All the teams remaining in the North Coast Section basketball playoffs have clinched bids to the CIF NorCal tournament, which starts next week, but there is still the matter of playing for a section title. We take a quick look at each semifinal game across the section.
DIVISION I
No. 4 Berkeley at No. 1 Clayton Valley
These teams are no strangers to each other, having met in December, when the top-seeded Ugly Eagles emerged with a 81-66 victory. Neither team won a league title, but both cut their teeth against marquee opponents throughout the year, with Clayton Valley squaring off twice against Las Lomas, splitting that series, while Berkeley had to face Bishop O'Dowd twice in league play, plus non-league games with Las Lomas and Dublin, the latter of which resulted in an overtime win.
Clayton Valley and Berkeley both like to run an up-tempo game, and have the athletes to do it. Nate Klarman and Garrett Pascoe are key to the success for Clayton, while Ben Baker leads a deep cast of Yellowjackets, which includes seniors Avery Burt and Kyree Brown, plus junior Isaiah Brown and sophomore Jamir Thomas.
No. 3 Heritage at No. 2 Dublin
A pair of league MVP's square off as visiting Heritage is led by two-time BVAL MVP Jonathan Ned, while sophomore guard Robby Beasley received the same honor for the EBAL this year.
The last time these two teams met was in December, in the championship game of the Don Nelson Classic at Dublin. Ned put on a show for Heritage, scoring a school-record 40 points, but the Gaels tied the game at the end of regulation on a long three by Beasley and prevailed in overtime, 85-82. Beasley scored 29 points that night, while Jack Nielsen added 25 points for Dublin.
Recently, Conner Jackson has playing lights out for Dublin, and is dangerous beyond the arc, while Heritage counters with the combination of junior point guard Ezra Manjon and shooting guard Jacob Williams, who drilled five three-pointers in a quarterfinal win over College Park.
DIVISION II
No. 4 Alameda at No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd
The champions of the A and B divisions from the West Alameda County Conference meet in this semifinal, after O'Dowd went unbeaten in the elite Foothill Division, while Alameda dominated all comers in the Shoreline Division this season.
Both teams are unbeaten against common opponents this year, and Alameda's Sam Wettergren is a bona fide leader for the Hornets, but it will take a Herculean effort to hand the Dragons their first home loss this season, especially with Naseem Gaskin and Elijah Hardy leading the way.
No. 3 Moreau Catholic at No. 2 Las Lomas
As entertaining as the rest of the games listed above this one sound, this battle in Walnut Creek has the potential to be the best one. Both teams have a ton of athleticism and depth, meaning that the pace should rarely slow down.
Junior point guard Max Anderson and sophomore Dallas Rider have been consistent all season for the Mariners, who will need a big effort on the boards from David Hector, and defensive pressure on the perimeter from LJ Anderson.
That is because Las Lomas features one of the steadiest point guards in senior Rob Prince, to go with all-around threats Devin Payne and Nate Robinson, plus three-point specialist Jason Holman. The talent also runs deep for the Knights, with players such as Blake Thorpe and Homer Kravets always ready to make an impact.
DIVISION III
No. 12 Hayward at No. 1 Salesian
The senior-laden Farmers have been wearing the glass slipper, as the Cinderella story of these playoffs, but face unanimous top-ranked Salesian in the semifinals. Hayward will need a huge effort from seniors Melvin Lipsey, Oliver Hamilton III, Laprel Boyd, and Teddy Kautz III.
Farmers' coach Sunny Aujla has stated that his team is playing its best basketball of the year right now, but they will need to take that to another level against a Salesian team led by Connecticut-bound point guard James Akinjo.
Akinjo is surrounded by plenty of talent, including junior twin guards Jaden and Jovon McClanahan, senior forward Josh Jefferson, and sophomore standout Tyler Brinkman. The Pride can run plenty of athletes at anyone, and their full court press is lethal when put into effect. In a common opponent comparison, Salesian routed Alameda by 25 points, while Alameda swept a pair of meetings against Hayward.
