The Bee’s Top 20: Top-ranked Sheldon hosts ‘Block Party’ showcase on Saturday

’Tis the season for all-day basketball showcase events in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

The Sheldon Huskies, top-ranked by The Bee since the start of this season, will host its annual Sheldon Block Party Saturday with eight games dotting the menu with seven Bee-ranked teams and a handful of noteworthy Northern California programs.

The nightcap features a rematch of last season’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship in which Folsom dethroned Modesto Christian as king of the prep heap at Golden 1 Center, marking one of the great wins in the long career of Bulldogs coach Mike Wall.

Folsom is Sacramento Bee-ranked No. 3 and Modesto Christian is top-ranked by The Modesto Bee. That game is at 8:30 p.m. Folsom has won seven consecutive games, including its bracket in the prestigious Damien Classic behind leaders Joven Dulay and Parks Weaver.

The other games at Sheldon:

Manteca vs. St. Patrick/St. Vincent of Vallejo at 10 a.m.

Elk Grove vs. Lodi at 11:30 a.m.

Bee No. 15 Christian Brothers vs. Edison of Stockton at 1 p.m.

No. 18 Grant against Weston Ranch of Stockton, which includes two-time Bee Smallest School Player of the Year in 6-foot-3 senior guard Romello Bruhn, a transfer from Woodland Christian of Yolo County. That game is at 2:30 p.m.

No. 14 Natomas vs. Stockton Record top-ranked Lincoln of Stockton at 4 p.m.

No. 13 Sacramento vs. No. 9 Woodcreek at 5:30 p.m. in a meeting of 6-foot-8 marvels in Sac High’s freshman guard/wing William Phillips, one of the top underclassmen in the state, and Woodcreek banger and Long Beach State-bound Max VanLaningham. Sheldon and top scorer Baron Sabir, averaging nearly 24 points a game, takes on Pleasant Valley of Chico at 7 p.m. Pleasant Valley is the top-ranked large school in the CIF Northern Section. Sheldon and longtime championship coach Joey Rollings and staff are 14-3 with no local losses and a six-game winning streak.

Before its showcase Saturday event, Sheldon will host in Delta League action Monterey Trail on Wednesday and Pleasant Grove on Friday. On Jan. 21, Sheldon hosts Bee No. 2 Franklin of Elk Grove in a Delta duel.

Jesuit tops CB at Golden 1

Jesuit has inched up to No. 4 in The Bee’s Top 20 in remaining unbeaten in section play. The Marauders, winners of the 2025 CIF State Division II championship, capped last week with Sierra Foothill League wins over Del Oro (65-47), Granite Bay (69-52) and Whitney (59-41) with a 65-39 non-league conquest of decades-long rival and previously ranked No. 6 Christian Brothers at Golden 1 Center.

Sophomore guard Maison Phillips scored 19 to pace Jesuit, the same total he produced on the same floor in the CIF State final in March. Senior wing/forward Sahib Randawa had 12.

Battle at the Trail

The “Battle at the Trail” on Saturday at Monterey Trail did not disappoint in star power and effort.

• Natomas rolled Solano County power Rodriguez of Fairfield 89-59 as senior guard and fourth-year varsity starter Manno Jenkins scored 30 points on 13 of 17 shooting to go with eight rebounds and four assists. Natomas freshman guard Marcus Harris dropped in 17 and senior forward Villanueva had 15 as 10 Nighthawks players scored to extend the team’s winning streak to seven.
• Bee No. 5 McClatchy moved to 13-3 with its seventh-consecutive victory, downing King’s Academy of Santa Clara County, 71-66, two days after topping Antelope 67-65 in overtime in a Metro League thriller. Guards Jordan Boyce, Gene Castillo and Kai Bradford have led the Lions charge as they climb to their highest Bee ranking in more than 25 years.
• Sacramento topped Nevada state No. 2-ranked Bishop Manogue 87-59 to move its winning streak to five with a Monticello Empire League showdown looming at No. 8 Vanden on Tuesday. The Dragons of Oak Park have been led by team captains James Garrison and Damare Taylor, both senior guards, and standouts
• Vanden raced past No. 16 Monterey Trail 79-55 to move to 11-3 with a five-game winning streak. Vanden of Fairfield was without one of its star players in James Carraway with an injury that isn’t expected to sideline him for too long, but Kamasi Collins was on point. The 6-foot-1 freshman guard had 19 points, making four 3-pointers and playing strong defense, qualities that will make him a national recruit prospect. Monterey Trail was paced by senior captain Baron Roseborough, who had 19 points after dropping in 24 in a Delta League loss to Franklin on Friday. He is the brother of Monterey Trail assistant coach Berry Roseborough.
• In the nightcap, Modesto Christian beat Amador Valley of the East Bay 69-47 as Siincere Hudson scored 24 points in his first game with the Crusaders to go with four rebounds, four assist and two steals. A three-year varsity starter at Inderkum of Sacramento, the guard transferred to Modesto Christian in the offseason and had to sit a CIF-mandated 30 days for switching schools.

Roseville beat Placer in OT

The unranked but ever-dangerous Roseville Tigers beat No. 6 Placer 68-63 at home in overtime last week, proving that the Foothill Valley League race extends past the Hillmen of Auburn.

Senior guard Fabio Alcade-Virtro had 18 points, and senior multi-sport star Oreste Yong had 17 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Tigers, who moved to 9-9 on the season with a three-game winning streak. Senior guard Tyler Ritter scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists for Roseville. Roseville started the season with a slow start but have won seven of eight under longtime program coach and teacher Bobby Ritter. Coach Ritter is the father of Tyler Ritter.

Other teams in the FVL race besides Placer and Roseville include Twelve Bridges of Lincoln (16-2) and Nevada Union (13-6). Nevada Union lost to Placer last week 51-58.

THE BEE’S TOP 20

(Records through Sunday)

1. Sheldon (14-3)

2. Franklin (16-1)

3. Folsom (12-4)

4. Jesuit (10-6)

5. McClatchy (13-3)

6. Placer (17-2)

7. Antelope (13-3)

8. Vanden (11-3)

9. Woodcreek (12-5)

10. Destiny Christian (11-6)

11. Inderkum (11-5)

12. Whitney (13-4)

13. Sacramento (8-7)

14. Natomas (9-7)

15. Christian Brothers (10-6)

16. Monterey Trail (8-8)

17. Del Oro (9-7)

18. Grant (9-4)

19. Casa Roble (12-4)

20. Twelve Bridges (16-2)

Bubble: Oak Ridge (12-5); Roseville (9-2); Rio Americano (11-6); Oakmont (16-0); Rocklin (10-7); West Park (10-8); Granite Bay (6-11); Ponderosa (12-6); Nevada Union (13-6); Sutter (15-4); West Campus (11-5).

This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 12:43 PM.