Albany Cougars vs. Newark Memorial Cougars
Time: 10 a.m.
Head coaches: Bill Treseler (Albany), Craig Ashmore (NM).
2014-15: Albany 28-3, NM 14-14.
Through Jan. 7: Albany 8-3, Newark Memorial 6-5
Best win: Albany — Lodi (55-54). NM — El Cerrito (56-54).
Terrific Trios: A — G Marcus Simon; G Billy Treseler, G Josh Friedkin. NM — F Mazae Boyd, C Kevin Kahriman, G Decaurey Brown.
Notable athletic alumni: Albany — 1960 MLB AL Rookie of the Year Ron Hansen, NFL player Louis Mackey, “World’s Strongest Man” competitor Rick “Grizzly” Brown. Newark Memorial — Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, blues guitarist Ron Thompson, standup comic Christopher Titus.
Record last five seasons: Albany 80-61. NM 112-42.
Game on: Battle of the Cougars and two longstanding terrific coaches. … Albany has backed up a landmark 2014-15 season with another stellar season. … All three of Albany’s early losses were by 10 points or fewer. … Newark Memorial was counting on three-year starting point guard Reginald Pugh, who transferred to prep school during the summer. … Newark opened with impressive 5-1 start, including impressive 78-68 opener over Woodcreek-Roseville, but injury to Brown sent team tail spinning. With Brown back, Ashmore believes team is coming together.
Manteca Buffaloes vs. Berkeley Yellowjackets
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Head coaches: Brett Lewis (Manteca), Mark DeLuca (Berkeley).
2014-15: Manteca 22-8, Berkeley 22-11.
Through Jan. 7: Manteca 11-2, Berkeley 10-2.
Best win: Manteca — 73-45 opener over Saint Mary’s-Albany. Berkeley — 70-51 over defending state Division I champion San Ramon Valley-Danville.
Terrific Trios: Manteca — PF Kenny Wooten jr. (14.3 ppg), C Anand Hundal (14.0 ppg), G Dwight Young (10.8 ppg). Berkeley — G Bryan Morris, G Ben Baker, F Bryant Monroe.
Notable athletic alumni: Manteca — Former NFC center Ernie Barber, retired boxer Tony Dominguez, former MLB catcher Ken Huckaby. Berkeley — Phil Chenier, Billy Martin, Jack LaLanne.
Record last five seasons: Manteca 73-64, Berkeley 95-46.
Game on: This should be a battle of muscle for speed. Manteca is led by two of the best big men at the MLK Classic, 6-9 Wooten and 6-10 Hundal. Wooten, who had to sit out last season after transferring, opened this season with a dominating 26-point, 12-rebound, 7-dunk performance in the opener. … This is Manteca’s first time at the MLK Classic. … Berkeley continues to jell under the colorful DeLuca. Without much height, the Yellowjackets have relied on defensive pressure, speed and experience — they have 12 seniors — to get out to a fast start. Berkeley’s season started fast with nine straight wins, including 94-34 over Ygnacio Valley to start the year. An 86-85 overtime win over Logan, which won the Sand Dune Classic, was also impressive.
Salesian Pride vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral Irish
Time: 1 p.m.
Head coaches: Bill Mellis (Salesian), Darrell Barbour (SHC).
2014-15: Salesian 19-11, SHC 17-12.
Through Jan. 7: Salesian 11-4, SHC 5-5.
Best win: Salesian beat Stuart Hall 75-48, SHC 72-58 over Drake.
Terrific Trios: Salesian — F Jamario Bibb, G Brandon McGhee, G James Akinjo. SHC — F Alfred Hollins, F Ramzi Carter, G/F Jamar Williams-Sheppard.
Notable athletic alumni: Salesian — Jahvid Best, Mike Alcott, Jabari Bird. SHC — Kevin Gogan, Joe Cronin, Harry Heilmann.
Record last five seasons: Salesian 123-44, SHC 118-49.
Game on: Youth will definitely be served in this one as the two squads boast just four seniors combined. … Of the 13 Salesian players, nine are either freshmen or sophomores. … SHC’s only senior is standout football player Williams-Sheppard. Both coaches have led their respective teams to state titles. … How SHC copes with Salesian’s pressure will be key. .. Salesian must keep Carter and Hollins off the boards. … Great cross-sectional/bay showdown.
El Cerrito Gauchos vs. The Albany Academy Cadets
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Head coaches: Michael Booker (El Cerrito), Brian Fruscio (Albany Academy).
2014-15: El Cerrito 29-4, Albany 17-4
Through Jan. 7: El Cerrito 6-7, Albany 7-1
Best win: El Cerrito — over Torrey Pines (46-42). Albany — Green Tech (69-54)
Terrific Trios: El
Cerrito — G/F Sayeed Pridgett, C Aaron Banks, G Mustafa Bey. Albany — F
Hameir Wright (18.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg), G/F Steve Low (12.1 ppg), G Sal Arena (11.8 ppg).
Notable alumni: El
Cerrito — Drew Gooden, Jamir Miller, Cornell Green. Albany Academy
— New England RB Dion Lewis, Moby-Dick author Herman Melville, 60
Minutes commentator Andy Rooney.
