CIF-Sac Joaquin Section basketball championships: Live updates — Modesto Christian boys, St. Mary's each win 22nd titles
California Interscholastic Federation section basketball championships begin Wednesday at the Golden 1 Center, the home of the Sacramento Kings.
Marcus Washington didn't win much at his previous school, Valley Christian-San Jose. So to arrive at Modesto Christian, the kings of boys basketball in the Sac-Joaquin Section, it was more than a little refreshing.
If not for his game-high 21 points (10 of 11 from the field) and eight rebounds, the Crusaders probably wouldn't have pulled out their record 22nd SJS championship Wednesday with a tenacious 68-63 victory over league rival Lincoln-Stockton.
Modesto Christian celebrates then poses after 68-63 win over Lincoln for the Sac-Joaquin Section D1 championship at Golden 1 Center.
Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson
The 6-foot-4 senior did much of his work in the second half when upstart Lincoln, the seventh seed, simply wouldn't go away. But either to Washington, who made a critical putback with 1:25 to go to go up 63-57.
Myles Jones had 17 points and Gavin Sykes 16 for the Crusaders, who won their third straight SJS title and will likely move into the CIF Northern California Open Division playoffs next week.
"I just wanted to win for this team and for the coaches and the (Modesto Christian) family," Washington told the NFHS Network. "I didn't win much at my last team so I'm just trying to help us go all the way. It's fun to win championships."
It was the third time the Crusaders (27-5) beat Lincoln (26-6) this year, by previous counts of 68-53 and 67-61. Lincoln, which never led in the second half, bot 18 points by Donez Lindsey, 16 from Quentin Thommpson and 13 by Anthony Moore.
Perhaps because of the large gym, neither team fired up many 3-pointers, as Lincoln made 3 of 12 and Modesto just 3-for-10.
Lincoln will likely advance to the NorCal Division 1 tournament next week.
Division 1 girls
St. Mary's 57, Folsom 51
It was a record 22nd Sac-Joaquin Section championship for the St. Mary's Rams girls basketball team.
Remarkably though, it was a first for McDonald's All-American Jordan Lee.
The 6-foot senior who is headed to the University of Texas didn't have her best shooting night (5 of 18) — few did — but she had 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 57-51 SJD Division 1 victory over top-seeded Folsom, the team that defeated the Rams last year.
Lee had plenty of help from freshman Kori Rogers, who had a game-high 21 points with six rebounds and had four of her team's nine 3-pointers. Both teams are 25-5 heading into next week's Northern California Regional when both will likely be placed in the Open Division.
Freshman Kori Rogers swoops in for two of her game-high 21 points.
Photo: Ralph Thompson
Who knows, they might face off again. Folsom came into the game ranked 10th in the state by SBLive, and Folsom No. 5.
"It's a familiar opponent, we had to step up and make the 50-50 plays," Lee told the NFHS Network. "(Rogers) is an absolute dog. I've never played with anyone who plays any harder than her and all that hard work paid off in a very physical game."
Folsom couldn't overcome cold shooting, making just 15 of 54 from the field. Ella Uriate was the only Bulldog with a hot hand, scoring 21 points and adding four steals. Dixie McClanahan added 12 points and six rebounds, but 6-foot-1 Cal commit Kamryn Mafua finished with just four points, but added a game-high 13 rebounds.
Much of the defense on her was supplied by Lee, whose team was upset in each of the previous two seasons. Her freshman year was thwarted by COVID.
(See write-ups from previous four games and live updates at the bottom)
St. Mary's celebrates the program's 22 section title and ninth D! crown since 2013.
Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson
Division 2 boys
Vanden 64, Del Oro 52
It was wire-to-wire, it was decisive and it was historic.
But Vanden 6-foot-5 senior wing Tyler Thompson said it wasn't nearly enough. He scored 22 points and had five rebounds and four assists in a 64-52 Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 championship win over Del Oro.
The Vikings (24-8), winners of 11 straight, became just the fourth SJS boys basketball program to win 10 titles while taking their third in four years.
"We still have a lot more to do," Thompson told the NFHS Network team led by Matthew Bessette. "Every time I look to my left or right I see a brother wanting to do even more."
Vanden's boys won its third SJS in four years and 10 overall with a 64-52 victory over Del Oro.
Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson
Thompson, a leading candidate for section Player of the Year, along with Ahsan Huff were injured last year and had to miss the team's section championship loss, a 66-61 game to Sacramento in a D3 title game.
Huff, a rugged 6-2 interior player made up for lost time also with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. AnDrue Perkins also had 13 points.
Caden Pinnick had 18 points and Brenden Hawkins 12 for Del Oro (24-8), which fell behind by 14 points in the first quarter and climbed inside a double-digit deficit much of the game before losing contact late in the fourth.
Both teams will advance to the Northern California Regional starting next week. (See live play-by-play updates below).
Division 2 girls
Whitney 64, Vanden 53
In a battle of defending section champions, the Division 2 champion Whitney Wildcats just had just too much in a 64-53 Sac-Joaquin Section D2 title game over Vanden Wednesday.
Too much balance. Too much size. Too much interior defense. Too much rebounding. And ultimately too much Harper Peterson.
The 6-foot-3 Stanford-bound star had 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven big blocks which forced Vanden, the defending D3 champion, outside. The Vikings had some early success from outside but they eventually cooled off.
Whitney celebrates its second straight SJS D2 title.
Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson
Meanwhile Whitney spread the ball beautifully and bot big games from Sammy Schuler (17 points, six assists), Tylie Kitchen (nine points, 12 rebounds, four assists) and Marissa Shihadeh (11 points) to improve to 22-10.
"We've been through so much this season with injuries, key losses, illness and even a death in the family," Peterson said. "We've stuck together and it helped us in a big game like this and a tough opponent."
Calonni Holloway was the only Vanden player in double figures with had 10 points, but LaMiracle Lebon had eight points and 14 rebounds. Taytum Jayla-Kai Johnson had nine points.
Vanden (24-8) was 9-for-28 on 3-pointers while Whitney was 4 of 7 on 3s. Whitney held a 43-34 edge on rebounds.
Both teams will advance to next week's Northern California regional. (See live play-by-play updates below).
Division 3 boys
Sacramento 72, Christian Brothers 49
Sacramento power forward Shobal Barksdale evidently loves the big court. The 6-foot-6 junior made 11 of 15 shots, grabbed 16 rebounds and piled up 23 points in a 72-49 Division 3 win over Christian Brothers to win a second straight Sac-Joaquin Section title and ninth overall for the Dragons and seventh since 2010.
This was the second of six section title games Wednesday at the NBA Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings, and the SJS is the first to crown section winners among the CIF's 10 sections.
The Dragons celebrate their second straight section title at Golden 1 Center and ninth overall.
Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson
Down seven early to the upstart Falcons (19-13), seeded sixth, Sacramento (25-7)ended the first quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 16-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
It was all Dragons from there.
"It's all about keeping your head up and chest out," Barksdale told the NFHS Network.
Ishan Wallace had 16 points and Damarion Taylor and Kendahl Hearne added 10 apiece apiece for the Dragons, who commited just six turnovers while outrebounding Christian Brothers 46-41. Hearne almost had a triple double with 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Shawn Underwood Jr. made 11 of 17 shots and had 22 points for Christian Brothers while Stephan Hewitt contributed 13. (See live play-by-play updates below).
Division 3 girls
Vista Del Lago 68, Manteca 49
Ella Skrzyniarz had 24 points and nine rebounds and Callie Jacobosky led a big team effort off the bench with 16 points as Vista del Lago breezed past Manteca for the Sac Joaquin Section Division 3 championship Wednesday at Golden 1 Center.
It was the first SJS title for the Eagles (23-8) in their first section finals' appearance. They seemed neither bothered by the big gym or 10 a.m. start time. Charlize Cai added 11 points for Vista Del Lago, which held a 39-26 edge in rebounds and forced 20 turnovers.
