Pardis Vakili (left) and Colin Russell embrace as Folsom celebrates its second-ever Northern California championship, a 68-51 D2 win over Cosumnes Oaks.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Folsom 68, Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 51Jared 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."
Jordan Ford, Folsom
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
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
