NorCal roundup: Escalon plays nailbiter, Riverbank girls hoops, Hilmar girls soccer win
For three quarters, the Escalon faithful were waiting for something to click in the opening round of the CIF Northern California Division IV tournament. Then it happened. Head coach Joe Dalpogetti elected to turn up the pressure in the fourth quarter and the No. 3 Cougars held visiting Notre Dame of San Jose scoreless for more than five minutes of the fourth quarter.
Sammy Lang swiped steals for fast-break layups, Macie Vickers drew fouls by attacking the basket and Madison Babasa drilled a three-pointer, contributing to a run that lasted for all but 2 minutes, 44 seconds of the final frame.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, the No. 14 Regents had already built an 18-point lead after three quarters.
Escalon’s comeback fell just short as it saw its season end with a 47-40 home loss.
Notre Dame’s zone defense slowed down Escalon’s dribble drive offense in the first half, but the Cougars kept their opponents’ offense in check as well. Escalon trailed 19-16 at the half. Notre Dame outscored Escalon 19-4 in the third quarter, setting the table for a 20-point fourth quarter.
Junior Aiden Hohenwarter finished tied for the team lead in scoring with 12 points. Seniors Vickers and Sammy Lang finished with 12 and seven points, respectively, in their final high school games.
Boys Basketball
Bullard 53, Central Catholic 43
After falling in the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournament to eventual back-to-back champion Sacramento, the Raiders played their first game in a week Tuesday in the Division III NorCal playoffs. Central Catholic bowed out in the first round to Central Section quarterfinalist Bullard. Central Catholic trailed 29-22 at halftime and scored 10 third-quarter points. Bullard outscored the Raiders 15-11 in the final frame to secure the 10-point lead, advancing to the second round of the NorCal tournament. Central Catholic finished the season 25-7 overall and went a perfect 10-0 in the Valley Oak League to claim the title.
Justin-Siena 59, Ripon Christian 44
After winning their second straight Division V Sac-Joaquin Section title, Ripon Christian was bumped up to Division III by the CIF for the Northern California tournament. The Knights trailed by just six points after one, but a Braves run to end the half gave them a 15-point halftime lead. Ripon Christian’s offense struggled despite 15 points from sophomore Jake Vander Veen. Jace Beidleman finished with eight points, eight rebounds and five blocks and Luke Crivello added eight points. The Knights finish the season 24-7 overall and before Tuesday’s loss held a 13-game win streak.
Palo Alto 60, Ripon 58
Ripon lost a nailbiter in the Division IV NorCal first-round road matchup. Ripon held a 36-27 lead at halftime but was outscored 24-6 in the third quarter as the Vikings came charging back. Junior Jorell Clark scored 16 points for Palo Alto to lead the third-quarter charge. Ripon outscored Palo Alto 16-9 in the final quarter. Ripon finishes the season 23-9, winning more than 20 games for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Girls Basketball
Riverbank 70, University Prep 52:
Riverbank went on the road and dominated University Prep in the Northern California Division IV regional playoffs. After losing to eventual Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champion Colfax in the semifinals, Riverbank earned a NorCal win. The Bruins, ranked No. 11 in the division, will host a game Thursday after 14-seed Notre Dame upset Escalon.
Next: No. 14 Notre Dame-San Jose at No. 11 Riverbank
Lynbrook 68, Ripon Christian 55
The Knights fell in the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals but were awarded a spot in the CIF Northern California Division V playoffs where they were the No. 15 seed. Maddie Yonker finished with an impressive 22-point, 11-rebound double double and Reagan Vander Hoek added 10 points and six boards. Yonker also had five assists, three steals and three blocks. The Knights finished their season 16-13 overall.
Girls soccer
University-San Francisco 3, Oakdale 2
Mia Peterson and Kyleigh Melconian each scored in the CIF Northern California Division III regional playoffs, but the goals were not enough to overcome a trio of scored by University. Claire Brown and Kyra Binstock were each credited with assists on the goals. Oakdale finishes the season 18-8-3 with its second straight Valley Oak League title and a section championship appearance.
Hilmar 3, Carruthers 1
Hilmar was awarded the top seed in the Division V NorCal regional playoffs and did not disappoint, putting up three goals against visiting Caruthers. Sophomore Brisa Gonzales scored a goal and added an assist. She also scored on a penalty kick. Sidney Logsdon also added a goal and Finley Rosa had an assist. Kayden Elston finished with three saves in goal. The top-seed Yellowjackets host University Prep on Thursday.
