Darius Nelson is at it again.
Darius Nelson is tough in traffic.
File photo by David Steutel
Two nights after scoring 49 in a first-round double-overtime win over
Castro Valley, the 6-foot-6 junior point guard from
Sheldon (Sacramento) scored 24 and hit key back-to-back 3-pointers lifting the Huskies to a 59-57 CIF North Region Division I quarterfinal upset win at second seed
Bellarmine (San Jose) on Thursday night.
Nelson, the younger brother of former Duke star DeMarcus Nelson, is carrying Sac-Joaquin Section’s hopes to reach a much-elusive state championship game at the state’s highest division.
Only twice – back-to-back years starting in 1993 – have SJS teams won the Northern California Division I title.
Sheldon is two wins from that and now travel to third-seed Newark Memorial (28-4) on Saturday.
If Nelson continues to carry the team on its back, the Huskies (28-5) may have a chance. He’s averaging 23.5 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the field and 75 percent at the foul line.
He also is second on the team in rebounds at 7.4, trailing only Ramon Eaton, a 6-8 junior, who averages14.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
He had 19 in Thursday’s win at Bellarmine.
De La Salle (Concord) 67, Oakland 55
Before John McArthur could make it to the bench, De La Salle basketball coach Frank Allocco met him at the scorer’s table and wrapped his arms around his neck.
John McArthur carried De La Salle Thursday night.
File photo by Matthew Farrell
“You are a warrior,” Allocco exclaimed.
It wasn’t the first time Allocco bear-hugged his star 6-foot-9 senior post. Twice after big hoops and in between 3-point plays McArthur thumped his chest numerous times and celebrated along the bench with his impassioned coach.
Clearly, this was a big game.
“I just didn’t want (the season) to end,” McArthur said.
The fourth-year starter and Santa Clara-bound standout made sure it didn’t by scoring a school-record 40 points, 32 coming in the second half, as the top-seeded Spartans fought back from a 10-point deficit to defeat Oakland 67-55 in a CIF North Region Division I quarterfinal game at St. Mary’s College.
Oakland, led by the terrific guard trio of Dominique Taplin, Jabari Brown and T.J. Taylor, was in control most of the game and the score was tied at 51 with 1:42 before De La Salle made 14 free throws down the stretch.
Taplin had 16 points, Brown, the highly touted transfer from Salesian and Findlay Prep, added 15 and Taylor 13.
McArthur made 12 of 18 shots and was 16-for-19 at the free throw line and added 10 rebounds as De La Salle (28-2) must now play East Bay Athletic League rival San Ramon Valley-Danville for a third time in Saturday’s semifinals. San Ramon Valley defeated Serra 65-51.
“He got 40?” Allocco said after the game, noting the school record was 36. “I’m so happy for him. He deserves it. I told the team they should carry him off the court after a performance like that. He was a gladiator out there.”
San Ramon Valley (Danville) 66, Serra (San Mateo) 55
Chris McNealy had 31 points and Tad Fisher added 18 as the fifth-seeded Wolves (28-3) led start-to-finish in this Division I game at Foothill College. San Ramon Valley scored the game’s first 13 points and led by 22 at halftime.
Newark Memorial 48, Castlemont (Oakland) 39
A classic Newark victory, utilizing a super balanced scoring attack with rugged defense to take the home victory and advance to semifinal play against Sheldon.
According to the Contra Costa Times, Khion Sankey had 11 points and Jisuan Randle, Casey Norris and Kendall Andrews combined for 25 for Newark Memorial (28-4). John Green led all scorers with 20 for Castlemont (17-13).
DIVISION II
St. Francis (Mountain View) 75, Rocklin 72
Fresno State-bound Tyler Johnson had 20 points and eight rebounds and the host Lancers (28-3) avenged a loss to the team that eliminated it in the NorCal finals last year at Arco Arena. Tony Williams had 27 points for Rocklin (22-10). The lead changed hands 21 times.
Other action: Tony Giu had 19 points, J.T. Adenrele 12 and Fred Mobley and Alex Ford combined for 21 as Oakmont (24-7) used its superior height to end a fine season for third-seed Redwood 59-45. Redwood (29-3) won its schools first North Coast Section title and 20 straight games before the defeat. … Kyle Toth made an 18-footer at the buzzer giving Mitty a 43-41 home victory over Fairfield. Stephen Meade and Aaron Gordon had 15 points apiece for top-seeded Mitty (21-9).
DIVISION III
Sacramento 87, Miramonte (Orinda) 84
Josiah Turner, the highly-touted 6-3 junior guard, was at it again with 37 points including seven straight during a key fourth-quarter run as second-seed and host Sacramento (25-6) pulled out a tough game against a fast-finishing Miramonte squad (18-14), which got 28 points from Chris Hatfield and 20 by Ross Anderson.
Turner averages 28 points per game. Will Davis had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Sacramento.
Other games: El Cerrito’s dream season continued with a huge 65-57 win at Vista Del Lago as Bobby Syvanthong had 14 points and six assists for the Gauchos. Isaac Goins made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to give El Cerrito (27-4) the lead for good. Hayden Lescault had 21 points for Vista Del Lago (28-4), which was outscored 27-16 in the fourth quarter. Jamontee’ Condor and Jabri Jenkins each had 13 for El Cerrito. … Brandon Ashley had 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks and Jason Barton added 14 points and 12 rebounds as top-seed Bishop O’Dowd (28-3) rolled to a 55-31 win over visiting St. Mary’s-Stockton.
