Live! CIF Northern California basketball finals

Live updates from the CIF Northern California championships Saturday. Look for video, photos, quotes, quips and stats to be added throughout the day.

From Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento 
All videos by MaxPreps videographer Chris Spoerl

BOYS
Open Division
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 70, Capital Christian (Sacramento) 60

The Bishop O’Dowd boys basketball team was expecting Capital Christian’s best shot and it got it to start each half.



What they weren’t expecting was a 29-point explosion from Michigan-bound D.J. Wilson, but despite it all, the Dragons swung back and had plenty in reserve to post an impressive Northern California Northern California Open Division title-game victory at Sleep Train Arena Saturday.

A gimpy 6-foot-10 junior Ivan Rabb had 26 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks and Paris Austin added 18 points as the Dragons (28-4) rolled to their eighth NorCal title win. They’ll play three-time defending champion Mater Dei-Sana Ana, a 59-54 winner over Westchester-Los Angeles.

“Capital Christian made us dig deep,” O’Dowd coach Lou Richie said. “We struggled at times but Capital Christian had a lot to do with it. We’re a pretty resilient group. Our will to win is pretty fierce.”

But the Dragons aren’t just scrappy. They play tough in the post, push hard in transition, pass beautifully and they have plenty of good shooters. When Capital Christian, which lost by 27 to O’Dowd in January, came out to a 9-5 lead and had the home crowd rocking, the Dragons struck on the break, getting fastbreak hoops from Austin, Shane Farley and Rabb. By the end of the quarter, O’Dowd led 21-12 and was on its way.

Capital Christian wilted the rest of the half and trailed 41-25.

“We gave them a run but you have to hand it to them, they're a really good team,” said Wilson, who made 12 of 23 shots and added six rebounds and four assists.



Capital Christian Opened the second half on an 11-4 run, but then the Dragons really turned it on, especially Rabb, who sustained a sprained ankle in a semifinal game Tuesday and didn’t practice for three days. He had four dunks the final four minutes of the third, three on beautifully ally oop passes — two from Austin and one by Juwan Anderson.

O’Dowd led 62-52 heading into the fourth and the lead never got inside 10 points.

“We knew they were going to come hard at us, but we just played our game,” Rabb said. “Now we have one more to get it all done.”

Getting it done against the 10-time state champion Monarchs will obviously be a steep challenge. Led by National Player of the Year contender Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei beat Bishop O’Dowd 63-59 in the finals of Tarkanian Classic in December. The game went to overtime.

Last season, Stanley, then a junior stalwart, outdueled McDonald’s All-American Aaron Gordon and Mitty in the state finals. Now Rabb, considered one of the nation’s top juniors, hopes to do the same to Stanley.

And come home a winner.



Stanley and Rabb play on the same summer AAU team.

“Stanley is my boy,” Rabb said. “I found out how competitive he was during the summer. He hates to lose. But so do we. So do I. We’re both competitors. I can’t wait.”’

Capital Christian coach Devon Jones might have to wait a spell to have a team as talented as this one. Rather than dwell on that, he played kudos to both squads.

"We competed hard and I'm proud of the guys," he said. "Maybe a little bit better defense and it's a closer game. DJ really stepped up and he had the game of his career. He's going out the right way."

Bishop O’Dowd 70, Capital Christian 60

CAPITAL CHRISTIAN (28-4)
Uchenna Iroegbu 3-7 1-2 9,  D.J. Wilson 12-23 3-5 29, Marcelas Perry 0-4 0-0 0, Tyler Jennings 3-7 0-0 7, Nifae Lealao 3-6 1-2 7, Justice Mosely 3-9 0-0 6, Nick Aibuedefe 1-3 0-0 2, Tiegen Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-60 5-9 60.



BISHOP O’DOWD (28-4)
Paris Austin 6-10 4-6 18, Shane Farley 3-7 0-0 6, Juwan Anderson 2-5 0-0 4, Jackson Kalmbach 1-3 6-6 9, Ivan Rabb 13-21 0-1 26, Desmond Chatman 2-6 0-0 5, Austin Walker 0-1 0-0 0, Franklin Longrus 0-1 0-0 0, Parker Hagmaier 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 28-56 10-15 70.

