Minus stars, Salesian opens with win at Gridley Invitational

Salesian (Richmond) played without three key players from last year's state Division IV runner-up team at the Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament Thursday, but it didn't really matter.

Dominic Artis, the Bay Shore League MVP last year, has transferred to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), while recent Cal football commit Freddie Tagaloa, the team's 6-foot-8 center, is still playing football. Then there is Jabari Bird, the MVP of last week's Jeremy Jack Tournament, which Salesian won, who did not play in Salesian's GIBT opener against Dublin for undisclosed reasons.

Regardless, the Pride jumped out to a 32-12 halftime lead en route to a 69-37 win over Dublin to advance to the second round of the tournament. Salesian won last year's tournament and won the NorCal Regional championship before falling to Windward (Los Angeles) in the Division IV state finals.

Three Pride players reached double figures, led by Markel Leonard with 13 and Jeffrey Parker and Mario Dunn with 12 each.

If Salesian reaches the finals again this year, it won't face Sacramento. The Dragons lost their opener to Newark Memorial 64-52 in their tournament opener. Casey Norris and Paramvir Singh each had 15 points for the winners while Damien Banford had 13.



Eric Kinney had 20 points for the Dragons, but Aaron Cameron was the only other player in double figures with 10 points.

Newark Memorial faces Jesuit (Carmichael), a 73-54 winner over College Park (Pleasant Hill), in one of today's semifinal games. St. Francis (Mountain View), a 79-44 winner over host Gridley, faces Salesian in the other semifinal.

Bryce Pressley knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 21 points to lead the Marauders. Parker Uu added 16 points.

St. Francis receiving scoring from 13 players in the win over the Bulldogs with Matt Stauber the only player in double figures with 12 points.