Modesto Christian tops Sheldon to win CIF D-I crown in battle of section titans
By their lofty standards, the Modesto Christian Crusaders had a disappointing showing to cap last season.
The boys basketball program fell to Folsom in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I finals, thus preventing a championship four-peat, and then lost in a CIF Northern California Open Division opener.
This season? More like the MC of old.
The Crusaders downed Sacramento Bee top-ranked Sheldon of the Elk Grove Unified School District 55-42 on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center to again stand on top of the regional large-school mountain.
It’s the 23rd section banner for Modesto Christian over various divisions, the most in section history by a mile, and that includes a 3-1 finals showing against Folsom. With eight D-I section banners, Modesto Christian broke a tie with Sheldon for the most in section history.
Modesto Christian is 23-4 in title games, all since 1996, as the Crusaders remain a state power despite declining enrollment over the years. And it was a Sacramento product who led Modesto Christian as senior guard Siincere Hudson, once of Inderkum, scored a game-high 17 to go with seven rebounds and five assists to keep the Crusaders unbeaten this season in section play and 26-6 overall.
Trevor Dickson, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, had 12 points and six rebounds, and senior guard Cole Martin had 11 points and four assists for coach Chris Teevan.
Sheldon was in its 13th section final under coach Joey Rollings and staff, seeking his ninth title. The Huskies impressed in a semifinal win over Bee-ranked No. 2 Folsom but struggled with shooting against the Crusaders. They made just 4 of 17 3-point shots and 13 of 49 overall for 26%. The Huskies were outrebounded 38-31 and had just three assists to Modesto Christian’s 16 in dropping to 27-5. Sheldon had won 19 of 20 games coming in.
Sheldon’s top player, 6-5 junior guard Baron Sabir, was cold after scorching teams all seasons, particularly in the playoffs. He made 1-of-9 shots in the first half and went 3-of-17 overall to finish with 14 points. Zech Beatty had 8 points and Tae Carter 7.
Modesto Christian will return to the CIF NorCal Open tournament, and Sheldon will likely be a high seed in the Division I bracket.
