photo by Charlie McDonald (charlie.mcdonald@surewestsports.com)
by Mike Finnerty (mike.finnerty@surewestsports.com)
For those area basketball teams waiting to find out which team they would face in round one, or whether or not they simply made it to postseason, those questions were answered.
On Sunday, the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section unveiled it's boys Division I - VI playoff brackets and there were no real big surprises other than perhaps Sierra Foothill League champ No. 10 Del Oro starting off on the road at No. 7 Lodi.
DIVISION I:
Sheldon will be the No. 1 seed, while on the bottom half of the bracket Jesuit is the No. 2 seed. Sheldon beat Jesuit in last year's title game, and they could meet in the championship game again this year. Sheldon swept the two-game season series with Jesuit, but in the second meeting it took a last second shot by Kyi Thomas to beat the Marauders. Jesuit looks to Parker Uu, Akachi Okugo, and Bryce Pressley just to name just a few, while Sheldon brings in a more balanced bunch than in previous years with the likes of D'erryl Williams, Dakari Allen, Ryan Manning, and Thomas.
Watch out for: No. 6 Pleasant Grove
Prediction: Sheldon over Jesuit
Round 1 - February 22
(16) Pitman at (1) Sheldon
(9) Burbank at (8) Golden Valley
(12) Granite Bay at (5) Bethel
(13) Oak Ridge at (4) West
(14) Franklin at (3) Turlock
(11) Rodriguez at (6) Pleasant Grove
(10) Chavez at (7) Kennedy
(15) Nevada Union at (2) Jesuit
DIVISION II:
Riding a 25-game winning streak, Antelope comes in to this year's Division II playoffs as the No. 1 seed with Sac High No. 2. Antelope leans on the experience of seniors Jarvis Watkins, Isaiah Ellis, and Caleb King and head coach Rob Richards will look to add to his 200 career wins. Sac High has stars all around as well. Point guard Darius Graham, center James Hadnot, and forward Erik Kinney look to be the leaders of this year's squad and head coach Derek Swafford is no stranger to section championships. All signs point to Antelope and Sac High as the favorites to make to the championship, but Antelope will almost certainly need to get by No. 4 Bella Vista.
Watch out for: No. 6 Del Campo
Prediction: Antelope over Sac High
Round 1 - February 22
(16) Downey at (1) Antelope
(9) St. Mary's at (8) Grace Davis
(12) Cosumnes Oaks at (5) Fairfield
(13) Rio Americano at (4) Bella Vista
(14) Johansen at (3) McNair
(11) Yuba City at (6) Del Campo
(10) Del Oro at (7) Lodi
(15) Buhach Colony at (2) Sacramento
DIVISION III:
The No. 1 Foothill Mustangs are the clear favorite to capture the Division III section championship this year. Foothill is led by their star in Michael Bryson (19.7 pts), plus key contributors in Anthony Williams (12.6 pts), and Kelly Bender (12.4 pts), and long time head coach Drew Hibbs. The only question at this point is what team the Mustangs will likely face in the championship.
Watch out for: No. 11 Valley
Prediction: Foothill over Center
Round 1 - February 22
(16) Dixon at (1) Foothill
(9) Natomas at (8) El Dorado
(12) Vista Del Lago (5) Weston Ranch
(13) East Union at (4) Lindhurst
(14) Patterson at (3) Center
(11) Valley at (6) Vanden
(10) Casa Roble at (7) Los Banos
(15) Placer at (2) Sierra
DIVISION IV:
How do you not pick No. 1 Modesto Christian to take the Division IV title. The Crusaders came up short last year to Amador, opening the door for Colfax to win the title. This year Colfax failed to make the playoffs for the first time in two decades. Last year was the first year that Modesto Christian had not one a section title since 2002 with titles coming in Division I, III, and IV.
Watch out for: No. 6 San Juan
Prediction: Modesto Christian over Bret Harte
Round 1 - February 22
(16) Amador at (1) Modesto Christian
(9) Lathrop at (8) Encina
(12) Union Mine at (5) Calaveras
(13) Bear River at (4) Sonoma
(14) Mariposa at (3) Riverbank
(11) Escalon at (6) San Juan
(10) Highlands at (7) Ripon
(15) Waterford at (2) Bret Harte
DIVISION V:
Capital Christian, which has never one a section title in boys basketball, enters the playoffs as the Division V favorite and No. 1 seed led by Matt Donlan and Trey Belton. On the bottom half it's Central Catholic (No. 2) and Ripon Christian (No. 3) with opening round byes. Can one of the state's highest scoring teams in Valley Christian of Roseville get by Central Catholic or Ripon Christian? If so, head coach Brad Gunter Jr. will need Jason Gish and Josh Flanagan to continue what they have done in the regular season.
Watch out for: No. 6 Valley Christian
Prediction: Capital Christian over Central Catholic
Round 1 - February 22
(9) Faith Christian at (8) Delta Charter (winner at No. 1 Capital Christian)
(12) Forest Lake Christian at (5) Elliot Christian (winner at No. 4 Sac Waldorf)
(11) Woodland Christian at (6) Valley Christian (winner at No. 3 Ripon Christian)
(10) ROP/Sierra Ridge at (7) Le Grand (winner at No. 2 Central Catholic)
DIVISION VI:
In Division VI, look for an all-Sacramento area championship game between the top two seeds with No. 1 Victory Christian of Carmichael against No. 2 Sac Adventist.
Prediction: Victory Christian over Sac Adventist
Round 1 - February 22
(8) Wilton Christian at (1) Victory Christian
(5) Brookside Christian at (4) Tioga
(6) Lodi Academy at (3) New Life Christian
(7) Trinity Prep at (2) Sac Adventist