Next: No. 4 University Prep at No. 1 Hilmar
Winters 3, Ripon Christian 2
The Knights entered the Northern California postseason as a No. 3 seed in Division V after capturing a section title. Ripon Christian fell by just one goal, finishing its season wiht a 22-4-1 record, just one Trans Valley League loss and just one loss on the road.
Wednesday’s games
No. 5 Modesto Christian at No. 4 De La Salle, 7 p.m.
Modesto Christian secured its third straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship Wednesday, Feb. 21, beating Tri-City Athletic League rival Lincoln of Stockton 68-63 at Golden 1 Center. Now, for the third straight season, they embark on a journey against the toughest high school competition in California’s Open Division. After hosting De La Salle in the first round of the Open Division last season, the Crusaders travel to Concord to take on top baseball/basketball prospect Alec Blair and company in the Open first round Wednesday at 7 p.m.
In 2023, the Crusaders were ranked the No. 1 team in Northern California and beat the Spartans 57-56. This season, with an early season loss to Berkeley High before transfers junior Gavin Sykes, sophomore Myles Jones, senior Marcus Washington and junior Ry Atkins were eligible and a late season loss to Weston Ranch likely played a factor in the No. 5 seed and likely no NorCal playoff home game.
Sykes, Jones ans Washington each average double figures for the Crusaders. Washington is coming off is best game in a Modesto Christian uniform, scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the section title game. Jones added 17 and Sykes scored 16. Senior Jeremiah Bernard, the only Crusader with three straight D-I titles and has been a part of the prior two deep Open Division runs and is looking to make it a third.
Sac-Joaquin Section NorCal scores
Boys Basketball
San Joaquin Memorial 66, Christian Brothers 59
Natomas 62, Menlo School 61
Bullard 53, Central Catholic 43
Oakland 70, Capital Christian 64
Union Mine 66, University Prep
Futures 78, Orland 65
San Ramon Valley 67, Vanden 64
Carmel 76, Venture Academy 58
Jesuit 54, Benicia 53
Colusa 56, Fortune Early College 30
St. Ignatius College Prep 67, Rocklin 51
International 50, Bradshaw Christian 49
Justin-Siena 59, Ripon Christian 44
Granada 58, Inderkum 53
Monterey Trail 70, University 68
Serra-San Mateo 63, Lincoln-Stockton 61
Menlo-Atherton 70, Sacramento 64
Palo Alto 60, Ripon 58
Del Oro 60, Half Moon Bay 55
West Park 63, Enterprise 49
Girls Basketball
Lincoln-San Francisco 56, Lincoln 48
St. Bernard’s 55, West Campus 39
Vanden 52, San Domenico 44
Pleasant Valley 56, Vista del Lago 49
Whitney 53, Piedmont 41
Heritage 54, Grant 40
Arcata 51, Bear River 48
Lynbrook 68, Ripon Christian 55
Lowell 52, Wood 48
Atwater 74, Pioneer 48
Woodland Christian 41, Modoc 30
McClatchy 66, Pinewood 64
Colfax 67, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 66
Notre Dame 47, Escalon 40
Oak Ridge 47, Priory 35
Antelope 82 Buchanan 68
Riverbank 70, University Prep 52
Valley Christian 80, Summit Shasta 70
San Joaquin Memorial 67, Manteca 37
Boys Soccer
Archbishop Mitty 3, McClatchy 2
Stevenson 2, Esparto 1
Monte Vista 3, Jesuit 0
Archie Williams 7, Galt 4
Las Lomas 1, Golden Valley 1 F/PK
Summerville 5, Gridley 0
Dougherty Valley 3, Valley 2
Del Oro 3, El Diamante 2
Justin Garza 2, Pacheco 2
Pleasant Valley 1, Natomas 0
Girls Soccer
Colfax 2, Miramonte 1
Granite Bay 2, Tamaplais 0
Hilmar 3, Caruthers 1
John Adams Academy 8, Forest Lake Christian 0
Rio Americano 0, Pleasant Valley 0 F/PK
St. Francis 4, Casa Grande 0
Winters 3, Ripon Christian 2
Torres, 1 Placer 0
Del Oro 0, Amador Valley 0 F/PK
Cristo Rey 9, Delta
Foresthill 2, WSCA 0
University 3, Oakdale 2
Archbishop Mitty 2, Davis 1
