All four teams remaining in each division of the North Coast Section boys’ basketball semifinals are guaranteed to move on to the CIF state tournament, playing in the NorCal bracket beginning next week. In the meantime, however, there are titles left to play for, and there are some great match-ups taking place Wednesday.
There have been some surprises through the first two rounds, but that has done little to diminish the semifinal games. In fact, the teams remaining in Division I sound like a usual cast of characters at this stage of the season, as De La Salle, Monte Vista, Berkeley, and Castro Valley battle it out.
DIVISION I: #13 Castro Valley (18-10) at #1 De La Salle (26-2), 7 pm
The Trojans made the most of their mileage last week, traveling twice to Brentwood and eliminating both Heritage and Liberty. RahTawn Fobbs had a combined 36 points in the two games, while Bryce Thompson and Daniel Bessolo each scored more than 20 in the win over Heritage.
Bessolo, in particular, has been a late-season revelation for Castro Valley. Due to transfer rules, he could not make his season debut until January, when the Trojans were 7-5 overall. Since then, he has had five double-doubles, including a 22-point, 10-rebound performance in the win over Heritage and a 14-point, 14-rebound performance in a late January win over Division II semifinalist Mt. Eden.
De La Salle, meanwhile, is the heavy favorite remaining in this division, and is expected to be selected for the Open division at the CIF level. University of San Francisco bound Jordan Ratinho scored 20 points in the 52-44 quarterfinal win over Pittsburg, and the team has been paced all season by Ratinho and fellow senior Nikhil Peters. Junior post Emeka Udenyi figures to also be a difficult match-up for Castro Valley, who relies on a group of smaller, more athletic players.
DIVISION I: #7 Berkeley (20-7) at #6 Monte Vista (22-7), 7 pm
The common opponent results for these programs seeded next to each other are eerily similar. Both lost to Freedom by a narrow margin during the regular season, both had one-point wins over James Logan, and both won handily against the other common opponents on their schedules. Both teams also pulled off the upset (on paper) last week to get here.
Monte Vista proved how difficult it is to beat a good team twice in the same season, when it downed Freedom in the rematch of an earlier Mustangs’ loss. Chico State bound senior Spencer LaShells had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Falcons, and figures to be a factor against the Yellowjackets.
“(Berkeley) is going to be a tough opponent. They are not that tall, but they’re quick, athletic, and deep off the bench,” said Monte Vista coach Nick Jones. “We just played two teams like that last week, so we should be ready for that type of team on the court. We can’t allow penetration, we must take care of the ball, and keep them off the offensive glass.”
For its own part, Berkeley used great defense to get to the semifinals. The Yellowjackets held Dougherty Valley to seven points in the fourth quarter of its 42-39 victory.
DIVISION II: #3 El Cerrito (18-13) at #2 Mt. Eden (27-4), 7 pm
El Cerrito used a 24-10 third quarter to pull away from Las Lomas last week, the second of two wins against DFAL opponents in the playoffs. Now, TCAL-Rock MVP Sayeed Pridgett and the Gauchos travel to Hayward to face WACC-Shoreline regular season champion Mt. Eden.
Pridgett, who averages 16 points per game, figures to be a match-up nightmare for the Monarchs, as a 6’ 5” wing. Dual-sport standout Aaron Banks (6’ 7”) will be an inside presence for El Cerrito, while junior guard Tre Gray is a threat to light up the scoreboard on any given night.
Mt. Eden counters with a balanced group of scorers and rebounders, but will face the challenge of not having any players on the court above 6’ 4”. The Monarchs have overcome adversity, however, including a 15-7 deficit at the end of one quarter in their 55-52 quarterfinal win over Redwood.
DIVISION II: #8 Montgomery (17-11) at #5 Newark Memorial (20-8), 7 pm
The visiting Vikings showed that a two-point loss to Windsor in early February was no fluke, as they knocked off the number one seed, 53-51, to reach the semifinals. They meet a Newark Memorial team who had to contend with Moreau Catholic and James Logan during league play, but could be ready to make a statement in Division II.
Newark’s resume includes a two-point win over El Cerrito back in December, and the Cougars also boast a four-point win over Moreau Catholic in January. It would be no surprise to see this team battling for a section, and possibly even state, title in this division.
DIVISION III: #5 Bishop O’Dowd (14-13) at #1 Moreau Catholic (23-4), 7 pm
The Dragons may have been an underdog on paper against Drake last week, but few outside the section seeding committee actually saw it that way. O’Dowd reinforced the notion it was stronger than its record with the 62-39 win to reach the semifinals.
Coach Lou Richie’s group will have one of its biggest challenges of the season, however, against the Mariners and their quartet of Division I bound seniors. That includes Mission Valley MVP Damari Milstead, who had 23 points and eight assists in an 83-40 quarterfinal win over Analy.
Moreau is considered one of the teams from the NCS likely to receive a CIF Open division berth if it does, indeed, capture the Division III title.
DIVISION III: #3 Miramonte (18-9) at #2 Albany (24-5), 7 pm
TCAL-Stone champion Albany looks to reach its first section final after downing Campolindo in the quarterfinals. The Cougars’ Eric Mireri had 18 points in the win over Campo, while league MVP Josh Friedkin and last year’s MVP Marcus Simon are always threats to control the game.
Miramonte counters with Diablo Foothill MVP Eddy Ionescu, one of the most prolific scorers in the section. The Matadors also utilize multiple schemes offensively and defensively which could pose a challenge to Albany.
“Ionescu is a very complete player and we will have our hands full with him,” said Albany coach Bill Treseler. “They also do a great job of interior passing, so we will be dealing with something we don’t see much in our league. They play multiple defenses and are a hard-nosed, veteran team. We are expecting a knock-down, drag-out game, and it should be fun.”
The two teams did not play during the regular season, but did split a pair of summer league meetings.
DIVISION IV: #4 Arcata (25-4) vs #1 Salesian (26-4) at Contra Costa College, 8 pm
Two teams with 51 wins combined meet, representing very different regions of the section. Arcata defeated Kelseyville and Lick-Wilmerding to reach this game, while Salesian routed Roseland Prep and Cardinal Newman. The visiting Tigers will travel nearly five hours to face the Pride.
DIVISION IV: #14 Kennedy-Richmond (19-12) at #2 St. Patrick-St. Vincent (18-10), 7 pm
The Kennedy Eagles are arguably the biggest surprise team in the semifinals. After reaching the championship game of the TCAL-Stone division to ensure their selection into the post-season, Kennedy has eliminated WACC-Shoreline tournament champion Piedmont and six seed Saint Mary’s. The Eagles now face a Bruins team that rolled past MCAL opponents Justin-Siena and Marin Catholic to reach the semifinals.
DIVISION V: #4 Stuart Hall (19-10) at #1 St. Joseph Notre Dame (20-9), 8 pm
The one division where the brackets have played out true to seeding features three BCL-West teams and the Pilots from St. Joe’s. The Pilots have routed both Sonoma Academy and College Prep, while the Knights have raced past Upper Lake and Cloverdale.
Stuart Hall is the defending Division V champion, while St. Joseph’s won the previous four and five of the previous six titles. The Pilots are also eight-time Division I champions.
DIVISION V: #3 University (22-8) vs #2 Urban (22-8) at Kezar Pavilion, 8 pm
These BCL-West rivals hook up for the fourth time this season. Urban routed the Bay School and Bentley, while University blew out South Fork before eliminating MCAL tournament champion and 10-time section champion Branson. Urban has two of the three meetings this season, including the BCL-West title game.
