Prep boys’ basketball: Britton powers Elk Grove past Jesuit for a spot in the semis
Ameere Britton is one of those guys you’d hate to deal with in practice or on the playground.
He’s a bundle of relentless effort and defense, a royal pain, a Dennis Rodman sort with some offensive punch. But you thrive if he’s on your side, in your school colors.
Britton grew up in Elk Grove, dreaming of a chance to play in big games in front of big crowds in such a storied old gymnasium, and he’s living it up as a senior. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior guard, Britton played tremendous defense at times against a player darn near indefensible in Andrej Stojakovic, and he willed his Elk Grove Thundering Herd team down the stretch in a 60-51 victory over Delta League rival Jesuit on Monday night in a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section quarterfinal.
Second-seeded Elk Grove (23-5) hosts defending champion and No. 3-seeded Grant (23-3) Wednesday in a Division II semifinal, the winner advancing to Friday night’s title game at Golden 1 Center against the survivor of the Granite Bay-Whitney semifinal. You can bet Britton will be ready. He scored 25 points against the No. 7 Marauders and forced Stojakovic, son of one-time Kings All-Star shooter Peja, into multiple turnovers in the first half with tight and pesky on-ball defense.
A 6-foot-7 junior guard with a marvelous skill set, Stojakovic dazzled with 31 points, scoring on runners, fade-aways, put-backs and long jumpers as his father watched on with pride. When it was over, Britton and Stojakovic were spent but each found the energy to to praise the other.
“I love playing against Britton because it brings out the best of us,” Stojakovic said. “He’s a great player. He’s super underrated. He carries that team. Even when he doesn’t score, he affects the game.”
Elk Grove coach Dustin Monday said Britton is, “the best defender in Northern California.” He added of his leader and The Bee’s spring season Large School Player of the Year, “Ameere’s a workhorse. He does this every single night. No one plays like him around here on both ends of the court. As brilliant as Andrej was, Ameere had dominating moments.”
Britton is a young man whom Elk Grove football coaches John Heffernan and James Pale deem the best athlete on campus. One can imagine what Britton could do in football, but he’s a basketball lifer, having grown up with a host of his Herd teammates since they were in elementary school. Britton and fellow four-year starter DaJon Lott, a 6-8 senior post with the best nickname around in “Money” never considered leaving the comforts of home in an era when star players come and go in prep sports.
“We stayed together and stayed here,” Britton said. “We wanted to win here. I put in a lot of work, years of work.”
The work includes workouts shortly after the sun rises. A 3.0-GPA student, Britton is hoping to land a scholarship. He hears the vibes and noise: must improve his shot and range. Coach Monday has a counter argument.
“A college can teach him that or work on that, but if you want a defender, he’s your guy,” the coach said. “Put him in your building, on your campus, and he’ll have a championship mindset.”
Elk Grove tied Sheldon for the Delta League championship, having split with Sheldon and beating Jesuit twice in tight games. Monday and Jesuit coach Tim Kelly were puzzled that they met so early in the playoffs. Kelly, one of the classy coaches in the business, was complimentary of the Herd and Britton.
“I saw the bracket and was deflated at first,” Monday said.
Britton had nine rebounds and four steals in an example of his versatility. Stojakovic had six rebounds and senior forward Kai Wallin was tremendous in his Marauders finale, the two-sport star muscling inside for 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Elk Grove is hardly a one- or two-man show. This is a complete outfit that plays fundamental ball with crisp passing, using an inside-out game and hitting 3-pointers, not to mention playing tenacious defense. Karlos Zepeda, another Herd lifer, had three 3-pointers in the second quarter and scored 13 points. Lott had eight points, Isaiah King seven, Jordan Hess three and Grant Golonka two. Those held under single digits contributed in other ways.
“They’re dogs,” Britton said of his mates with flattery.
The backdrop of Elk Grove’s spirited rooting section, including members of the championship baseball and football teams, added to the energy. The noise inspired Monday, who grew up going to camps and clinics in the old Carwright gym and graduated from the school in 2004. Monday’s father, John, was the spirited public-address voice, and, yeah, he got into the fun, too.
Elk Grove hasn’t buzzed like this in this gym since 1995, when Todd Reiswig coached the Thundering Herd to their last section championship, doing so in D-I. Reiswig, a longtime mathematics teacher on campus, attended Monday’s game. The first section banner posted by Elk Grove was in 1974 and ‘75, on the strength of all-time regional great Bill Cartwright and coach Dan Risley. Those dust-covered blue banners hang in the rafters.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had these kinds of crowds,” Monday said. “These kids deserve that kind of crowd.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 2:48 AM.