CIF State Championship boys and girls basketball previews
SACRAMENTO — It's a remarkably long and challenging season. Even basketball lovers, would call it a grind. Especially the final three weeks.
But the just reward for 24 high school basketball teams in the Golden State is a game at a beautiful NBA arena, the Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings.
At the end of each 32 minute game — if not for overtime — a team will be crowned CIF California champion.
Here's a brief look at each game that will be each be streamed on the NFHS network. Check back to SBLive Sports for extensive coverage of each game featuring photos, video highlights, live updates, game stories, player and coach interviews and everything in between.
2024 CIF Championship game previews
All games at Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
BOYS
Open Division
Harvard-Westlake-Studio City (32-3) vs. Salesian-Richmond (31-1)
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: HW — PG Trent Perry (USC commit), F Nikolas Khamenia, Christian Horry (UCLA); Salesian — PG Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Hawaii), G Alvin Loving, F De’Undrae Perteete.
Briefly: Harvard-Westlake is the defending state champion and has been compared to Salesian in terms of unselfishness, savvy and smart. The Wolverines are just considerably taller and more talented. … With a win, Salesian will go down as one of the Bay Area’s all-time best. … H-W is coached by former USF assistant David Rebibo. Salesian’s Bill Mellis is in his 26th year and won more than 600 games and two state titles.
Salesian's Carlton Perrilliat swoops in for two in regional championship win over Riordan
Photo: Greg Jungferman
Trent Perry for Harvard-Westlake vs. Roosevelt in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball final at Cal Baptist University on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Andy Holzman
Division 1
St. John Bosco-Bellflower (27-7) vs. San Ramon Valley-Danville (29-7)
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: SJB — SG Brandon McCoy Jr., PG Elizie Harrington, F Jack Turner; SRV — F Seamus Deely, G Luke Isaak, G Mason Thomas
Briefly: Known for its football, Bosco won its second regional title with a wild 71-68 overtime win over Mater Dei in Tuesday’s regional final behind 24 points from Harrington. SRV is trying to reclaim its 2015 magic when it won a surprising state D1 title at Cal over Chino Hills, led by Lonzo Ball.
Division 2
Centennial-Bakersfield (28-7) vs. Oakland Tech (29-5)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: Centennial — G Rippen Gill (18.6 ppg), G Michael Gutierrez (13.8) and G Godwill Fomusoh (11.0); OT — G Ardarius Grayson (18.8), F Ahmed Gulaid (9.5), G Saddiq Alarbesh (9.1)
Briefly: Gutierrez hit four 3-pointers and he and Gill combined for 31 points in a surprise 68-56 regional final win over Heritage Christian. … Centennial has won 12 of 13. … Tech has won 13 straight and 20 of 21. ... Grayson, a bouncy 6-foot junior guard, struck for 34 in a regional final win over defending state D3 champion Oakland in Tuesday's regional final. ... Tech has been to state twice before, losing in the D1 (at the time, the top division) to Westchester-Los Angeles in 2002 and 2003. Those teams were led by future NBA player Leon Powe.
Division 3
Alemany (24-15) vs. Santa Cruz (27-6)
When: 4 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: Alemany — G Jared Mims (17.4 ppg, 2.2 SPG), G Michael Lindsay (9.1 ppg), G Samuel Mbingazo (8.0 ppg); SC — C Ben Dotten (16.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg), W Demarco Hunter (15.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.3 bpg), F Kirby Seals (12.5 ppg, 6.6 rpb, 2.2 spg).
Briefly: Lindsay had 23 points leading Alemany to its 10th straight win with a 74-63 win over Bosco Tech in the regional final. It was the Warriors' second regional title. ... Alemany won a state D3 title in 2012. ... Dotten had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Hunter 13 points and Seals 12 in a 61-56 regional title win over Bullard. ... The Cardinals go for their second state title after winning it in 2005 under legendary coach Pete Newell Jr., who retired after the victory.
Division 4
Chatsworth (20-14) vs. Monterey (24-6)
When: Noon Saturday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: Chatsworth — G Alijah Arenas (32.6 ppg), G Takeio Phillips (10.0 ppg), C Taj Unuakhalu (7.8 ppg, 12.8 rpg); Monterey — G Ryan Roth, G Kavon Collins, G Julian Rodriguez Johnson.
Briefly: Arenas, one of the nation's top sophomores, is the son of former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas. ... He had 53 points in a 74-69 regional semifinal win over George Washington Prep. ... It was his second 50-point game of the year, going for 51 in an 80-38 win over Taft on Jan. 19. ... He's had four other games over 40 points and is shooting 49 percent from the field. ... The 6-4 shooting guard has 16 ofers including Alabama, UCLA, Kansas and Texas. ... After losing 61-53 in the CCS D3 semifinals to Santa Cruz, the Dores were sent packing on the road as the 14th seed at regionals. Winning games at Sierra-Tollhouse (175 miles), 67-51; Lincoln-San Francisco (117 miles), 58-34; Natomas-Sacramento (194 miles, 64-61 and Union Mine-El Dorado (223 miles), 74-51. ... Roth struck for 25 points and Collins 13 in a 73-52 win over top-seed Union Mine, which was held 25 points below its season average.
Division 5
Verdugo Hills-Tujunga (25-11) vs. Athenian-Danville
When: Noon Friday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: VH — W Alexander Martinez (15.6 ppg), C Georges Abdulnour (13.8, 7.7 rpg), W William Gharabekyan (11.4 pp, 7.9 rpg); Athenian — G Surya Devasenapathy (16.4 ppg), G Evan Lucas (16.1 ppg), G Teni Salako (9.5)
Briefly: Both teams are making their first title-game appearance. … After losing to Head-Royce in the NCS finals, Athenian has won three games, all by single digits. … Verdugo Hills has won 10 straight.
GIRLS
Open Division
Etiwanda (31-3) vs. Mitty (30-0)
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: Etiwanda — F Kennedy Smith (20.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg), F Grace Knox, G Aliyahna Morris. Mitty — G Morgan Cheli, F McKenna Woliczko, W Elana Weisman.
Briefly: This is a rematch of one of the most memorable girls games in state championship history, a 69-67 Etiwanda won on a putback at the buzzer. … Every national ranking has Mitty No. 1, while Etiwanda is No. 3 by SBLive Sports.
Mitty's super sophomore McKenna Woliczko shoots over St. Ignatius in an 88-44 Central Coast Section Open Division title win.
Photo: Greg Jungferman
Kennedy Smith (11) and Mykelle Richards (22) celebrate for Etiwanda vs. Sierra Canyon in the CIF Southern Section Open Division girls basketball final at Cal Baptist University on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Andy Holzman
Division 1
Bishop Montgomery-Torrance (22-5) vs. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (24-6)
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: BM — SG Jordin Blackmon, G Tiara Jones, SG Sophia Dignadice; BOD — G Devin Cosgriff, F Nyah Greenwood PG Savannah Jones
Briefly: Bishop Montgomery might come in a tad confident after beating O’Dowd 57-33 in December at the West Coast Jamboree. … Dignadice and Jones combined for 36 in a 71-68 Regional title win over Brentwood School. … Cosgroff made the game-winning shot and Greenwood had 14 points and 21 rebounds in a 48-47 regional title over Carondelet-Concord.
Division 2
Harvard-Westlake (18-18) vs. Colfax (34-2)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: H-W — G Deana Thompson (16.8 ppg), C Valentina Guerrero (11.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), SG Angelina Habis (10.6 ppg). Colfax — C Juliette James (13.6 ppg,, 9.6 rpg), G Madalyn Sigrist (13.4 ppg), G Kaia Diederichs (12.5 ppg).
Briefly: Harvard-Westlake is attempting to be one of a handful of schools to win both boys and girls state titles the same year. ... The Wolverines are making their first trip to the state finals since 2010. ... Head coach Melissa Hearlihy has 838 career wins, According to the Cal-Hi Sports record book, she just moved past Jeff Sink for No. 2 in state history. ... Colfax is the defending NorCal D3 champion, however the Falcons lost in the state finals 65-48. ... They have some unfinished business to work out. ... Colfax leads the states in wins after fighting back from a double-digit deficit to defeat favored Pleasant Valley in the NorCal finals.
Division 3
Granada Hills Charter (21-11) vs. Caruthers (24-8)
When: 2 p.m. Friday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: GH — G Karma Paez (12.9 ppg), C Brigita Bulotaite (11.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg), C Emma Perez (8.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg); Caruthers — F Jaylee Moore, G Gizelle Aguirre, G Kara Higuchi.
Briefly: Granada Hills got 19 points from 6-4 post Bulotaite in a 58-56 win at favored Bakersfield Christian in the SoCal Regional final. ... The Highlanders lost in the first round of the LA City Section Open Division playoffs to Hamilton 67-52 before rattling off four straight regional wins, the last three by a grand total of eight points. ... The Blue Raiders of Caruthers advanced to state despite losing in the quarterfinal round of the Central Section Division 1 playoffs and being the 14th seed at regional. ... They've won five CS titles in the last 10 years and won a state D5 title in 2019. ... A school of 672 students has won 111 consecutive league games and 11 straight league titles. ... Moore had 22 points and added 16 rebounds in a 58-55 regional title win over University.
Division 4
Grossmont (27-8) vs. St. Bernard's (29-5),
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: Grossmont — F Aakash Price (11.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.5 spg), PG Kellan Hayden (11.1 ppg), Amethyst Price (9.6 ppg); St. Bernard's — PG Laila Flovilus (19.4 ppg), F Madelyn Shanahan (10.9 ppg), F Samantha Sundberg (6.9 ppg).
Briefly: Grossmont has won four straight and 10 of 11. After losing to Cathedral Catholic in the San Diego Section D1 finals, the Foothillers won four straight regional games, including 57-52 over Fallbrook in the finals after taking a 17-6 first-quarter lead. ... This is the first state appearance for both teams. ... Two winter weather delays pushed back St. Bernard's regional semifinal and championship game, the latter a 60-54 win over league rival Arcata before a jammed crowd at College of the Redwoods. Longtime scribe Ray Hamill called the atmospher "as electric as any we've probably ever witnessed." ... SB is just the second team from the H-DNL to play for a state championship since the Hoopa boys in 2000. ... SB fought back from an 11-point deficit to win the regional final. Florvilus had 27 points points, Shanahan 19 and Sundberg, a freshman, scored nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter including a key 3.
Division 5
Montgomery-San Diego (25-11) vs. Oakland (22-10)
When: 10 a.m. Friday
Watch: NFHS
Top players: M — PF Paula Zumstein (18.1 ppg), G Jordan Whitehead (16.6 ppg), PG Carly Brown (8.6 ppg). Oakland — F Ojiugo Egeonu, G Kyla Smith, G Daijha Teague.
Briefly: Another Whitehead, sophomore point guard Genevieve scored 21 points leading Montgomery to a 55-51 regional final win over Escondido Charter. … Egeonu scored a career-high 30 in Oakland’s 62-50 regional final win over Crystal Springs Uplands.