Skrzyniarz, a 5-9 junior, made 7 of 20 from the field including three 3-pointers. She also was 7-for-10 from the foul line. Kelsey Brooks, a 5-8 sophomore, had six points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Vista Del Lago's Sac-Joaquin Section title team on the floor of Golden 1 Center
Courtesy photo: Joe Davidson
"This is huge for us," Skrzyniarz told the NFHS Network after the game. "Our whole school is going to celebrate. We have a party bus waiting for us to head home."
Jada Ikharo and Brea Viera had 12 points each for Manteca (25-6), while Izabella Sanchez added 11. Both teams advance to next week's Northern California regional. (See live play-by-play updates below).
Check back for game updates throughout the day and night.
The other matchups are:
Division 1 boys: (8 p.m.)
No. 1 Modesto Christian (26-5) vs. No. 1 Lincoln (26-5) on NFHS
Fourth quarter
- Modesto Christian 68, Lincoln 63 (final): 22nd SJS title for the Crusaders.
- MC 67, Lincoln 63: Isaiah Davis with another 3 but only 17 seconds left.
- MC 63, Lincoln 57: Big putback by Washington, scored 14 points in second half for MC
- MC 61, Lincoln 57 (1:23): Nifty move and 3-point play by Lindsey.
- MC 54, Lincoln 50: Isaiah Davis 3-pointer, his first bucket of night, cuts lead to four.
- MC 54, Lincoln 45 (6:05): Gavin Sykes with three-point play puts Modesto Christian in control.
- MC 49, Lincoln 44: Huge 3-pointer by Myles Jones gives MC a cushion.
- MC 46, Lincoln 44: Anthony Moore gets Lincoln to within a bucket.
Third quarter
- MC 46, Lincoln 42 (end of 3): Anthony Moore leads 6-0 run with a bucket.
- Modesto Christian 46, Lincoln 36: Crusaders open up biggest of of game after Marcus Washington bucket.
Second quarter
- Modesto Christian 32, Lincoln 29 (halftime): Ry Atkins with his first bucket puts the Crusaders up three at halftime.
- Modesto Christian 30, Lincoln 29: Lincoln's Quentin Thompson off glass for another contested bucket
- Modesto Christian 28, Lincoln 26: Myles Jones with tough jumper for Modesto Christian
First quarter
- Modesto Christian 16, Modesto Christian 15 (end of first quarter
- Lincoln 15, Modesto Christian 14: Jagger Merolla with a bucket puts Lincoln up
Division 1 girls: (6 p.m.)
No. 1 Folsom (25-4) vs. No. 2 St. Mary's (24-5) on NFHS
Fourth quarter
- St. Mary's 57, Folsom 51 (final): Rogers 21, Lee 20. First SJS title for McDonald's AA Lee.
- SM 51, Folsom 42 (5:04): Folsom junior Mindermann with a 3 gets deficit inside double digits.
- St. Mary's 49, Folsom 36: Three 3s in succession by SM's Lee and Rogers and one by Folsom's Uriate.
- St. Mary's 44, Folsom 33 (4:22): Mia Warren free throw (SM already in the bonus).
- St. Mary's 41, Folsom 33 (5:27): Ella Uriarte with a 3 closes Folsom gap to eight.
Third quarter
- St. Mary's 38, Folsom 26 (end of 3): It's like these teams have played each other weekly. Very well defended.
- St. Mary's 34, Folsom 26: Rogers with five more quick points, she's up to 16 points. Lee still cold. If she heats up, Folsom really in trouble.
Second quarter
- St. Mary's 24, Folsom 19 (halftime): Yet another 5-0 run, this won all by Folsom's Ella Uriarte. St. Mary's living by the 3 with six of them. Not usually a recipe for success.
- St. Mary's 24, Folsom 14 (1:01): And now the Rams answer with 5-0 run finished off by a Rogers fastbreak hoop.
- St. Mary's 19, Folsom 14: After St. Mary's started the quarter with 6-0 run, Folsom responds with six-point run.
First quarter
- St. Mary's 13, Folsom 8 (end of 1): Theresa Gotico with another triple for St. Mary's. McDonald's AA Jordan Lee with just two points, but SM leads after 1Q.
- St. Mary's 10, Folsom 8 (1:13): Kori Rogers with her second 3-pointer gives Rams the lead.