Record last five seasons: El Cerrito 125-37, Green Tech 69-31
Game on: Two teams that will likely never play again close out the 19th MLK
Classic. … The Cadets are led by perhaps the day’s top college
recruiting in 6-7 junior Wright, who has season highs of 27 points, 12
rebounds and seven blocks. … Low and Arena will spend much of their
attention, trying to slow down Pridgett, a do-everything 6-4 wing, who
was the Gauchos leading scorer last year at 17 ppg. … El Cerrito, which
won 28 games in 2013-14, was supposed to have another big season but
star 6-5 forward Carlos Johnson transferred to Findlay Prep (Henderson,
Nev.) during the summer. … El Cerrito has been competitive in every game
but with three freshman and two sophomores, the Gauchos have
experienced growing pains.
Solomon Young, a senior at Sacramento, is headed to nationally ranked Iowa State.
Photo by David Steutel
Time: 4 p.m.
Head coaches: Derek Swafford (Sacramento), Frank Knight (Moreau).
2014-15: Sacramento 28-6, Moreau Catholic 23-7.
Through Jan. 7: Sacramento 13-0, Moreau Catholic 9-3.
Best win: Sacramento — 73-53 over Saint Francis. Moreau Catholic — 60-59 season-opener over nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth.
Terrific Trios: Sacramento — F Solomon Young, G Christian Terrell, G Sayvon Hines. Moreau Catholic — F Oscar Frayer, G Damari Milstead, G Terrell Brown.
Notable athletic alumni: Sacramento — Kevin Johnson, John McNamara, Jerry Royster. Moreau Catholic —Darren Lewis, Terry Eidson.
Record last five seasons: Sacramento 126-33, Moreau Catholic 94-52.
Game on: No doubt, the game of the day on paper, as perhaps the two top-ranked teams in Northern California tangle. … Everyone will want to watch the match-up of Young and Frayer, both 6-6, but different type of players. Young has played in the block most of his prep career, though the Iowa State-bound standout will have to play on perimeter in college. … Frayer is long, quick with NBA-type of athleticism. He de-committed to Cal in November, but other Pac-12 schools are in demand. … Terrell is a long 6-5 guard with 3-point shooting range. … Milstead, a four-star point guard, has upped his scoring average to more than 20 per game. … Both teams are loaded with 3- and 4-year starters.
Orange Lutheran Lancers vs. De La Salle Spartans
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Head coaches: Chris Nordstrom (Orange Lutheran), A.J. Kuhle (De La Salle).
2014-15: Orange Lutheran 24-6, De La Salle 27-5.
Through Jan. 7: Orange Lutheran 12-3, De La Salle 10-1.
Best win: Orange Lutheran — Birmingham 78-57, De La Salle — Prestonwood Christian 64-47.
Terrific Trios: F Kavaughn Scott, G Chris Williams, F Zac Jervis. De La Salle — G Jordan Ratinho, G Nikhil Peters, F Emeka Udenyi.
Notable athletic alumni: Orange Lutheran — MLB Gerrit Cole, Olympic cyclist Amber Neben, MLB pitcher Brandon Maurer. De La Salle — Former NFL star LB D.J. Williams, MLS soccer standout Chris Wondolowski, Former Super Bowl champion OL and current college analyst Aaron Taylor.
Record last five seasons: Orange Lutheran 105-49, De La Salle 130-28.
Game on: Two stellar programs from each end of the state clash in a premier MLK game. … Nordstrom has built a Southern California power and with savvy point guard Williams (14.0 ppg) and rugged inside presence Scott (13.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg) clicking, sky is the limit for the Lancers. … First-year head coach Kuhle helped lead De La Salle to a state title in 2000 as a player. … After a stellar playing career at Air Force, Kuhle has been a college coach, the last eight at the University of Denver. … He has two fourth-year 6-5 starting guards in USF-bound Ratinho and the rugged Peters. … Both teams have looked sharp in the early going.
Bishop O’Dowd Dragons vs. Saint Francis Lancers
Time: 7 p.m.
Head coaches: Lou Richie (Bishop O’Dowd), Mike Matil (St. Francis)
2014-15: O’Dowd 28-4 (state Open title), Saint Francis 22-6
Through Jan. 7: O’Dowd 5-7, Saint Francis 7-1
Best win: BOD — 77-58 over Riordan; Saint Francis — season-opening 74-46 over Palma.
Terrific Trios: BOD — G Elijah Hardy, G Naseem Gaskin, F Raymond Hawkins. SF — G/F Noah Stapes, C Peter Hewitt, G Curtis Witt.
Notable athletic alumni: BOD
— Former NBA player, now coach Brian Shaw, MLB pitcher Tyson Ross,
former NFL All-Pro Tarik Glenn. SF — Atlanta Hawks instant energy
reserve Tyler Johnson, former MLB outfielder, now analyst Eric Byrnes,
former Cowboys TE Doug Cosbie.
Record last five seasons: BOD — 133-26; SF — 82-63.
Game on: Another
great cross-sectional pairing featuring young, raw and talented O’Dowd
against seasoned and balanced Saint Francis. … The defending state
champs are learning on the fly against a national schedule. … The
sophomore guard tandem of Hardy-Gaskin along with flashy freshman
Hawkins will be fun to watch. … Motil has all the tools, including
perhaps the best big man of the MLK in 6-10 Hewitt, who is headed to
Davis. … At 6-5, Stapes can do it all. … Witt is instant offense off the
bench.