Capital Christian 12  23  17  18  -  60
Bishop O’Dowd  21  26  15  14  - 70

3-point goals: Capital Christian 5-18, Bishop O’Dowd 4-10. Rebounds: Capital Christian 28 (Wilson 6), O’Dowd 40 (Rabb 13), Assists: CC 8, O’Dowd 10. Turnovers: CC 11, O’Dowd 13.



Next page: DI boys — Miraculous buzzer-beater can't curtail Monte Vista versus Freedom{PAGEBREAK}
Division I boys
Monte Vista (Danville) 59, Freedom (Oakley) 51 (OT)

When Freedom's Elliot Smith banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, top seed Monte Vista didn't waver. The Mustangs (31-1) fell behind 51-49, then scored the final 10 points en route to its first NorCal title against a determined Freedom team (26-7) it had beaten soundly twice earlier.



Two free throws by Cal Poly-SLO signee Trevor John (12 points) put Monte Vista ahead 53-51 and consecutive 3-pointers by Grant Jackson (14 points) and Brendan Pedley (13) put this one away. The Mustangs will play Centennial (Corona) in next week's state championship game.

Smith was everywhere with 19 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. But as well as Freedom played and seemed somewhat destined with Smith's banker, Monte Vista's experience with five senior starters was too much. Center Spencer Rust added eight points and nine rebounds.

"We didn't come too far to lose on a big shot like that," said Jackson, who had four steals. "We just huddled together like we always do and said, we got four minutes to go. Let's get after it."

Freedom coach Drew Torres thought his team carried out its defensive plan "to perfection." The Falcons, who lost 71-54 and 57-41 earlier this season, stayed close and then took a brief 33-31 lead late in the third quarter following a 6-0 run. Rodney Pope (12 points) made one of his three 3-pointers in the run.

Monte Vista came right back and looked like it knocked Freedom out with a 10-0 run, capped with a 3-pointer from Rishi Satoor (12 points), to go up 41-33. But Freedom battled back and eventually tied the game at 46 on a putback by Kendall Mcintosh. John drilled a 3-pointer with 1:14 left to make it 49-46 and the score remained that way until Smith's dramatic and unlikely buzzer-beater.

"It felt good when it left my hand and rattled in," Smith said. "But bottom line we lost. We gave a great effort. We played our hearts out. But they got us."



Monte Vista 59, Freedom 51

FREEDOM (26-7)
Nathan Mallett 2-8 1-2 7, Elliot Smith 8-19 2-3 19, Rodney Pope 4-15 1-2 12, Kendall McIntosh 4-5 0-0 8, Joe Mixon 1-5 1-2 3, Nick Evans 0-1 0-0 0, Donovan Pop 2-2 2, Stephen Roxas 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-54 7-11 51.

MONTE VISTA (31-1)
Trevor John 4-11 2-2 12, Brendan Pedley 5-8 1-1 13, Grant Jckson 5-12 2-2 14, Rishi Satoor 3-6 3-4 12, Spencer Rust 1-8 6-7 8, Joseph Mileski 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-48 14-16 59.

Freedom       7  13  13  16   2 — 51
Monte Vista 12 13  11  13  10 — 59

3-point goals: Freedom 6-17 (Pope 3, Mallett 2, Smith), Monte Vista 9-20 (Satoor 3, John 2, Pedley 2, Jackson 2). Rebounds: Freedom 41 (Smith 14), Monte Vista 28 (Rust 9). Assists: Freedom 3, Monte Vista 2. Turnovers: Freedom 17, Monte Vista 12.





Next page: D2 boys — Nothing holds back Folsom over Cosumnes Oaks {PAGEBREAK}
Division II boys
Folsom 68, Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 51

Jared Wall held a towell to his chin at the post-game interviews. He got his chin cracked with an inadvertent elbow in the first half. It didn't stop him - or the rest of the Bulldogs - from letting up in any way during a gritty title win.

