CIF Regional Boys Basketball Championship semifinal: Previews, history from all 24 games
There are 24 boys games tipping off at 7 p.m. Saturday to decide 12 CIF Basketball Championship Regional finalists. Here’s a quick gander at each game with records between the two teams over the last 20 years.
All games tip off at 7 p.m.
Open Division
NORTH
No. 5 seed Modesto Christian (28-5) vs. No. 1 Salesian (29-1) at Contra Costa College: The perennial private school NorCal powers have played eight times in the last 20 years, with Salesian winning five, though Modesto Christian has won the last two, 67-58 (2022) and 56-55 (2019), the latter in a NorCal semifinal. Two tenaciously tough defensive squads. Modesto Christian coming off 51-49 buzzer-beater by Gavin Sykes at De La Salle. Salesian has had eight days off since 11th NCS championship. Salesian coach Bill Mellis said he's more worried about Modesto Christian than rust: “They really attack the basket well. They shoot the 3-ball and they crash the boards. Our hands will be full.” The Pride is 10-1 versus top 25 opponents this year: “Salesian is a very good team and they are very well connected,” Sykes said. “We just need to do what we do and we will be fine.”
No. 3 Clovis North (28-6) at No. 2 Archbishop Riordan (24-4): Riordan leads the series 2-1, winning the last two seasons at the Gridley Tournament, 74-65 and 66-61. Clovis North beat the Crusaders in 2015, 72-60. A second classic public vs. private matchup. Clovis North edged North Coast Section power Branson Wednesday, 49-48, while Riordan, led by St. Mary's College bound Zion Sensley, had a first-round bye.
Riordan's Dion Sensley is a leading candidate for Central Coast Section Player of the Year
File photo: Dennis Lee
SOUTH
No. 4 Carlsbad (30-2) at No. 1 Harvard-Westlake (30-3): The Lancers, one of the best San Diego Section squads in recent memory, battle the defending state Open champions. They've faced off just once before, to start this season in fact, and Harvard-Westlake won 83-44. The Wolverines will be battling complacency perhaps as much as the Lancers.
No. 6 St. Joseph (30-3) at No. 2 Roosevelt (31-3): The Knights from Santa Maria stunned favored Sierra Canyon, 69-68 on a last-second shot by top national junior recruit Tounde Yessoufou (see above). The teams have faced off just once, another rematch from earlier this year like the other semifinal, only this one a 62-61 Roosevelt win despite 27 points and seven rebounds from Yessoufou. Roosevelt features another State Player of the Year candidate Brayden Burries, also a 6-6 junior.
Harvard-Westlake vs. Roosevelt in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball final at Cal Baptist University on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Andy Holzman
Division 1
NORTH
No. 4 Granada (25-4) at No. 1 Clovis West (28-6): These two teams played in the D1 semifinals last season with Granada pulling out a 70-62 home victory on its way to the state finals, where it lost to Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks. The Golden Eagles, this time at home, will look for payback.
No. 3 Archbishop Mitty (23-7) at No. 2 San Ramon Valley (27-7): Remarkably these two Bay Area powers have not faced up in the last 20 years. Great matchup of cohessive teams that rely on balance and toughness. At 68.3 points per game, San Ramon Valley possesses a little more firepower, while Mitty (61.3) relies more on getting stops.
San Ramon Valley celebrating its Gold Division championship at the Damien Classic in December.
Photo: Heston Quan
SOUTH
No. 12 Damien (28-5) at No. 1 St. John Bosco (25-7): They've played just once before, a 67-47 nonleague win for Damien in 2021 despite 20 points from then Bosco freshman Kade Bonam, now a junior.
No. 7 Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (31-3) at No. 3 Mater Dei (28-5): Surprisingly just three meetings in 20 years with Mater Dei winning the first two in 2016 (87-59) and 2022 (67-57) before the Knights won last season in regionals, 81-59, en route to the state title. Mercy Miller, Notre Dame's Houston-bound guard and now a senior, had 28 points that night, offsetting a combined 33 from Brannon Martinsen, then a freshman, and Zack Davidson. Martinsen, Mater Dei's leading scorer in 2023-24, is out for the season with a broken tibia.
Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks senior guard Mercy Miller.
Tarek Fattal/SBLive
Division 2
NORTH
No. 9 Oakland (24-8) at No. 5 Bellarmine (12-17): It's been a while, but the teams met once in 2008, a 73-66 Oakland victory. The Wildcats were led that night by a relative unknown at the time, a 6-1 guard named Damian Lillard. Oakland is the defending state D3 champion.
No. 6 Del Oro-Loomis (26-8) at No. 2 Oakland Tech (27-5): Not surprisingly, these two teams have never met. Tech was in the D3 Regional final last year, but lost to rival Oakland. Del Oro is led by senior guard Caden Pinnick (21.3 ppg).
