No fewer than 10 games on Friday night will have large ramifications in North Coast Section boys basketball. We take a look at the top games on tap heading into this weekend.
St. Patrick-St. Vincent (14-3, 3-0 TCAL-Rock) at Salesian (16-3, 2-0)
This showdown of top-10 teams in the section will likely decide the Rock Division title, with a second meeting between the schools in early February.
The visiting Bruins have won six straight, and have a trio of double-digit scorers in Marquel Johnson, BJ Standley, and Tavian Henderson. Salesian, meanwhile, is deep and talented with only two seniors on the roster. Dual-sport standout Ke’mare Wright is one of those two seniors, but junior James Akinjo controls games from his guard position.
Twin sophomores Jaden and Jovon McClanahan, junior Derrick Langford, junior forward Damario Bibb, and guard Brandon Betson form the nucleus of one of the best small ball teams in the state.
Liberty (13-3, 1-0 BVAL) at Heritage (15-2, 1-0)
The excitement from the fans on both sides of the stands alone is enough to make this cross-town Brentwood rivalry one of the top games of the night. The fact they are competing to be Freedom’s biggest challenger to the league crown only adds to the drama.
Heritage runs an athletic group onto the court, including their big men, Jonathan Ned and Channing Tiddle, a pair of 6-foot-7 players who can extend from the post to the wing. Twins Tyrese and Tyriq Mack help run an aggressive defense, and are threats to complement the consistent scoring from senior Anthony Dennis.
Liberty has won nine straight, with an athletic starting five. Senior Kavon Wise controls the offense from his point guard position, while Ben Smith is a dual scoring and rebounding threat. Senior Carson Musgrove and sophomore Kyris McInnis add to a strong backcourt, while senior center Fabian Estrada will be tasked with defending the paint.
Bishop O’Dowd (7-7, 2-0 WACC-Foothill) at Castro Valley (9-7, 2-1)
The visiting Dragons have played, as usual, a nationally-elite schedule. That has led to an average overall record, but as usual, they have emerged as the favorites for a league title. The league slate has started with wins over Mt. Eden and Piedmont, each by double digits.
Castro Valley started the season with four straight losses, but recent results include wins over Mitty and San Leandro. The Trojans’ lone loss in the league so far came last week to Piedmont, but Castro Valley rebounded with a win over San Lorenzo on Wednesday night.
Las Lomas (13-4, 1-0 DAL-Foothill) at College Park (12-5)
The visiting Knights have won four straight, including a league-opening win over Acalanes. College Park has won three straight since a loss to Heritage, including a league-opening win over Northgate.
The host Falcons may have five losses this season, but to the delight of their 6th Man, none of them have happened at home. College Park is unbeaten on its home floor this season, including wins over California, Alameda, and Concord.
Arcata (13-5, 3-0 HDN) at McKinleyville (11-5, 3-0)
Always a heated regional rivalry behind the Redwood Curtain, these programs will be meeting, as usual, with the lead in the Humboldt Del-Norte Big 5 league at stake.
McKinleyville should have a packed house for this rivalry game, and the host Panthers enter on a four-game winning streak. Arcata has won six straight, though, and is looking to avenge an early December 57-48 loss to McKinleyville in the Tip-Off Classic.
Best of the Rest
Clayton Valley and Berean Christian in a battle of teams tied atop the DAL-Valley Division . . . Acalanes and Miramonte face each other in a key early-season DAL-Foothill game, as Acalanes looks to shake off a three-point defeat to Las Lomas . . . The WACC-Foothill schedule is grueling, which makes Piedmont’s game at Berkeley a crucial early contest. Piedmont looks to bounce back from a loss to Bishop O’Dowd, while the Yellowjackets have won four of their last five games.
Drake and Redwood are tied for second place in the MCAL, one game out of first, in a league where anything can happen . . . Mt. Eden and San Leandro meet in another key WACC-Foothill contest.
