Folsom wins first Northern California Open game; Sac Adventist, Faith Christian advance
The Folsom Bulldogs became an elite girls basketball program in 2021-22, stamped by their first inclusion in the CIF Open Division state basketball tournament.
But the playoff results stung, growing pains from the climb from mediocrity to record heights. On Wednesday night, Folsom, The Bee’s top-ranked team the last two seasons, beat Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa 55-49 for the program’s first Northern California Open Division victory, setting up the ultimate challenge.
Folsom (26-6) on Saturday will take on the top-ranked team in the county in Mitty of San Jose (28-0), a program with a remarkable legacy led by Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame coach Sue Phillips. The Monarchs have 31 Central Coast Section championships, 15 NorCal championships and six CIF state crowns.
Last season, Folsom lost a 76-70 double-overtime thriller to Salesian of Richmond at home in an Open Division contest. In 2022, Folsom dropped a 51-48 Open game at Clovis West of Fresno. Now, it’s on to San Jose, where Mitty has been state-ranked No. 1 all season by Cal-Hi Sports.
“What a great opportunity, and we love being the underdog,” Folsom coach Lynn Wolking said of the showdown. “We know what we’re up against, but we’re a confident team and fully expect to compete.”
Senior guard Ella Uriarte led Folsom with 17 points against Cardinal Newman. Senior forward Kamryn Mafua had 14 and junior guard Dixie McClanahan scored nine. Avery Masters, a 6-foot-2 freshman post, also played well, Wolking said.
Cardinal Newman came in at 28-2, ranked No. 6 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and No. 2 in Northern California behind Mitty. Folsom halted the team’s 27-game winning streak. Cardinal Newman defeated Folsom 57-49 on Jan. 13 in the MLK Showcase in Stockton.
Mitty had a bye on Wednesday.
Division VI girls
Sacramento Adventist 59, Point Arena 35: The momentum continues for the Capitals of Carmichael, who three days after winning the program’s first Sac-Joaquin Section championship produced the school’s first state playoff victory in eliminating the Pirates of Mendocino County.
Junior forward Victoria Fowler posted 23 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento Adventist (26-6), which won its ninth game in a row. Freshman guard Kyla Friedrich added 15 points for the Capitals, who will now play host to No. 3 Fall River, which rolled No. 6 Mendocino 84-52.
Faith Christian 46, San Francisco Waldorf 40: The Lions of Yuba City bounced back from their crushing 54-49 section finals loss to Sacramento Adventist by winning the program’s first state playoff game.
Seeded fifth, Faith Christian (26-5) on Saturday will visit top-seeded Weed (27-5) of Siskiyou County.
Open Division boys
Modesto Christian 51, De La Salle 49: Gavin Sykes, the former Capital Christian starter, scored off his own miss in the lane as the buzzer sounded to lift the No. 5-seeded Crusaders past the host No. 4 Spartans of Concord in a thriller that was tight the entire second half.
The 6-4 junior guard scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half. Sykes tossed up a runner in the lane with five seconds to go and players scrambled for the loose ball. Sykes came up with it and immediately tossed it in off the rim.
Sophomore guard Myles Jones, who played at Folsom last season, had 11 points for Modesto Christian (28-5). The Crusaders on Saturday will visit top-seeded Salesian of Richmond in a semifinal. Salesian of the North Coast Section is 29-1 with a 17-game winning streak.
Modesto Christian is in its ninth NorCal Open tournament in the last 11 years.
▪ For complete brackets, scores and ticket information, visit the CIF state website.
Girls
Open Division
Folsom 54, Cardinal Newman 49
St. Mary’s 67, San Ramon Valley 61
Bye: No. 1 Mitty, No. 2 Clovis West
Saturday’s semifinals
No. 5 Folsom at No. 1 Mitty-San Jose, 7 p.m.
No. 3 St. Mary’s at No. 2 Clovis West, 7 p.m.
Division VI
Weed 58, Rio Lindo Adventist 27
Fall River 84, Mendocino 52
Sacramento Adventist 59, Point Arena 35
Faith Christian 46, San Francisco Waldorf 40
Saturday’s semifinals
No. 5 Faith Christian at No. 1 Weed, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Fall River at No. 2 Sacramento Adventist, 7 p.m.
Boys
Open Division
Modesto Christian 51, De La Salle 49
Clovis North 49, Bransin 48
Byes: No. 1 Salesian, No. 2 Riordan
Saturday’s semifinals
No. 5 Modesto Christian at No. 1 Salesian, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Clovis North at No. 2 Riordan, 7 p.m.
Division VI
Cornerstone Christian 97, Valley Christian-Roseville 90
Redding Christian 38, Averroes 34
Stone Ridge Christian 78, Point Arena 67
Saturday’s semifinals
No. 5 Redding Christian at No. 1 Cornerstone Christian, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Napa Christian at No. 2 Stone Ridge Christian, 7 p.m.