- Folsom 8, St. Mary's 7 (3:16): Both teams appear nervous or too amped. Missed layups and turnovers prevail. Also stellar defense.
Division 2 boys: (4 p.m.)
No. 4 Del Oro (24-7) vs. No. 3 Vanden (23-8) on NFHS
Fourth quarter
Vanden 64, Del Oro 52 (final)
- Vanden 58, Del Oro 42: Isiah Dixon again. That should do it.
- Vanden 52, Del Oro 38: Luke Radovanovic with a bucket to put the Vikings back up 14.
Third quarter
- Vanden 44, Del Oro 34: (end of 3)
- Vanden 40, Del Oro 30: Jayden Robinson answers with a 3-pointer.
- Vanden 37, Del Oro 30: Caden Pinnick with a bucket closes the lead to seven.
Second quarter
- Vanden 33, Del Oro 23. Halftime
- Vanden 31, Del Oro 23: Isiah Dixon with tough drive to the bucket for Vanden.
- Vanden 25, Del Oro 21: A 3-pointer by Hawkins keys this big run as Del Oro has clawed back in.
First quarter
- Vanden 21, Del Oro 10 (end of 1): Del Oro closes on a 6-0 run to close to 11.
- Vanden 21, Del Oro 6: The Vikings came in with 10 straight wins and they're playing like it. Fastbreak city. This could get away from Del Oro quickly.
- Vanden 15, Del Oro 2 (3:33): Vanden picks up where its left off the last couple weeks.
Division 2 girls (2 p.m.)
No. 1 Whitney (21-9) vs. No. 2 Vanden (24-7) on NFHS
Fourth quarter
- Whitney 64, Vanden 53 (final)
- Whitney 63, Vanden 52 (0:59): Wildcats on way to win second straight D2 title.
- Whitney 61, Vanden 52 (3:25): Calonni Holloway with a big 3 to cut Whitney's lead to single digits.
- Whitney 57, Vanden 44: Schuler has done everything, now with a 3 giving her 15 points. Puts Whitney up by 13 and in command.
- Whitney 54, Vanden 44: Steal and layup by Whitney's Sammy Schuler gives Whitney double-digit lead.
Third quarter
- Whitney 52, Vanden 44: End of 3
- Whitney 49, Vanden 42: Vanden's Riley with big 3 to cut Whitney's lead.
- Whitney 44, Vanden 36: Marissa Shihadeh pretty reverse layup. Stanford-bound Peterson jumper. Hollaway floater for Vanden.
Second quarter
- Whitney 37, Vanden 32 (halftime)
- Whitney 35, Vanden 29 (0:48): Great feed from Makayla Smith to Lebon for a hoop to close to 32-29, but Marissa Shihadeh drills a 3 for Whitney.
- Whitney 24, Vanden 18: La'Miracle Lebon with a couple nice interior moves and buckets. Vanden going inside after take 12 3-pointers in first quarter.
First quarter
- Whitney 24, Vanden 14 (end of first quarter)
- Whitney 20, Vanden 12 — Whitney feasting at the foul line. Made eight free throws.
- Vanden 12, Whitney 12 — Vanden has drilled four 3s - not normally good recipe in big venues — but it's worked so far. Vanden already with five fouls, Whitney shooting FTs.
Division 3 boys (Watch NFHS)
No. 1 seed Sacramento (24-7) vs. No. 6 Christian Brothers (19-12)
Fourth quarter
- Sacramento 72, Christian Brothers 49: Final
- Sacramento 71, Christian Brothers 49: It's fun time now for the Dragons, who late in the season lost three of four after a 13-game win streak. They have righted the ship with what will be their fifth straight win.
Third quarter
- Sacramento 57, CB 39: The Dragons break it wide open with 24-point 3Q explosion.
- Sacramento 50, CB: 35: The Dragons in the middle of a 17-10 run to start second half.
Second quarter
- Sacramento 33, CB 25: Halftime
- Sacramento 29, Christian Brothers 22: 2:56 left in the half
- Sacramento 26, Christian Brothers 20: Christian Brothers in middle of 5-2 run.
