Jesuit Marauders win their first CIF State basketball championship with unique ‘superpower’
Tim Kelly wasn’t sure exactly what he had this high school basketball season, but the Jesuit Marauders coach knew one thing for certain: His guys would compete.
That’s always a foundation for one of the storied programs in the Sacramento region, where expectations are as lofty as the academic load can be heavy duty. On Saturday night at Golden 1 Center, the proud coach was almost speechless upon reflection on a remarkable season that only those within the program could dare anticipate, and then he couldn’t stop raving about his crew.
And there was plenty to discuss.
In one of the most remarkable state championship efforts in the history of the 200-school Sac-Joaquin Section, Jesuit put on a masterful clinic on how to play the game, how to play together and how to take down a Los Angeles City Section heavyweight with national appeal, downing Chatsworth 66-53 to take the CIF State Division II trophy and all the memories that go with it.
One Jesuit player returned from a strong team last season to build around, and that was 6-foot-5 senior guard Asher Schroeder. He emerged as the team’s top player, surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast and a top-notch coaching staff. The pillars of the program are defense and old-school values and fundamentals such as setting screens, boxing out and effort.
“Executing a game plan is these guys’ superpower,” Kelly said afterward in the media room, flanked by players who beamed at becoming the first basketball team to win a state championship in the 63-year history of the Carmichael school. “They take what we tell them, taking a scouting report and executing better than any team I’ve coached.”
That’s eight seasons of coaching for Kelly at Jesuit, but as longtime assistant coach and one-time Jesuit star Matt Clifford said later, this is a Big Red team for the ages. The ages include 10 Marauders teams that reached Northern California finals, including the famed 1993 and ‘94 teams under coach Hank Meyer and prep All-American Isaac Fontaine that lost D-I state titles to Crenshaw of Los Angeles.
Jesuit withstands son of retired NBA All-Star
Jesuit knew it had its hands full with Alijah Arenas in the final game of the season, with good reason. He’s a 6-6 McDonald’s All-American headed to USC the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas — who sat courtside just under 24 hours after 20-time NBA All-Star LeBron James watched his son, Bryce, lead Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth to the state D-I crown.
The USC-bound Arenas had his moments in looking the part of a guy on the fast track to the NBA. He handled the ball, grabbed rebounds and starred in scoring a game-high 22 points in becoming the 14th player in state history to eclipse 3,000 career points. But Arenas missed all seven of his shots in the fourth quarter, and he was outnumbered. He was the only Chatsworth player to reach double figures.
“I feel more of the story was effort on both ends,” the younger Arenas said. “They had more heart.”
Arenas’ father offered encouragement to every Chatsworth player on the bench after the game.
Jesuit had four score in double figures, and eight players contributed in a clinic of execution. The Marauders mirror their coach’s cool and calm approach, and they had 19 assists to just four turnovers.
In the NorCal title win over Destiny Christian Academy of Sacramento, Jesuit had four turnovers. This is how these guys play — smart, together, with purpose and pride. There isn’t a single player on the roster who has a Division I college scholarship offer, unlike several for Chatsworth. But that doesn’t mean the Marauders don’t have players. They have a lineup of them.
“Wow,” Kelly said. “Super proud of this team, super proud of them doing everything the right way, since Day 1. This is a great example of a great team. I’m really proud and thankful to be their coach.”
Jesuit balance and defense sets tone
Freshman guard Maison Phillips, the next star-in-the-making for Jesuit, had 19 points. He scored inside and out and was not wowed by the moment. Schroeder had 12 points to go with six rebounds. Senior guard Luke Browne had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds, and he made six free throws down the stretch to salt it away as Jesuit’s spirited student rooting section celebrated.
Amaury McKinney, Jesuit’s smooth and determined 6-6 senior, had 13 point and six rebounds. Junior guard Brandon Phillips handled the ball, dished out five assists and had four points. Junior guards Sahib Randhawa, Jack Walker and Carson Keplinger provided ball handling and defense and combined for six points.
The night started with Jesuit student Jace Kim delivering a moving rendition of the national anthem with his saxophone at midcourt, and the Marauders backed it up with a game that played to a nice tune. Jesuit played with its preferred patient pace, and its defense held Chatsworth to 20 points below its average, a routine result as the 1-2-2 zone confounds teams.
Jesuit was the last Sacramento-area boys team standing, and came through, joining Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills in 2005 and Elk Grove in 2022 as the area’s only D-II state champions. The Marauders also showed that it’s how a team responds that matters most. In Jesuit’s last visit to Golden 1 Center, the Marauders were crushed by a last-second loss to Rocklin in the section D-II finals.
Jesuit never looked back, winning four NorCal games and then this gem.
“We’ve had some hard moments this season, taking some tough losses, and we got our hearts ripped out (against Rocklin),” Kelly said. “Those teach you lessons, and you learn to use those lessons, and you can do something special, and these guys have. They just kept getting better.”
He added, “The first state championship in our history, and we have great history, this is surpassing my expectations. The names weren’t big going in. There were signs along the way, fall ball games where we knew the guys were going to share the ball. We had moments and quarters here and there, and we knew that if we click, we could have something here. These guys got hot.”
It’s one thing for coaches to say players need to buy in. This lot bought in, right down to the last penny.
“That’s what makes this group special,” Kelly said. “We can talk about defense, talk about offense, talk about the weight room. They have to buy in, and they did. It takes that to win a state championship.”
McKinney is ‘most improved player we’ve had’
Some star power and player growth also helps. That’s Schroeder, the 6-5 senior leader, and McKinney, Jesuit’s still improving big man.
“(Schroeder) plays harder than any guy we’ve coached here,” Kelly said. “Every day in practice, he competes.”
On McKinney, the coach said, “He’s the most improved player we’ve had here. He could not run up and down the court his freshman year. His sophomore year, he was the last guy on the JV team. Last year, he didn’t get much playing time. He got himself into shape, and something clicked with him. He’s been great.”
Said McKinney, all broad grins and pride, “I came a long way. I kept pushing myself, and the hard work paid off.”
The hard work paid off for all of them.
This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM.