Yes sir! Sacramento Dragons star Sir Marius Jones keys CIF playoff win over Rio Americano
The thing about the high school basketball playoffs is anything goes, or doesn’t.
Take Wednesday night’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II boys postseason opener. Few shots went early for the visiting Sacramento Dragons, then all the shots did against Rio Americano. That included a bucket by Sir Marius Jones off a steal with 42.3 seconds left for a one-point lead. The senior guard then made a free throw with 5.2 seconds to go, and the Raiders’ last effort didn’t go, a 3-pointer at the horn.
Sacramento prevailed 50-48 in a game as good as advertised with the road no easier from here. The Dragons won the last two section D-III championships and find themselves in D-II now due to the section’s “sustained success” formula.
The Dragons don’t sweat the details. They just compete. Next is a showdown Friday night in Placer County against the second-seeded Rocklin Thunder.
“I like our chances,” Dragons coach Sidney Duplessis said, in acknowledging how good Rocklin is and how great the challenge that looms. “I think we have something in store.”
The storied Dragons of Oak Park are 18-11 and can rock the bracket with a spirited effort over a Thunder team that nearly won the powerhouse Sierra Foothill League and then won its playoff opener, 88-75 over Rodriguez of Fairfield.
With Jones leading the charge, the Dragons are a handful. He is headed to UC Irvine of the Big West on scholarship but not until the fall semester. There’s work to be done.
Jones, last season’s Bee Sacramento Medium School Player of the Year, is a rock-solid 6-foot-4 floor leader with the cool name to match the cool game. He can handle the ball, pass it, shoot it inside out and defend. His 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer pulled Sacramento to within 17-12, in what was part of a 22-2 Dragons run.
He finished with 18 points, and 6-8 freshman center PJ Parker had 8 points and 10 rebounds. Parker will have to play even bigger on Friday against Rocklin’s bruising and skilled 6-8 Sacramento State-bound forward Mark Lavrenov.
“Sir Marius has been our leader,” Duplessis said. “We need him poised again on Friday.”
Ian Engh scored 19 and Adrian Devenecia 12 for the Raiders, who finished 18-11.
Boys basketball playoffs scores and schedules
Division I
Modesto Christian 74, Pitman 35
Franklin-EG 57, Oak Ridge 49
Monterey Trail 83, Edison 48
Lincoln-Stockton 77, Gregori 44
Folsom 84, Enochs 39
Vanden 64, Mountain House 42
Weston Ranch 56, Sheldon 53
Inderkum 81, Turlock 33
Friday’s games, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Franklin at No. 1 Modesto Christian
No. 5 Monterey Trail at No. 4 Lincoln-Stockton
No. 6 Vanden at No. 3 Folsom
No. 10 Weston Ranch at No. 2 Inderkum
Division II
Destiny Christian 83, Tracy 52
Antelope 74, Atwater 44
Lodi 61, Merced 48
Jesuit 77, Golden Valley 28
Woodcreek 52, Whitney 44
Grant 70, Elk Grove 57
Sacramento 50, Rio Americano 48
Rocklin 88, Rodriguez 75
Friday’s games, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Antelope at No. 1 Destiny Christian Academy
No. 5 Lodi at No. 4 Jesuit
No. 6 Grant at No. 3 Woodcreek
No. 10 Sacramento at No. 2 Rocklin
Division III
Christian Brothers 71, Oakdale 47
River Valley 58, Central Catholic 55
Twelve Bridges 57, East Union 43
Roseville 77, Foothill 67
Burbank 48, Nevada Union 37
El Capitan 65, Beyer 54
Placer 74, Oakmont 51
Friday’s games, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Fairfield at No. 1 Christian Brothers
No. 12 River Valley at No. 4 Twelve Bridges
No. 6 Burbank at No. 3 Roseville
No. 10 El Capitan at No. 2 Placer
Division IV
Natomas 97, Linden 40
West Campus 59, Sonora 57
Venture Academy 57, Liberty Ranch 43
Marysville 63, Dixon 60
Ripon Christian 58, Sutter 38
Colfax 57, Escalon 45
Ripon 72, Union Mine 61
Casa Roble 77, Calaveras 52
Friday’s games, 7 p.m.
No. 9 West Campus at No. 1 Natomas
No. 5 Venture Academy at No. 4 Marysville
No. 6 Colfax at No. 3 Ripon Christian
No. 7 Ripon at No. 2 Casa Roble
Division V
Woodland Christian 88, Mariposa County 43
Western Sierra 52, Bradshaw Christian 50
Futures 76, Golden Sierra 53
Bret Harte 81, Adams-El Dorado Hills 58
Fortune 94, Adams-Roseville 34
Big Valley Christian 68, River Islands 59
Argonaut 68, Summerville 57
Friday’s games, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Western Sierra at No. 1 Woodland Christian
No. 5 Futures at No. 4 Bret Harte
No. 6 Westlake Charter at No. 3 Fortune
No. 10 Big Valley at No. 2 Argonaut
Division VI
Sacramento Adventist 67, CCAA 55
Foresthill 95, Elliot Christian 83
Byes: Stone Ridge Christian, Elite, Victory Christian, Vacaville Christian, Sacramento Waldorf
Friday’s games, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Sacramento Adventist at No. 1 Stone Ridge
No. 5 Elite at No. 4 Victory Christian
VCA/Stockton Christian at 3 Vacaville Christian
No. 7 Foresthill at No. 2 Sacramento Waldorf
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM.