Prep basketball rankings: Sheldon hangs in despite rebuilding woes; Grant girls are 9-0
Even the mighty programs endure so-so seasons. Take the Sheldon Huskies, the Sac-Joaquin Section’s preeminent program the last 10 seasons.
Sheldon graduated nine seniors from last season’s group which was on the cusp of three-peating as CIF Northern California Open Division champions before the pandemic halted the season. It can also be argued that since Sheldon and Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland were not able to play for Northern California’s highest hoops honor that both are “co-champions” of NorCal’s Open Division heap.
The Huskies and coach Joey Rollings returned just 3.0 points per game scoring this season in returning senior Jaden Leali. Rollings still scheduled tough this season, with the veteran coach explaining.
“It’s the best way to grow as a team — playing good teams,” Rollings said.
Sheldon (3-5) suffered losses to still-unbeaten Modesto Christian, the top-ranked team in the section this shortened season. Sheldon also lost to Jesuit, which is 13-0, and No. 4 Folsom during a five-game losing streak. Then Sheldon defeated rival Franklin 69-58 and on Monday beat No. 5 Grant by the same 69-58 score as Troy Creighton led the way with 25 points.
Sheldon has trotted out its smallest and most inexperienced team in years but has shown promise. The season finale without any playoffs this season, unless more games are added to the schedule, is a road game at rival Elk Grove on June. 1.
Grant girls roll
At 9-0, the Grant Pacers are in cruise control heading into Tuesday night’s girls’ game against Sheldon. Fourth-year varsity player Diamond Richardson is second on the team in scoring with 10.9 points, behind sophomore Monet Stallworth’s 12.9 average. Junior Samia Smith averages 10.6 points and senior Ra’ven Powell averages 9.7 rebounds.
Bulldogs sweep SFL
Kudos to the Sierra Foothill League for having its own post-league tournament for boys and girls, a three-day, single-elimination event to make up for a lack of any section playoffs.
No. 4 Folsom beat Granite Bay 50-46 at Whitney to take the SFL for the fourth successive season under coach Mike Wall as Jaylen Wells dropped in 12 of his 19 points in the final quarter. Brycen Shackelford, solid to superb all season, had 16. Wells had 15 in a 78-47 win over Whitney in a semifinal as Jake Thoensen had 15.
For the girls, Folsom beat rival Oak Ridge 63-46 to take the SFL as Makayla Rose had 16 points and Charity Gallegos 14.
Nighthawks soaring
The Natomas boys are 8-1 and 3-1 in the Greater Sacramento League with a game at West Campus on Wednesday to cap the season, though teams are still squeezing in games while they can as long as they do not surpass 28 game contacts.
In a 65-52 victory over Leroy Greene Academy, Aiyaun Willis had a season-high 31 points and Pierre Dupont 22. They are seniors who lead the team in scoring at 17.3 and 16.1 points, respectively.
Capital rising
Capital Christian downed Central Coast boys power St. Joseph of Santa Maria 66-64 on a late bucket by C.J. McMillan, who had 13 points. Sione Lose had 15, Caden Flowers 14 and James Freeman 12.
Coach Mike Lorente is packing his schedule as much as possible and willing to take on anyone — there’s still time, Jesuit! — and will play at preseason NorCal No. 1 Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland on June 5.
Prideful win
Bradshaw Christian topped El Dorado 74-73 as brothers Ethan and Jaylen Patterson provided the finishing touches with late-game heroics in finishing with 22 and 14 points, respectively. Tyree Brown had 10 rebounds for the Pride.
THE BEE’S TOP 20
Girls’ basketball
Records as of Tuesday morning
1. Antelope (8-1)
2. Folsom (7-1)
3. McClatchy (2-0)
4. Vanden (8-1)
T-5. Del Oro (10-3)
T-5. Laguna Creek (2-0)
6. Oak Ridge (7-4)
7. Grant (8-0)
8. Inderkum (6-2)
9. Colfax (7-2)
10. Christian Brothers (6-1)
11. Woodcreek (3-7)
12. Granite Bay (3-7)
13. Davis (10-5)
14. Whitney (5-8)
15. Lincoln (6-1)
16. Vista del Lago (5-2)
17. Franklin (2-2)
18. West Campus (0-0)
19. Monterey Trail (3-1)
20. Sheldon (5-1)
Bubble teams (alphabetical order): Del Campo (4-3), El Dorado (5-3), Elk Grove (0-1), Pioneer (6-1), Placer (2-7), Rio Americano (3-5), River City (2-6), Rocklin (2-4), Sacramento (1-3), Sacramento Adv. (12-0) - Cameron Salerno
THE BEE’S TOP 20
Boys’ basketball
Records as of Tuesday morning
1. Jesuit (13-0)
2. Capital Christian (10-2)
3. Elk Grove (7-0)
4. Folsom (11-1)
5. Grant (5-2)
6. Burbank (2-1)
7. Antelope (15-5)
8. Woodcreek (13-3)
9. Whitney (6-3)
10. Rocklin (10-5)
11. Inderkum (5-2)
12. Sheldon (3-5)
13. Cosumnes Oaks (3-2)
14. Ponderosa (7-1)
15. Lincoln (8-4)
16. Wood (7-2)
17. Vanden (7-3)
18. Vacaville (3-2)
19. Oakmont (12-5)
20. Center (7-5)
Bubble teams (alphabetical order): Bradshaw Christian (7-5), Christian Brothers (5-7), Colfax (5-2),Davis (4-3), Del Campo (5-3), El Camino (6-9), El Dorado (10-5), Florin (0-1), Franklin (0-4), Granite Bay (7-10), Kennedy (2-0), Natomas (7-1), Pioneer (6-0), Placer (9-7), Rio Americano (4-6), River City (3-2), Sacramento (3-4), Sacramento Adventist (8-5), 2-5), Union Mine (7-2). - Joe Davidson
This story was originally published May 26, 2021 at 5:00 AM.