He wasn't feeling any pain after the Bulldogs won their their first NorCal title since 1985.

"Nothing is going to hold us back," said Wall, a 6-1 sophomore guard and son of coach Mike Wall.

Said coach Wall: "We have a very competitive group. I think we showed that today and we stayed in the moment."

Sophomore Jordan Ford had 20 points and five others scored between eight and 11 points as top-seed Folsom (32-2) won in convincing end-to-end fashion. 



Jared Wall added 11 points, Josiah Deguara nine and Alec Andrews, Lukas Hendricks and Colin Russell eight apiece for Folsom, which made eight of 19 3-pointers and forced 22 turnovers. The move into Saturday's CIF state finals against St. John Bosco, a 72-55 winner over Compton.

Folsom broke open a tight game early, by going on a 16-4 run starting late in the first quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Wall started the rally.

"When we shoot well, we play with a lot more confidence," coach Wall said. "This is game 34 and we've done it before. We weren't going to change a thing."

As usual, Ford led the way, making 8 of 13 shots, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. He came in averaging

Alex Van Dyke had 14 points, LJ Reed and Jaaron Stallworth 11 for Cosumnes Oaks (16-18), which made just 3 of 17 on 3-pointers.  The Wolfpack actually went 32-3 on the court, but had to forfeit 15 games for using an ineligible player. Folsom beat the Wolfpack 79-62 for the Sac-Joaquin Section title two weeks ago.





Next page: Open Division girls — Salesian true team in win over Miramonte {PAGEBREAK}

Salesian celebrates its Open Division girls championship over Miramonte at Sleep Train Arena.

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Open Division girls
Salesian (Richmond) 78, Miramonte (Orinda) 64

Salesian coach Stephen Pezzola has been saying it all season. And Saturday - on an NBA court — he could scream it to the steep, largely-vacant bleachers.

“Were not just Mariya Moore,” he said after his team’s convincing 78-64 win at Sleep Train Arena. “We’re Salesian High School.”

Kian McNair, Salesian

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Moore is a McDonald’s All-American and the reigning San Francisco Chronicle Metro Player of the Year, but Saturday, saddled in foul trouble, playing the role of player, took just four shots and scored seven points.

But the Pride (30-6), racing to a 26-5 early second quarter lead, had plenty more.

That included Moore’s sophomore sister Minyon Moore (13 points, four assists). Deja Stallworth, a 6-foot-1 senior, grabbed four offensive rebounds, made 6 of 7 shots for 12 points.

Kian McNair, an ever-improving 5-4 junior point guard, made two key 3-pointers, to go with three steals, six assists and a team-high 18 points. Taylor Crowder came off the bench in the third when Miramonte (30-2) made a strong run to score eight.

Zoe Correal, a 6-4 post, and glue starter Alana Horton combined for 15 points. The Pride play Long Beach Poly in next week’s state title game.

“I wish I wouldn’t have fouled so much and helped me team more on the court,” said Mariya Moore, who had nine assists and seven rebounds. “But I always have faith in my team. I knew we could maintain our lead and win.”

Miramonte, coming off an 92-87 win over second-seed Carondelet-Concord, somehow overcame a sluggish start to close to 58-53 early in the fourth quarter following three straight 3-pointers by super sophomore Sabrina Ionescu (23 points).

But Salesian had too depth and poise. I 3-pointer by Mariya Moore midway through the fourth was the key dagger.

Breanna Alford, one of four Miramonte seniors, finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Matadors committed 27 turnovers.

“Maybe the Carondelet game was our championship game,” Miramonte coach Kelly Sopak said. “We had two big wins on the road and we came out a little sluggish. But Salesian had a lot to do with that.”



Next page: Divison I girls — Pleasant Grove completes improbable mission over Berkeley {PAGEBREAK}

Pleasant Grove celebrates its first Northern California title with a 51-42 win over 12-time champion Berkeley at Sleep Train Arena.

