By Damien Barling
MaxPreps.com
Jesuit won two NorCal playoff games this week, putting itself in position to avenge a devastating loss.
With an 85-34 victory over Paradise and a 58-50 win against Pleasant Valley, Jesuit is now set to face Archbishop Mitty of San Jose - the same team that beat them last year in the NorCal semifinals.
One can argue there is no hotter team in California then the boys at Jesuit. The Marauders have won 30 games in a row and have not lost since Dec. 2.
Archbishop Mitty (28-5) defeated Jesuit 68-65 last year in the NorCal semifinals.
"Mitty knocked us out last year, so this is what we've been working hard for every day in practice since then," Jesuit senior James Edwards said.
This year's NorCal final is set for Saturday, March 17 at the Stockton Arena in Stockton.
Jesuit's Chris Blees continues to perform at a high level, scoring 17 Tuesday against Paradise, and a modest 13 Saturday against Pleasant Valley. James Edwards chipped in 16 to help Jesuit hold on to beat Pleasant Valley in the semifinals.
Jesuit jumped out to a 34-19 first half lead, but Pleasant Valley had a strong fourth quarter to bring the score within six.
"Chris is a great player, so he is going to get double teams," Jesuit senior center Rod Hawkins told the Sacramento Bee. "But we weren't able to get into the lanes as easily, and we were very stagnant shooting from the outside."
Dragons Advance to Finals in Front of All-Star Assembly
With a WNBA superstar, NBA legend, and the winningest coach in college sports history looking on, Vicki Baugh and the Sacramento made quick work of Hercules, winning the quarterfinal game 73-29.
Kara Lawson of the Sacramento Monarchs, former Phoenix Sun and Cal Bear Kevin Johnson, and University of Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt watched as Baugh scored 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in only three quarters of play.
Baugh, who will play for Summitt in Knoxville, was also a central piece in a vicious full-court press that proved problematic for the much smaller Hercules team, causing 19 turnovers.
Coco Davis put on another strong performance, scoring 12 points and snagging four steals. It was Davis who was the recipient of a behind-the-back pass from Baugh in the second quarter that put the Dragons up 26-11.
"She's a good player," Summitt said of her future pupil. "She has the potential to be very good."
Two days later Sacramento marched back onto its home floor and defeated Miramonte, 58-46.
The Dragons took a 25-6 lead after one quarter and fought off a fourth-quarter surge.
"These kids have worked very hard," Sacramento coach John Langston said. "They deserve to keep moving on. It was nice we could get ahead. It was a team effort."
The Dragons, ranked No. 9 in the MaxPreps.com California State rankings, will play Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco - ranked No. 4 by MaxPreps rankings and No. 24 in USA Today's national rankings.
The two powerhouses will meet 10 a.m. Saturday morning, 10am, at the Stockton Arena.
Season Ends For Other Dragon Team
Unfortunately for Sacramento High, the boys basketball season came to an end Saturday as the Dragons fell to No. 2 seed Acalanes-Lafayette, 58-48.
Jordan Fillmore, a 6-8 senior center, scored 22 points, and forward Joey Anderson had 15 points to lead Acalanes.
McClatchy Girls Continue Run
No. 2-seeded McClatchy knocked off No. 3 Oakland Tech, 63-54, continuing its run for the D-I NorCal title.
McClatchy (26-7) will face top-seeded Berkeley at 6 p.m. Saturday at Stockton Arena. Berkeley is No. 8 in the MaxPreps.com California state rankings.
Courtney Hori knocked down five three pointers and scored a game high 18 points. Fellow senior guard Lynn Engbritson had 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Freshman superstar guard Ariel Thomas continued her solid playoff performance scoring 11 points off the bench.
McClatchy has surprised many starting with its defeat of No.1 seeded Kennedy in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title game.
"(McClatchy) may be a surprise to some, but not to me," Oakland Tech coach Orlando Gray told the Sacramento Bee. "They may not have that much size, but this team played with the bigger heart. All I can say is, Berkeley better watch out."
