NorCal Open roundup: Modesto Christian upsets Newark Memorial

The Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) boys are at it again.

After pulling off two road upsets in the Bay Area last season in Northern California Open play, the Crusaders did it again Friday with a 56-55 first-round win at Newark Memorial.

Mason Washington scored a game-high 20 points and hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to lift visiting Modesto Christian (24-8) to the thrilling victory over Newark Memorial (Newark) (23-8), which got 19 points from Michael Pickney and had its 21-game win streak snapped.

Newark Memorial made just 13 of 22 from the line and Pickney, who scored 13 of his points after halftime, missed two of three free throws with 13 seconds left.

Kevin Hamlet had 12 points for Modesto Christian and he and Christian Ellis combined to block a potential game-winning shot with two seconds left.

See California state basketball playoff brackets

Modesto Christian now plays top-seed Bishop O'Dowd Tuesday in semifinal play. The Dragons had a bye but played Modesto Christian earlier this season.

In that game, BOD prevailed 70-52 just last month. But Modesto Christian upset the top-seeded Dragons in last year's first round and ended O'Dowd's season. 

Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 67, El Cerrito 58

Matt McAndrews scored a career-high 32 points as host and third-seed Mitty (27-4) moved into semifinal play with a wire-to-wire win over sixth-seed El Cerrito (28-5), which got 23 points from sophomore Sayeed Pridgett. … Mitty 6-8 sophomore Ben Kone had 14 points and 18 rebounds and Connor Peterson added 14 points as the Monarchs now travel to Capital Christian in semifinal play Tuesday. … Jovontae Carleton had 12 and freshman Aaron Banks 10 for El Cerrito. … Capital Christian had a bye.

GIRLS

Carondelet (Concord) 85, Sacred Heart Cathedral 70

Nebraska-bound Natalie Romeo had 28 points and Kim Savio came off the bench to score a career high 17 as Carondelet-Carondelet (28-3) defeated Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) in CIF Northern California Open Division first-round play.

Romeo, a relentless 5-foot-7 senior guard, said the second-seeded Cougars were revved by a big crowd at De La Salle-Concord and used their strong and deep bench to move into Tuesday's semifinals against Contra Costa County rival Miramonte-Orinda, who pulled off a mild 94-79 upset over third-seed St. Mary's-Stockton at Delta College.

"We were actually a little distracted by all the people," said Romeo, who also had seven steals and five assists. "We're not used to a big crowd like that. It took us a while to settle down. Our bench really came through."

Especially in the second quarter when seven different Cougars scored during a 24-14 run to take control. That gave Carondelet a 39-30 lead.

SHC (21-7), which played without WCAL co-Player of the Year GeAnna Summers-Luaulu (knee injury), came out with two quick interior baskets by Iimar'i Thomas (18 points) and A'shanti Coleman (14 points), but Christina Chenault (nine points, eight rebounds) and Romeo responded with buckets.

After the Irish, who got a team-high 21 points including five 3-pointers by Gabrielle Vigil, scored three straight, Romeo started a 13-2 run with a 3-pointer and SHC never climbed inside double-digits despite battling to the end. Romeo was 11-for-25 from the floor and scored 18 points in the second half.

Savio, a 5-10 junior, consistently got big buckets inside all night and was 8-for11 from the field. Teammate and Loyola-Marymount-bound Makenzie Cast added 15 points.

"Savio was an animal on the court tonight," Carondelet coach Margaret Gartner said. "With (Chenault) in foul trouble we really asked her to do a lot tonight and she responded. Our whole bench did. It was great to see."

Miramonte (Orinda) 94, St. Mary's (Stockton) 79

Sabrina Ionescu, one of the country's top sophomores, had 31 points, leads the Matadors (29-1) to the win at Delta College, avenging a tough 63-62 season-ending loss to the Rams (25-5) last year in the same building.

Mariah Seals added 15 points, Keana Delos Santos 14, Breanna Alford 13 and Uriah Howard 12 for Miramonte, which took leads of 24-16 and 53-34 after the first two quarters and were never really threatened. Kat Tudor had 23 for St. Mary's.

Miramonte coach Kelly Sopak was thrilled with the win: "St. Mary's of Stockton is the pinnacle of success in Northern California so to beat them at their place in the open division is utterly amazing," he said. "I am proud about how e executed out the game plan and how the kids delivered in the clutch."

Saint Mary's (Albany) 48, Sacramento 32

The Cal-bound duo of Mikayla Cowling (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Gabby Green (10 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, four steals) delivered in this defensive-minded home victory for the top-seeded Panthers (27-7).

St. Mary's held Sacramento (23-9) to 11 points in the first half and led 38-17 after three quarters.

Sacramento, which got eight points, 15 rebounds and four blocks from Arizona State-bound post Ayanna Edwards, closed to 38-29 with 2:19 left, but St. Mary's responded with an 8-0 run.

Salesian (Richmond) 64, St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 55

Louisville-signee Mariya Moore was just too much with 35 points and 6-4 Colorado-commit Zoe Correal added 12 points and 11 rebounds as the visiting and fourth-seed Pride (28-6) pulled off the hard-fought win.

Quinci Mann had 12 points and Josie Little nine for fifth-seed and Central Coast Section Open champion Wildcats (26-5).

The game was tied 13-13 and 26-26 after the first two periods. Salesian took a 45-40 lead after three then pulled away down the stretch.

Salesian and St. Mary's play in semifinal play Tuesday. The teams have played four times - Salesian won the first three times and St. Mary's won the North Coast Section title game.