Too big, too fast, too good: Modesto Christian belts Jesuit to win Division I championship
Bigger, faster, stronger — and better.
This isn’t a new formula for the Modesto Christian Crusaders, who hang championship banners about as often as people file their tax paperwork. It’s been the norm for decades for this small-school program that long ago outgrew its Division V competition.
The Crusaders have towered over the prep landscape. That played out in full display Saturday night at Golden 1 Center in the marquee matchup of the two-day, 12-game CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship showcase.
Looking every bit the part of the best team in Northern California since the start of the season, Modesto Christian crashed the boards and crushed Jesuit’s hopes of an upset with a 79-53 triumph.
It was the first section championship meeting between the section superpowers since 2001, won then by the Crusaders 79-62 at Arco Arena. This marked Modesto Christian’s record 21st section championship, spanning different divisions. Jesuit was seeking its 12th section banner, second most behind Modesto Christian.
Modesto Christian (26-6) so fully expected to win this one, and to also defend its CIF NorCal Open Division championship, that the Crusaders did not celebrate the victory. No one danced or jumped for joy. Not that they didn’t appreciate it. It’s become old hat for coach Brice Fantazia and company.
The only curiosity is how in the world the Crusaders were the No. 3 seed in this tournament when they absorbed no section or NorCal losses. This section relies on, among other things, the MaxPreps computer rankings, which only had Modesto Christian rated as the third best team in the section.
Saturday left no doubt of how wrong that was. Star senior guard BJ Davis had 27 points, slicing through the Marauders or hitting jumpers, and senior guard Jalen Brown had 19 points, also doing a little bit of everything. Prince Oseya, a 6-foot-10 senior interior powerhouse, had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Jesuit (26-5) had its 14-game winning streak halted, a superb Marauders team that went cold from 3-point range, a specialty all season. Most striking was how the Marauders were dominated on the boards. Modesto Christian outrebounded Jesuit by a staggering 47-15 margin. The Marauders made just 2 of 14 3-pointers.
Andrej Stojakovic led Jesuit with 17 points. His father — former Kings All-Star shooter Peja Stojakovic — sat courtside near another former Kings great in Vlade Divac. They and the large throng of Jesuit students had little to cheer as Modesto Christian sucked the life out of the game, leading 36-22 at the half and 53-36 after three quarters.
“We weren’t sharp and they’re really good, and that’s a bad combo,” Jesuit coach Tim Kelly said.
Jesuit will either be in the Open, its first such entry, or remain in D-I for next week’s NorCal tournament. The CIF will release those brackets on Sunday.
Modesto Christian continues to thrive in this sport on a campus that continues to lose enrollment. Modesto Christian is down to 70 students after having as many as 350 in recent years. With just 15 girls students on campus, the girls basketball program folded after the 2021 season. The boys program is alive and well, backed by a community that includes former NBA player and all-time Crusaders great Chuck Hayes, who went on to play in the NBA.