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Division I Girls
Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 51, Berkeley 42
Brittany Nguyen had 14 points and Aaliyah Pena added 13 as the 11th-seeded Eagles completed their unlikely run to their first Northern California championship, fittingly against the queens of Northern California basketball.

Brittany Nguyen, Pleasant Grove

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

Pleasant Grove (25-9), which won three road games over lower seeds to get here, withstood every Berkeley rally and closed the game on a 20-9 run behind the inside play of the 6-1 Pena and outside work from Nguyen. The Eagles limited Berkeley, a 12-time NorCal champion, to just 17 of 65 shooting.

Desire Finnie had 16 points and Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman 13 for the Yellowjackets (24-9), who made just 17 of 65 shots (26 percent).

It was a monumental victory for the Eagles, who didn't even win a league title this year and has never won a SJS section crown or even played for a section crown. This was Berkeley's 17th NorCal final.

"It's not really sunk in," Pleasant Grove coach James McKeever said. "I've bought a lot of tickets coming to this game and section title games. To beat a team with a storied history like Berkeley is pretty special."

Said Pena: "I think this just shows if you set your mind to something, you can accomplish anything."

With nine freshman, Berkeley was a surprise finalist itself, but seemed to have found its step in a NorCal semifinal win at Deer Valley-Antioch, which beat the Yellowjackets in the NCS finals.

Aaliyah Pena, Pleasant Grove

Photo by Todd Shurtleff

When Berkeley jumped to a 10-5 lead and seemed to control tempo, Pleasant Grove seemed to be in for a long day. But the Eagles are smart and poised and they kept chipping away. In the meantime, the Yellowjackets kept missing. They were 9 of 32 from the floor, but still maintained an 18-15 halftime lead.

Nguyen opened the third quarter and the Eagles were on their way to a 11-2 run to take a 26-20 lead. Berkeley took the shot and when it tied it early in the fourth, most thought Pleasant Grove would fold.

But three road, all in the Bay Area, each 100-mile trips, toughened up the Eagles. A 3-pointer by Patricia Castrence put them up 48-39 and just about clinched it. Castrence and Kim Schmelz each had nine points for the Eagles.

"We said coming into the other three games no one gave us a chance and no one did today," McKeever said. "They've grown up a lot."

Pleasant Grove now plays Canyon Springs in the state finals. Berkeley coach Cheryl Draper said she was happy for Pleasant Grove and proud of her team's season.

"We had a lot of doubters we'd even get her," She said. "But today we just couldn't put the ball in the basket. Some of it was the tight rims. Most of it was being over-anxious. But give Pleasant Grove credit. They deserved it."



Next page: D2 girls — Mitty goes long range to beat McNair  {PAGEBREAK}

Division II girls
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 57, McNair (Stockton, Calif.) 54

Jahnay Anderson set a Division II NorCal title game record with five 3-pointers – on five attempts – but it was UCLA-bound Kelli Hayeswho made all the plays down the stretch in a terrific back-and-forth contest at Sleep Train Arena. Both scored game highs of 17 points.



Mitty (21-11) finished on a 10-2 run, eight scored by Hayes, who assisted on a Regina Chii fastbreak hoop to take the lead for good 53-52 with 2:31 remaining. The 6-foot-1 senior then went left for a determined left-hand layup to make it 55-52 and after Brittany Butler (14 points) hit a circus shot, Hayes swished two free throws with 8.8 seconds left.

Mandy Coleman, a 6-3 post headed to Oklahoma State, missed a last-second 3-pointer under heavy duress and Mitty, the top seed, won its 10th Northern California in 18 tries. Hayes made all nine of her free throw attempts and added nine rebounds, four assists and took three charges, which thrilled coach Sue Phillips.

Hayes passed WNBA's Danielle Robinson into third place in Mitty's career scoring list.

"Kelly basically took over the game," Mitty coach Sue Phillips said. "But I loved our team defense on that last attempt. It was a total team win."

