CIF on Sunday afternoon.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 6:18 AM.