Coaches often dread three-game weeks, but if they’ll be dealing with them this week, it’ll be a privilege. With games on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the CIF State Tournament, the middle set of this week’s match-ups are set to tip off Thursday night. Call them the Northern California quarterfinals or the second round of the state tournament, there are sure to be great games all over.
Division I
No. 9 Vanden (27-6) @ No. 1 Riordan (22-5), 7 p.m.
After putting up an incredible 101 points in Tuesday’s win at Clovis West, the Vikings will bring their high-flying offense to the Bay Area on Thursday to take on a Riordan team that snapped out of its funk on Tuesday in an 82-51 win as Riiny Riiny scored a career-high 21 points. The Crusaders will need all hands on deck on Thursday in order to slow down a Vanden team that got 30 points from I’saac Montgomery, 29 from Agjanti Miller and 20 from Teiano Hardee in Tuesday’s road win.
No. 5 Menlo-Atherton (23-4) @ No. 4 De La Salle (23-7), 7 p.m.
After grinding out a win over one EBAL team on Tuesday, the Menlo-Atherton Bears will need to do it again on Thursday, though it’ll require taking their talents on the road to match up with De La Salle’s exceptional defense. The Spartans have been firing on all cylinders lately, with a pair of 30-point wins in their last four games and a 25-point lead over San Joaquin Memorial on Tuesday before calling the doggs off in the fourth quarter.
No. 7 Campolindo (23-6) @ No. 2 Capital Christian (25-8), 7 p.m.
Neither the Cougars or the Cougars (yes, you read that right) boast tremendous size, but both are exceptionally physical. Capital Christian’s trio of Sione Lose, Kendall Taylor and Darrion Williams will try to slow down a Campolindo team led by brothers Carter and Aidan Mahaney and junior forward Emmanuel Callas, who’s expanded his game this year to become not only a smooth power forward, but also an accurate outside shooter.
No. 6 Grant (26-5) @ No. 3 Salesian (24-6), 8 p.m. at Albany HS
After both the Pacers and Pride cruised to surprisingly easy opening-round wins, they should be in for a far tighter game Thursday. With how good Salesian is on defense, the Pacers may have to look beyond their typical combo of Corey Yerger and A.J. McGee, but if Johnathan Schooley-Tyson or sophomore Jayson Mathews can have a solid game, they might have what it takes to win on the road.
Division II
No. 5 Oakland Tech (27-4) @ No. 4 Weston Ranch (21-12), 7 p.m.
After winning a defensive grind in overtime against Menlo, expect the Bulldogs to play a far different game in Stockton on Thursday night against a Cougars team that could consider themselves lucky to be alive after erasing a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to get to overtime against Piedmont, with Donjae’ Lindsey scoring 29 points in the victory and Jordahn Johnson adding 23.
No. 6 Branson (30-2) @ No. 3 Sacred Heart Prep (22-5), 7 p.m.
After holding Jesuit to just 43 points on Tuesday, the Bulls will need to bring similar defensive excellence on Thursday against an SHP team that loves to run and get open looks in transition. With Branson’s tremendous physicality, the Gators will need big showings from Charlie Selna and sophomore Emmer Nichols to pull out the road victory.
Division III
No. 7 Carmel (24-4) @ No. 2 St. Ignatius (12-16), 7 p.m.
After winning a choppy affair against Bullard on Tuesday, the Wildcats should expect a much faster pace on Thursday against a Carmel team that can absolutely fly in transition. Kai Lee does a tremendous job generating fastbreak points, and SI will have to slow him down in order to live another day.
No. 5 Sacred Heart Cathedral (12-16) @ No. 4 St. Mary’s-Albany (23-10), 8 p.m.
While state tournament games often mean unfamiliar opponents, there shouldn’t be any lack of recognition in Albany as the Panthers are coached by Rich Buckner, who has plenty of experience facing the Fightin’ Irish from his days at Riordan. Sean MacKay took over at SHC at the same time Buckner was shown the door at Riordan, but the former Crusaders coach is nonetheless familiar with how the Irish play. A free-flowing game should open up lots of opportunities for Jason Roche and Leo Tillson, who combined for 44 in Tuesday’s win over Half Moon Bay.
No. 14 Sequoia (18-11) @ No. 11 Foothill-Palo Cedro (26-5), 7 p.m.
Two days after trekking to Sonora, the Ravens will hit the road for another lengthy trip as they head to Shasta County to battle the Cougars. With Bekdoo Lewis, Luke Lindsay and Josiah Palumbo powering the Foothill offense, Sequoia will need big games from Kiahn Nice-Whiteside and Sam Schult in order to win once again on the road.
Division IV
No. 8 Brookside Christian (24-8) @ No. 1 Stuart Hall (25-7), 7:30 p.m. at Kezar Pavilion
It would be hard to find a team happier to be playing on Thursday than Stuart Hall after erasing a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter on Tuesday to top Santa Cruz, winning when JV callup Jackson Jung knocked down a three at the buzzer. They’ll need the sort of offensive production they got in the fourth quarter throughout the entire game, as Brookside allowed just 43 points in Tuesday’s win over University Prep.
No. 5 Hillsdale (21-7) @ No. 4 Hoover (23-9), 6 p.m.
Making their first state tournament appearance in 23 years, the Fighting Knights are getting the best of both worlds. After winning a double-overtime thriller at home on Tuesday, they now get to enjoy a lengthy trip as they head to Fresno to take on a team led by freshman Z.J. Cotton, who, to our knowledge, has no relation to Hillsdale point guard Junior Cotton.
Division V
No. 5 Eastside (20-7) @ No. 4 Christopher (19-10), 7 p.m.
One of two all-CCS battles on Thursday, the Cougars will have to use their size to try to slow down Raymond Reece, Eastside’s double-double machine in the post. The same sort of defense that Christopher played on Tuesday, allowing just eight fourth-quarter points to Mt. Shasta, will be needed against the Panthers.
No. 6 Gridley (22-8) @ No. 3 San Domenico (18-12), 7 p.m. at Dominican University
After rolling to a 75-22 victory over East Nicolaus, the Panthers should have a much tougher test against a Bulldogs team led by junior guard Grant Tull, who scores 25 points per game and has scored at least 30 nine times this year.