McNair (28-5), which got 13 points from Tiara Tucker, 12 by Bykema Mobley and 10 points and 18 rebounds from Coleman seemed to take control with a 12-3 run starting late in the third quarter to go up 52-47 midway through the fourth. Hayes had picked up her fourth early in the fourth.

Phillips put her back in and the fourth-year starter responded with back-to-back driving layups, before sending a sweet left-handed bounce pass to Chi to put Mitty back in front.



Like Mitty this season, Hayes started slow, going scoreless for the first 14 minutes, but she finished fast. Mitty now moves on to play Chaminade (West Hills), a 67-50 winner over West Torrance.

"We've proved so many people wrong at this point and now we just want to continue to do so next week," Hayes said.

With Hayes starting cold, Anderson's 3-point shooting was key. It was especially impressive in the NBA arena where most high school players struggle.

"I didn't think I was going to shoot that well here," said Anderson, a 5-4 sophomore. "I knew I had to hit those shots. That was nice."

Asked if he was surprised by Anderson's shooting, McNair coach Anthony Mathews said.

"She wasn't overlooked," he said. "I think we spent so much time paying attention to (Hayes) we lost track of other girls."

Phillips didn't overlook the defense of her 6-foot junior Taylor Todd on Coleman, who made just 3 of 14 shots. Todd also scored 10 points and hit a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.



With only two seniors on the team, Mitty was inconsistent much of the year. But they've peaked just at the right time, said Phillips.

"There were times at practice we looked brilliance this year," Phillips said. "But when the bright lights shined we sometimes lost our mind. But I never lost faith in this group. … The wheels got a little wobbly at times today, but the longer we stayed in the game, the more confident I was our conditioning and mental toughness would prevail. I'm very proud of this group."

As was Mathews of his team. The Eagles had moments of brilliance throughout, but down the stretch they seemed to run out of gas.

"It was frustrating at times out there, but we had a great season," he said. "I think we'll go down as the most dominant public school ever in our area."



Next page: D3-5 boys and girls action at American Canyon High School{PAGEBREAK}
At American Canyon High School



BOYS
Division III
Drake (San Anselmo) 54, Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 49

Jasper Verduin scored 23 points to help lead the ninth-seeded Pirates (26-7) over the Crusaders (19-12).  “They were pressing, I was deep, my teammates found me and I was able to finish,” Verduin said of his three key fourth quarter baskets to help Drake pull the game out. “That's about it.”

Verduin said normally, the Pirates like to be pressed, but Riordan gave them more trouble than they would have liked.

“They had a very good press,” he said. “It was a very high intensity, they were up in us all of the time. They forced a lot of turnovers and that's what got them back in the game.”

The key statistic, besides the final score, was that Drake committed 10 turnovers in the third quarter and none in the fourth quarter.

“Our guys fought and fought to the end,” Crusaders coach Rich Buckner said. “I knew we would catch up to them in the third and the fourth quarters, but when you're only playing seven or eight guys, we expend a lot of energy and once we tied it up, I could see in my guys' eyes they were kind of tired. We're not a  team that's built to play catch-up.”

Riordan led early, but gave up 19 consecutive points over the end of the first and most of the second quarter, to fall behind 27-12. The Crusaders came back to tie the score at 31-31 and the game stayed close until the last two minutes. A one-handed scoop shot by Sam Dines made it 49-45 and that gave the Pirates breathing room.

Jesse Hunt added 13 points for the winners. Jiday Ugbaja and Chiefy Ugbaja each scored 21 points for Riordan, but the Crusaders lack of depth caught up with them.

Division IV
Moreau Catholic (Hayward) 61, Salesian 52

Moreau Catholic (27-6), the top seed,  used good balance to build a 40-21 lead in the third quarter. Salesian did fight back, cutting the deficit to five points in the final minute but didn't have enough left in the tank. Terrell Brown hit four consecutive free throws late for the Mariners to help seal the win.

Brandon Lawrence and Damari Milstead had 15 points apiece for Moreau Catholic. Oscar Frayer had 11 points and nine rebounds but was sidelined with foul trouble for much of the first half.