No. 6 Albany at No. 2 Campolindo
Campolindo has dominated the first two rounds of play in the post-season, after facing elite competition throughout the year in the DAL-Foothill. The Cougars feature tremendous guard play with Carter Mahaney and Trevin Kroichick, plus have elite athletes who can play on the perimeter and drive into the paint with David Ahazie and John Torchio.
Albany ground a stunningly defensive game against Drake in the quarterfinals, beating the Pirates, 29-26. The Cougars were our sleeper team before the tournament, having prepared in the TCAL-Rock, which meant six games against fellow semifinalists Salesian, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, and Saint Mary's.
DIVISION IV
No. 5 Lick-Wilmerding at No. 1 St. Joseph Notre Dame
One thing is for certain - St. Joe's will not be taking Lick lightly, especially after the Tigers' improbable rally and win over St. Pat's in last year's semifinals.
St. Joe's dug itself a bit of a hole last week against Fortuna, trailing by six points late in the third quarter, before Cameron Ba exploded in the fourth quarter, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds. The Pilots will also look for a big game in the post from Adam Campos, while Julian Vaughns and Kobe Keiner could provide additional match-up issues for Lick.
Lick, of course, would love to get shooter Walter Lum free on the perimeter and trade three points on its offensive end for two on the other end. Losing post presence Zach Johnson to injury could make this a tall task for the Tigers, but they have also prepared against top-notch competition this year, and took down a solid Piedmont team in the quarterfinals. Both teams are unbeaten against all common opponents this year.
No. 6 Saint Mary's at No. 2 St. Patrick-St. Vincent
Saint Mary's was our sleeper team in this bracket prior to the tournament, and coach Rich Buckner's squad lived up to that billing with a quarterfinal win over Stuart Hall.
These teams have played twice during league play, with St. Pat's winning a couple of hard-fought games, meaning the axiom of beating a good opponent three times in one year is in full effect here.
St. Pat's has gone on its usual hot streak late in the season, which is to be expected considering the number of multi-sport athletes on the Bruins' roster and the recent deep runs of its football team, which leaves St. Pat's missing key players well into the winter. Akil Edwards and Marshel Martin are two such athletes, and both have been key down the stretch.
DIVISION V
No. 4 Redwood Christian vs No. 1 University-San Francisco at Kezar Pavilion
Redwood Christian ended San Domenico's amazing run in the quarterfinals, but the task is considerably larger facing the top-seeded Red Devils.
Everyone knows they need to slow down University's perimeter game, but few have been able to accomplish that task. Making that more difficult is the length of University's outstanding guards, including Spencer Spivy, Max Fried, and Julian Manyika, all of whom stand taller than the biggest player on Redwood Christian's roster.
No. 3 Urban-San Francisco vs No. 2 Branson at College of Marin
Branson is one of the hottest teams in the section, and has the ability to play at multiple tempos, including a 35-34 grind-it-out win over Redwood in the MCAL semifinals, which was followed two games by a 91-point explosion against Upper Lake. The Bulls' forte, however, is their defense. Not counting the first-round blowout against Upper Lake, no team has reached the 50-point mark against Branson since a mid-December overtime loss to Oakland.
That means Urban will have to get creative with ways to get Leo Krinsky involved, and he will need help from teammates such as fellow senior Nicholas Andino.
DIVISION VI
No. 4 Jewish Community-San Francisco at No. 1 Laytonville
Laytonville will look for another big game from senior Nathen Luna, who is averaging 18 points per game, while also containing Toby Holm, who averages a near double-double for Jewish Community, with over 13 points per game.
These teams have not played a single common opponent this season, and will meet for the first time in the history of the programs.
No. 6 Waldorf-San Francisco at No. 2 Cornerstone Christian-Antioch
Waldorf stunned three-seed Mendocino in the quarterfinals, and Simon Molesworth is averaging 15 points per game. Meanwhile, Cornerstone Christian has three players who can light up the scoreboard, led by freshman Jacob Ebert, who averages over 20 per outing.
Junior James Ebert can also score in double figures, while Ezra Hunter III is a threat to post a double-double on most nights.
