Sacramento girls Top 20: Folsom senior core has ‘unfinished business’ in section title quest

The senior class at Folsom High School has a special connection with a Bulldog’s appetite for a championship.

It’s a rare combination of a starting five in which each player is a four-year varsity contributor. Led by Aryn Bright, Ava Rawlins, Jada Tupou, Sophia Mindermann and Dixie McLanahan, The Bee’s top-ranked girls basketball team looks every bit a championship contender in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section — and possibly beyond.

Rawlins, a UC Santa Barbara-committed point guard, is finally getting a chance to show what she can do after multiple injury setbacks throughout most of her sophomore and junior years. Her twin brother, Chase, stars for the Bulldogs’ boys team, and their older brother, Mitchell, also played for Folsom.

Mindermann would be a favorite in any three-point shootout she decides to enter. It’s rare that a shot from the University of the Pacific commit ever touches the rim. She has a lot of swish to her game.

McLanahan can score inside and out and is committed to play for the Air Force Academy. Despite being the smallest of the bunch, Bright and Tupou play as big and as tough as they’re needed.

What’s more is that there is no superstar feel amongst these Bulldogs. They all have a selfless approach to each game in a lofty schedule that has seen Folsom go 16-3 after a 75-43 win at Oak Ridge in El Dorado Hills on Friday night in a battle of Sierra Foothill League heavyweights.

“I think the fact that our camaraderie helps; we’ve all been playing together or playing against each other in some capacity since second or third grade,” McLanahan said. “Growing up together and playing the game together since that young age, we know how each other plays, and we know who’s hot, who’s making shots that game, so it’s just making sure we get them the ball and executing from there.”

McLanahan and Mindermann each scored 19 points against Oak Ridge. Mindermann hit five 3-point shots and fellow senior Lily Bingaman followed with four to account for all 12 of her points.

Rawlins added 14 points while dishing out some highlight-reel assists. Bright had seven points and Tupou four to help the Bulldogs to their 27th straight SFL win spanning the past two-and-a-half seasons.

“I’m quite pleased with how we’re practicing and playing right now,” Folsom head coach Lynn Wolking said. “We are playing with confidence, great effort, and are very united. We have a tremendous group of seniors that know each other well and it shows on the court.”

This particular group of seniors doesn’t know what it’s like to not reach a section championship game. In 2022, the core group’s freshman season, Folsom was edged out by Oak Ridge by one point in the finals.

The Bulldogs bounced back in 2023 by beating decadeslong state powerhouse St. Mary’s of Stockton for the program’s first section title in the sport before falling to the Rams a year ago. That St. Mary’s team was led by McDonald’s All-American Jordan Lee.

“There’s definitely some unfinished business,” McLanahan said. “There’s definitely an inclination to want to get there again this year and go even further. And to win sections this year is a big goal. Since coming off a loss last year, it’s a big goal for us and this senior group.”

Big matchups

Looking for some good girls hoops games to watch this week? Here are a few intriguing matchups:

▪ No. 14 Liberty Ranch at Union Mine, 7 p.m. Tuesday. Led by the versatile and prolific Haley Smith, the surging Hawks have won 16 straight. The Diamondbacks remain just one game behind in the Sierra Valley Conference and have been led by Adriana Cavallaro, Kyra Wooden and Kamdyn Keeler.

▪ No. 5 Antelope at No. 2 McClatchy, 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Lions took the first meeting, 72-56, but the Titans haven’t lost since. An Antelope win can shake up the Metro League. The visiting Titans are led by freshman Londyn Odom, averaging 16.1 points, and Kamaria Charlo (10.5) and Paradise Manning (9.9). McClatchy is paced by reigning Bee Player of the Year Nina Cain and star guard Norret Lewis.

▪ No. 17 Marysville at Bear River, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Bear River is the reigning section Division V champion and in the hunt for the Pioneer Valley League crown, but Marysville has a dynamic duo in Demi Boykin and Abigail Pietz, who combine for nearly 37 points per game.

▪ No. 6 Whitney at No. 7 Del Oro, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Two SFL teams who could compete for a Division II section crown come late February. Whitney is the defending champion, led in scoring by Kendall Dykstra (12.1 points per game), Tylie Kitchen (9.4) and Natalia Benavidez (8.9). Del Oro is paced by star guard Ysabella Von Seipler.

▪ No. 12 Kennedy at No. 13 Grant, 7 p.m. Friday. Plenty of time for playoff positioning for the Cougars and host Pacers. Kennedy senior Kacie Shinmoto just reached 1,200 career points, and Grant has a rising star in forward Asia Washington.

▪ No. 2 McClatchy at Acalanes, 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The Lions look to stay sharp against the top team from the North Coast Section in a Saturday matinee in Lafayette. McClatchy’s five losses are to out-of-Sacramento competition.

The Bee’s Top 20

(Records entering Monday)

1. Folsom (16-3)

2. McClatchy (16-5)

3. Christian Brothers (16-6)

4. Antelope (15-5)

5. Vanden (13-8)

6. Whitney (13-8)

7. Del Oro (13-8)

8. Oak Ridge (13-8)

9. Colfax (15-6)

10. Inderkum (16-7)

11. Ponderosa (21-2)

12. Kennedy (13-4)

13. Grant (15-7)

14. Liberty Ranch (18-2)

15. Davis (13-8)

16. Monterey Trail (11-5)

17. Marysville (16-5)

18. Rio Linda (17-3)

19. Woodcreek (11-11)

20. West Campus (13-4)

Bubble: Bear River (13-7); Faith Christian (17-2); Lincoln (14-7); Oakmont (15-6); Placer (17-4); Pleasant Grove (13-6); Sac Adventist (16-3); Sacramento (14-7); Sutter (13-8); Twelve Bridges (13-5); Valley Christian (13-4); Woodland Christian (15-5)