Jonathan Galloway had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Salesian and was especially effective in the second half when the Pride was fighting to get back into the game.



The Pride got off to a quick start, taking a 12-7 lead after the first quarter and getting Frayer in foul trouble with three fouls before the end of the first quarter.

“I thought we played well, especially in the second half,” Mariners coach Frank Knight said. “This game was won by our sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth players.”

Terrell Brown, Ryan Regner, Tyler Klingenbeck and Alex Johnson came off of the bench for Moreau Catholic. It appeared that once Knight emptied his bench, the Mariners pressure defense got better. Salesian ended up committing 21 turnovers.

The Pride is now 3-3 in CIF Division 4 Northern Regional finals.

Division V
St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) 54, Central Catholic (Modesto) 42
At American Canyon, St. Joseph's coach Don Lippi didn't want his team to forget last season's 47-46 state title game loss to Horizon-San Diego on a 30-footer at the buzzer.

So he put a picture of that final, crushing moment that resulted in his players sprawling on the floor in disappointment on his gym wall.
 
Message received. Saturday the Pilots  took another step toward their goal of a state title with a satisfying victory.   
 
"We have a picture of that shot in our gym," Lippi said of the Horizon loss. "It's in a case and it shows our (emotion) when that shot went in. Some people said it was abusive of me to do that because every time you walk in the gym you see it. But for me, it's why I coached so hard this year."
 
St. Joe's used an 18-point run to end the first half to take a 29-13 lead to get past Central Catholic.



The Pilots also had a big edge on the boards (45-27) behind the play of center Temidayo Yussuf (16 points, nine rebounds) and Lamont Banks (seven points, 10 rebounds). Point guard Esteban Lovato, who didn't play in an earlier loss this season to Central Catholic, chipped in 16 points.
 
Joe Hamilton led Central Catholic with 19 points.
 
The NorCal title was St. Joe's (30-5) fourth consecutive and 10th overall. This was the first NorCal title game for Central Catholic (27-7).     

GIRLS
Division III
Modesto Christian (Modesto) 58, Enterprise (Redding) 56

Stephanie Moore had 18 points, Lexi Tubbs 13 and Jasmine Hampton 12 as second seed Modesto Christian (26-8) fought back from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to stun top seed Enterprise.

Moore made the go-ahead shot with more than a minute to play to go up 57-56 and Tubbs made one of two free throws with less than 10 seconds to play. Enterprise, which got 23 points from Kamira Sanders, 16 by Rachel Martin and 10 from Jordan Kimbrough, finished 28-3.

It was Modesto Christian's third NorCal title while Enterprise was playing in its first championship game.

Division IV
Justin-Siena (Napa) 47, Arcata 26
 
The Braves (29-6) jumped all over the Tigers (26-5), turning what was supposed to be a tight game into a boat race.

Haley Cremen scored a game-high 15 points and Sadie Irvine added 12 for Justin-Siena, which lost to Arcata 49-45 in January.



This time, the Braves didn't allow a single Tiger to score in double-figures. Lauren McCoy led the way with nine points.

Justin-Siena earned its second berth in a state championship game and first since 1985. The Braves are now 2-2 in regional finals. Arcata was making its first appearance in a regional final.

Division V
Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) 61, Brookside Christian (Stockton) 38

Gabi Bade had 16 points, Marissa Hing 12 and Akayla Hackson 10 for second-seeded Pinewood (29-3) which led wire-to-wire against the taller top seed.

Even five-time Pinewood state championship coach Doc Scheppler was impressed with his team’s convincing victory. Pinewood, which held a 45-37 edge on the boards and made nine 3-pointers, trailed only 2-0.

A pair of 9-0 runs keyed the win , which was Pinewood’s eighth NorCal title and vaults them into next week’s state finals against La Jolla Country Day. Lauren Rabena led the Knights (28-5) with 12 points and Ariana Vaughn added 10. 



“One of the finest basketball performances in the annals of Pinewood basketball history,” Scheppler quipped. “Seriously, great game.”