CIF North Coast Section 2024 boys basketball playoffs: Updated scores, matchups — Salesian, De La Salle to meet for Open title (2-21-2024)
There were plenty of reasons to pick upsets in the North Coast Section Open Division semifinals on Wednesday.
But ultimately, the home teams and top seeds advanced as top seed Salesian, California's No. 3 team, slowed down red-hot San Ramon Valley 60-45, while De La Salle just had a little more than Branson, 62-54.
Both Salesian (28-1) and De La Salle (25-4) had plenty of rest or rust, depending on how you look at it, but both programs are built on defense and ultimately that proved decisive. Concepts and effort were surprise while advancing to Friday's 7 p.m. championship game at Contra Costa College.
De La Salle junior Alec Blair (24 points, 10 in the fourth quarter) also did a tremendous job holding down Illinois-signee Jase Butler, who finished with 14. Blair hit back-to-back tough midrange jumpers late in the fourth quarter to put the Spartans in control.
Alec Blair (33), a 6-6 junior, always draws a lot of attention for De La Salle.
Photo: Dennis Lee
The Spartans also got another monumental effort from late-booming David Balogun (12 points, 11 rebounds), who was barely a rotational player for much of the season. The 6-6 junior has been a double-double machine the last three weeks of the season.
De La Salle prevailed despite a 25-point explosion from Semetri Carr, who is considered a middle-to-high major recruit from the Class of 2025. Branson (22-7) has played one of the toughest schedules in the state, but then so have all four semifinalists.
Salesian, which beat Branson 63-60 in the finals of the Gridley Tournament on Dec. 9, jumped out to a 16-7 lead after one quarter and never relinquished the lead against a team that had been scoring points in bunches.
Hawaii-bound point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor and Alvin Loving had 11 points for the Pride and Elias Obenyah added 10. Luke Isaak had 14 points, Elliot Conley 12 and Mason Thomas 11 for the Wolves who dropped to 25-6.
Salesian College Preparatory defeated Archbishop Riordan 61-48 at the MLK Classic on January 15, 2024. Aaron-Hunkin-Claytor (30).
Dennis Lee, SBLive Sports
Branson and San Ramon Valley, despite the semifinal losses, could advance to the Open Division of the Northern California Regional, but if they don't will be high seeds in the Division 1 field.
In other Division play on Wednesday, top-seed Montgomery and sixth-seed Benicia advanced to the D2 finals with wins over Moreau Catholic (56-51) and St. Patrick-St. Vincent (69-52), respectively.
Top seed Justin-Siena (25-3) and No. 2 Ygnacio Valley (24-7) advanced to the D4 finals and Cornerstone Christian (24-6) and South Fork (20-8), the top two seeds in D6 advanced.
All championship games will be played Friday and Saturday at different sites.
On Tuesday, Dougherty Valley advanced to the D1 finals after graduating almost 80 percent of its offense from its banner 2022-23 season.
But the Wildcats, the fourth seed, and coach Mike Hansen still know how to shoot, play defense and win as they did with a 72-69 win at top-ranked Bishop O'Dowd in the NCS D1 1 semifinals.
Aadi Malali had 20 points, Jayden Doty 15 and Kenny Cloud for the Wildcats (20-10), who now play third seed Dublin, a 58-55 winner over seventh seed Liberty, in the championship game. Both finalists will advance to the CIF Northern California playoffs.
O'Dowd (19-9), which got 21 points from Josh Green and 16 from Samuel Chavarin, could still move on to NorCals depending on playoff results Wednesday.
Aadi Malali (34) in warmups of last year's NCS Open Division final at St. Mary's College.
Photo: Greg Jungferman
Dougherty Valley figured to be rebuilding after losing one of Northern California's top guard tandems in Ryan Beasley (now at USF) and Connor Sevilla (now at UC Davis), along with third-leading scorer and top rebounder Blake Hudson.
But after winning 27 games (and losing four) last season, the Wildcats somewhat struggled early in this season going 3-3. A four-game losing streak during the heart of the rugged East Bay Athletic League season seemed to seal any hope of a promising postseason run.
Instead, the Wildcats have won 10 of 11 including a 45-32 win over Dublin in the regular season. Dublin immediately returned the favor in the EBAL playoffs, winning 64-53 on Feb. 7.
Other teams to advance to the section finals, thus securing NorCal bids, were top seed University and third seed Piedmont (D3) and top seed Head-Royce and seventh seed Athenian (D5).
Defending champions are: Dougherty Valley (Open Division), Clayton Valley Charter (D1), Campolindo (D2), Branson (D3), University (D4), Urban (D5), San Francisco Waldorf (D6).
Check the brackets below for the latest matchups, game times and scores:
