KENTFIELD, CA – On a night when defense was the common theme in more than one of the top games in both boys and girls CIF Northern Regional semifinal action, it was the Branson-Ross boys that made the biggest statement.
The host Bulls used a suffocating, vise-grip defense and the patented Branson tactical offense to post a Division I semifinal 68-44 victory over Moreau Catholic-Hayward on Saturday night at College of Marin.
Second-seeded Branson (31-2) bolted to an 11-0 lead that was 17-6 after one quarter and 27-11 at the half. The Bulls stretched it to 50-25 after three quarters before coasting home.
Viktor Rajkovic, a 6-5 senior forward, that we will repeat once again has no Division I offers despite dominating some of the top schools in Northern California, had another monster double-double 28 points and 17 rebounds with five assists, three steals and three blocked shots. The semifinal performance comes on the heels of a double-double 35 points and 14 rebounds with three blocked shots earlier in the week in a 52-47 quarterfinal victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco after the Bulls had a first round bye.
“Viktor was unbelievable tonight,” said Branson Coach Jonas Honick, who recorded career coach win No. 715 in the victory.
Rajkovic got a lot of help in the rout of Moreau. Junior forward Lukas Prongos had 15 points and five rebounds, fellow junior Peyton Mullarkey added 10 points, senior Will Jacobsen had nine points and nine rebounds, and although he only had four points junior Kwentyn Wiggins dished out 10 assists and played great defense as did all the Bulls.
Sixth-seeded Moreau Catholic (26-8) never really got untracked after falling behind big at the start.
The Mariners were led by senior Chris Rendon-Ibarra with 12 points. Leading scorer and senior Leonard Turner had nine points but no other Moreau player had more than six points.
Even with the stingy Branson defense the story was still Rajkovic. He’s been putting up big numbers all season and even had 23 points in a 69-54 Gridley Invitational loss to a Sheldon-Sacramento team that is in the CIF NorCal Open title game.
“Moreau Coach Frank Knight said Viktor was the best player they have seen this season,” Honick remarked, and that was a sentiment echoed by Sacred Heart Cathedral Coach Sean MacKay after the quarterfinal game.
Now, not only is D5 enrollment Branson in totally unchartered waters playing in a Northern Regional Division I title game based on competitive equity they’re in a virtual David versus Goliath situation with the school of 320 students is facing a top-seeded James Logan-Union City and Logan has an enrollment of 4,000 students.
“Is that hilarious or what,” was Honick’s reaction to facing the biggest school in Northern California. “It’s kind of funny when you think about it.”
Honick and Branson have been underdogs before and there is no question the wily veteran coach will have them ready.
“The kids are excited because there is more to play for but like I told them after the game one key is they can’t be afraid to win,” Honick said.
“We only have one day to practice but I want to prepare our kids and put them in a position to win that game,” concluded Honick.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in Union City on Tuesday night.
