CIF North Coast Section 2024 girls basketball playoffs: Updated scores, matchups — San Ramon Valley, Newman to meet for Open title (2-21-2024)
Four of the top girls basketball in the state were left to battle Wednesday in the North Coast Section Open Division semifinals.
Though the margins seemed to be thin, indeed the favorites prevailed, quite handily in fact, as No. 1 seed San Ramon Valley breezed past visiting Bishop O'Dowd, 72-53, and host Cardinal Newman defeated Carondelet, 60-44.
The Wolves (28-1), who 21 points from Avery Knapp and 14 each by Tera Chen and Sierra Chambers, had not played for 11 days since a 49-47 EBAL playoff championship win over Carondelet.
They showed no signs of rust, taking a 14-9 lead after one quarter and 37-26 at halftime. They never trailed in the second half. They trailed only once in the game, 4-2 before the Wolves went on a 9-0 run and never looked back despite 15 points from Jayla Stokes.
Avery Knapp (24), San Ramon Valley in the 2023 NCS Open Division game versus Salesian.
Photo: Avery Knapp
Newman got 23 points and 11 rebounds by Taissa Queiroz and 15 points by Kate Schat to improve to 27-2 while winning their 25th consecutive game.
Newman plays San Ramon Valley in the title game 3 p.m. Saturday at Dublin.
In other NCS semifinal action, sixth-seed Northgate upset No. 2 Montgomery 41-37 and will now face top-seed Redwood, a 41-41 winner over Moreau Catholic in the D2 final.
The top two seeds in D4 advance, No. 1 St. Patrick-St. Vincent and No. 2 University, while top seed San Francisco Waldorf and No. 3 Point Arena will play for the D6 championship.
In Division I, it's been something of a struggle for the defending state champion Salesian Pride girls basketball team.
Clearly though, the Pride have hit their stride.
The perennial state power from Richmond advanced to the NCS Division 1 finals on Tuesday with a tough 51-47 win at second-seed Heritage and will now face top-seed California for the championship.
Both teams locked in their spots to the Northern California regional.
Salesian (20-10) always plays a rugged schedule and with many key seniors having graduated off last year's squad, it started the season 2-7 following a seven-game losing streak. The Pride, winners of seven NCS titles, all under head coach Steve Pezzola, has rebounded nicely, winning 18 of their last 21.
California, which has never won a section title, improved to 25-4 with a 56-37 win over Alameda. The Grizzlies and Pride play for the title on Friday at Dublin High School. Tip-off time will be determined tonight.
Other teams to advance to the finals were top seed Marin Catholic and No. 2 Maria Carrillo (D3) and fourth-seed Cornerstone Christian and No. 2 San Domenico (D5).
Defending champions are: Salesian (Open Division), Monte Vista (D1), Bishop O'Dowd( (D2), Marin Catholic (D3), Piedmont (D4), University (D5) and Cornerstone Christian (D6).
Check the brackets below for the latest matchups, game times and scores:
2023 CIF NORTH COACH SECTION GIRLS BAKSETBALL BRACKETS
- OPEN DIVISION CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
- DIVISION 1 CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
- DIVISION 2 CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
- DIVISION 3 CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
- DIVISION 4 CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
- DIVISION 5 CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
- DIVISION 6 CIF-NCS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET
