Prep girls’ basketball: Dixon takes down Calaveras to claim first section title

Golden 1 Center was no crutch for Dixon Rams star Brianna Humphrees and her teammates on Friday afternoon in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game against top-seeded Calaveras.

Humphrees scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and went 11-for-11 on free throws, no easy task given the openness of the NBA venue. Humphrees was her team’s top scorer and rebounder as Dixon won its first section title in its first title-game appearance. Perhaps just as important: the game halted an 18-game winning streak by Calaveras.

The venue was intimidating at first, players said, but the Rams quickly settled in, led by their anchor. A senior, Humphrees braved through multiple knee surgeries in her junior and freshman years. She still wears a knee brace for protection but it hasn’t prevented her from showcasing her skills, including dribbling in the open court or hustling back on defense.

She’s 6-foot-1 and her coach Mike Gilliard said she can play any position ⁠— guard, forward or post ⁠— and still dominate.

“She’s very athletics and can score and rebound,” the coach said.

And Humphrees isn’t just a basketball star. Humphrees plays water polo and is a star softball player. She’s also an honors student, though she joked that she doesn’t know where she gets her height from.

Humphrees plans to attend San Diego Christian University to play softball in the fall.

Dixon principal Stephanie Marquez said Humphrees is well-rounded. She described a time when Humphrees volunteered to help a new student at Dixon, showing her around campus. But Friday’s win wasn’t a one-woman show.

Janie Ming was second on the Rams in scoring with eight points. Dixon’s other starters were Talia Medalle, Grace Nickum, and Ingra Simpson. They combined for six points, nine rebounds and a lot of effort.

In the postgame media sessions, the Rams were a happy bunch. They were proud to remind that they are Dixon born and bred.

Most of them have gone to school together their whole lives. One player said this championship mentality started when they were winning titles in middle school.

Athletic success has become the norm on campus, particularly this academic year. The boys’ soccer team and the football team won conference championships and playoff games. Now it’s the girls’ basketball team’s chance to shine. Players on Friday challenged their fellow students and the community to keep attending games. The games will continue with next week’s NorCal tournament, and maybe a shot at winning a state title.

“Nobody thinks of Dixon as a basketball town,” Gilliard said. “We are now.”

Gilliard, a New York native, moved to Solano County as a part of his work with the Air Force a decade ago. He always coached boys’ basketball, but started coaching the girls nine years ago, appreciating how his players listen and compete. He said this experience has been rewarding.

“We’re worth a watch,” he said.

The Rams went undefeated in the Golden Empire League and kept the momentum going. They came into these playoffs as the No. 2 seed and had high hopes of winning playoff games. There’s potentially still more to come. Seedings for the NorCal tournament will be announced Sunday.

“We came to win,” said Ming, the Rams’ senior guard.

Bailie Clark led Calaveras with 18 points.