DIVISION IV
Salesian (Richmond) 84, Mission (San Francisco) 65
Defending state champion Salesian-Richmond (31-2) ended Mission’s dream season with a victory at Pinole Valley High. Desmond Simmons had 24 points and Freddy Tagaloa 23 for Salesian, while Javaughn Shannon and Angelo Gulley had 17 apiece for Mission (22-11).
Other games: Justin Pollard and Demetrius Lee had 14 points as host and top-seed St. Mary’s won a very tough game 67-54 over Colfax, which got 14 points and nine rebounds by Ryan Salmonson. … Isaiah Burse was at it again, banking in a 30-footer at the buzzer leading Modesto Christian to a 66-63 overtime win over upset-minded Arcata. Burse, who led his team to a state small-school bowl game football title and who had 26 points in a first-round win, hit the heavily-contested fade away shot as the buzzer sounded. Shooting guards Jordan Semple (29 points) and Conor Burne (21 points led Arcata (26-6). Burse finished with a team-high 19 points and Anthony Pratt added 15 for Modesto Christian (24-8).
DIVISION V
University (San Francisco) 76, St. Francis (Watsonville) 70
San Francisco University (27-7) fell behind 17-3 at second-seed St. Francis-Watsonville (27-2) but rallied for the victory behind 25 points by Zio Enriquez, 22 from Noah Springwater and 15 by Eli Wald.
University travels to third-seed St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda, a 71-29 winner over Liberty Christian-Redding, in Saturday’s semifinals.
Other games: Kenny Rabin had 15 points and Tyler Gaffeney 13 leading top-seed Branson-Ross (23-6) to a 49-41 win over Pinewood-Los Altos Hills at College of Marin. Solomone Wolfgramm had 17 for Pinewood. … Jeremiah Kreisberg had 21 points and Nick Wright 15 as Head Royce took a long trip to Redding to pull out a 73-40 win over Hamilton. A 42-21 run in the middle quarters lifted Head Royce (26-4).
GIRLS
DIVISION I
Berkeley (Berkeley, Calif.) 69, McClatchy (Sacramento) 56
Elisha Davis scored 17 of her team-high 24 points in the second half and Brittany Boyd added 17 as top-seed Berkeley (26-3) held on for a home victory over McClatchy, which got a game-high 28 points by Oregon-bound Ariel Thomas.
Other games: Sacramento State-bound Cyndie Mixon had 14 points leading Deer Valley to a 54-46 win over visiting North Salinas, which managed just 22 points through three quarters.
DIVISION II
Carondelet (Concord) 74, St. Francis (Sacramento) 43
Hannah Huffman had 23 points, Erica Payne 13 and Erin Boettcher and Melissa Russi 11 each as the second-seeded and host Cougars ran away from St. Francis.
Hannah Huffman picked up the scoring slack Thursday.
File photo by David Steutel
The Cougars (25-5) responded well the first game without their top scorer and 3-point shooting threat Ricki Radanovich, who broke her right arm in Saturday’s NCS title game. Russi, who took her place in the starting lineup, made three 3-pointers. A 19-5 run in the second quarter put this game away.
Other games: Greer Kieber had 23 points and Tess Soper 19 as Northgate (27-4) had little trouble going on the road to beat Vallejo 68-52. … Top-seed Mitty (25-5) had little trouble in a 78-51 home win over Bella Vista as Ashley Watson had 11 points and Vanessa Leo, a 6-4 junior, added 11 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. … Nici Gilday had 19 points and Chelsea Punian added 14 to lead Presentation past Woodcreek 65-42.
DIVISION III
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) 70, Vanden (Fairfield) 53
Third seed but, but No. 25 in the Xcellent 25 national rankings O’Dowd received its first competitive game in a long time as the Dragons actually were tied at halftime 31-31. But a 22-9 run in the third put it away. Mikayla Lyles had 18 points and Robie Mayberry 14 for O’Dowd (27-3).
Other games: McDonald’s All-American Chelsea Gray played like one with 29 points, seven assists and six steals as the nation’s No. 1 team St. Mary’s defeated Miramonte 75-53. … Brittany Shine scored 16 points and second-seed Sacramento (27-6) held off a very scrappy and visiting St. Ignatius squad 45-41. Eilise O’Connor had 21 points for St. Ignatius (20-10).
DIVISION IV
St. Mary's (Berkeley) 52, Mercy (San Francisco) 33
Emily Vann had 15 points and St. Mary’s College-bound Danielle Mauldin added 12 as the top-seeded Panthers (29-3) rolled past Mercy (22-9), which got 10 points from Courtney Sabahi.
Other games: Brandi Henton had 24 points and Alexus Tillman 13 as second seed Modesto Christian defeated Justin-Siena 57-47. Modesto Christian played without two starters, one due to illness and another out for the year with a recent torn ACL. … Piedmont (25-8) will get a fourth chance to beat St. Mary’s after defeating Argonaut 46-26.
DIVISION V
Pinewood (Los Altos Hills) 64, St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) 46
Hailie Eckles had 20 points, Emily Liang 16, and Miranda Seto and Kelsey Morehead combined for 23 as top-seed Pinewood won easily at home.
Other games: Branson’s Hannah Caine and Ally Warson combined for 24 points in a 44-30 win over Durham.
