Prep boys’ basketball rankings: Inderkum on the rise under a familiar coach
Fred Wilson coached the West Campus High School boys’ basketball team to championship success in recent seasons and now he has that aim at Inderkum.
In his third season with the upstart Tigers, Wilson has Inderkum off to a 6-1 start, punctuated by a 69-54 win over Grant in the championship round of the McDonald’s Christmas Classic in Stockton on Saturday.
That moved Inderkum to 6-1 and up to No. 6 in The Bee’s boys’ basketball rankings. The loss this season was to Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton, a Bay Area power that is still unbeaten. Other big Tigers wins include 101-39 over Christian Brothers, 80-56 over longtime Northern California power Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland, 76-61 over highly touted Vanden and 70-49 over Central Section power Central of Fresno.
Inderkum’s next game is Dec. 21 at home against Bee No. 3 Elk Grove. Derrick Claxton is the star for Inderkum, averaging 25.0 points and 9.5 rebounds. He is a 6-foot-6 wing.
Titans stand tall
No. 10 Antelope won its own Titan Classic with a 60-45 effort over Center as Cabrayon Odon scored 15 to go with 10 rebounds, Donovan Johnson had 13 points and Majer Sullivan 12 points and 13 rebounds. Johnson was the event’s MVP. Antelope is 9-1.
Trojan uprising
Oak Ridge is 8-2 and enters The Bee’s rankings at No. 20. The Trojans went 3-1 last week as skilled 6-4 junior Jacon Olson averaged 25.7 points and went for a career-best 37 in a 62-61 win over Monterey Trail.
Rankings movement, or not
Sheldon remains No. 1 at 3-2 as it has not suffered any regional losses. Jesuit is No. 2 for the same reason, with setbacks to out-of-area programs, including 59-46 in the finals of its own Father Barry Christmas Classic to Brophy Prep of Arizona.
Elk Grove remains at No. 3, Folsom at 4 and Burbank moves up to fifth at 5-0.
Like father, like son
In the mid 1990s, Ben Griffin led the region in scoring as a quick, attacking point guard for Burbank.
These days, his son Isiah Griffin leads all Sacramento-area scorers with a 25.2-point average. The 5-11 senior guard had a high of 35 against Weston Ranch and went for 30 against Fortune Early College.
Omari Nesbit gives Burbank a potent 1-2 punch as the guard averages 22.6 a game.
The Bee’s Top 20
Records entering Monday
1. Sheldon 3-2
2. Jesuit 5-2
3. Elk Grove 6-1
4. Folsom 4-2
5. Burbank 5-0
6. Inderkum 6-1
7. Grant 5-1
8. Ponderosa 6-0
9. Sacramento 1-2
10. Antelope 9-1
11. Capital 3-3
12. Whitney 4-2
13. Bella Vista 6-2
14. El Camino 3-1
15. Granite Bay 6-3
16. Del Oro 6-3
17. Pleasant Grove 7-2
18. Placer 8-0
19. Wood 6-1
20. Oak Ridge 8-2
Bubble (alphabetical order): Davis 3-3; Lincoln 6-1; Marysville 7-0, McClatchy 4-1; McClatchy 5-1; Oakmont 4-4; Placer 4-0; Rio Americano 2-2; River Valley 6-3; Rocklin 6-4; Rosemont 6-1; Roseville 4-2. - Compiled by Joe Davidson
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 7:46 AM.