SOUTH
No. 12 Bakersfield Christian (21-11) at No. 1 Heritage Christian (25-9): These programs actually have some history, playing twice in the COVID spring season of 2021, splitting two games, Heritage Christian winning the first game 82-60 before Bakersfield Christian got payback 63-48, about a month later.
No. 14 King/Drew (21-11) at No. 7 Centennial-Bakersfield (26-7): These two programs have never met. Lloyd Webster has led King/Drew to its fourth 20-win seasons since 2017-18. The Golden Eagles have registered their third straight 20-win season but the 26 is the most in program history since at least 2004.
Division 3
NORTH
No. 4 Ygnacio Valley (26-8) at No. 1 Santa Cruz (25-6): The first meeting between these two programs. Ygnacio Valley has found its stride under third-year coach Michael Woolridge, who after a 2-18 campaign in 2021-22 has gone a combined 47-15. Junior guard Antonio Kellogg Jr., whose dad starred at Pittsburg High in the late 1990s, earning a full ride to UConn, is averaging 18.2 ppg. Santa Cruz is a perennial power out of the Central Coast Section under Lawan Milhouse (185-79 since 2014). Ben Dotten, a 6-6 senior, leads the team 16 ppg.
No. 6 Bullard (25-8) at No. 2 Justin-Siena (28-3): Two more programs that haven't met. Bullard, under 13th-year coach Tim Amundsen, has won more than any in program history since the 2012-13 team that went 27-3. The Knights have won nine of their last 10 games. This is back-to-back 28-win season for the Braves, who last year lost in the D3 Regional semifinals to Oakland Tech, 61-55., a year after losing in the D4 state finals to Scripps Ranch (46-37).
SOUTH
No. 8 San Marcos (26-7) at No. 4 Bosco Tech (25-9): A year after going 10-19, Dante Carey's team has caught the same stride it found the two previous seasons when it went a combined 47-9. Sophomore Jalen Williams (17.2 ppg) leads the Knights, who have never met Bosco Tech., which is coming off a 27-7 season. Junior guard Jaden Erami (22.5 ppg) and senior forward Ryan Osborne (18.2) lead the Tigers.
No. 7 University City (26-8) at No. 3 Alemany (22-15): Yet another pair of programs meeting for the first time. This is the first 20-win season for University City since 2019-20 and only the second since 2008-09. The Centurions are led by junior wing Dylan Griffin (20.1 ppg) and senior power foward Ben Gavani. Alemany also is experiencing its first 20-win season since 2019-20. The Warriors, led by senior Jared Mims (17.4 ppg), started the year 1-4.
Division 4
NORTH
No. 8 Palo Alto (20-8) at No. 4 Union Mine (30-3): Famous for its 32-1 state championship in 2005-06, led by Linsanity's Jeremy Lin, the Vikings have registered its seventh 20-win season since 2012. They are led by juniors Jorell Clark (16.8 ppg) and Gavin Haase (14.8), the son Stanford men's coach Jerod Haase. Union Mine has never won 30 games with the most coming in 2006-07 at 26-2. High scoring senior guard Nate Sweet (26.1 ppg) and sophomore forward Isaac Zmerzlikar (15.4) lead a potent Diamondbacks' squad. First meeting between programs.
No. 14 Monterey (22-6) at No. 2 Natomas (25-9): The visiting Dores are led by Greg Daniels for the 19th straight year. The program really hit its stride in 2017-17, going 25-4 before 19-9 and 25-5 seasons. After losing to Santa Cruz in the CCS semifinals, Monterey has rattled off impressive road wins over at Sierra (67-51) and Lincoln-San Francisco (58-34). Natomas hasn't had 25 wins since 2006-07 when it went 28-2. The program had another 20-win season the following year before struggling until last season's 18-11 campaign. The Nighthawks have taken it a step further, thanks in part to sophomore guard Manno Jenkins (18.6 ppg) and freshman Aeron Wallace (12.0).
SOUTH
No. 13 George Washington (17-15) at No. 1 Chatsworth (18-14): Another first-time meeting, George Washington is led by its 10th year coach Jovante King, whose team is led by junior center Dareon Scott (22 ppg) and senior wing Michael Aikhionbare (20.0). Chatsworth, coming off 15-18 and 9-21 seasons, is led by one of the top sophomore recruits in the country, Alijah Arenas (32.6 ppg) (see video at top of the page).
No. 14 Mission College Prep (14-18) at No. 2 Cleveland (19-10): After starting the season 3-14, safe to say the Royals have found their footing, winning 11 of 15 including regional games over Diamond Ranch (75-72) and Grant (66-65) on the road. Cleveland is on a historical climb after consecutive seasons of 7-24, 7-20, 8-16, 5-24, 0-13, 8-18 and 11-19. Two comeback stories here. The Cavaliers are led by senior Soulijah Niles (16.2 ppg), Kamari King (13.3) and TJ Wansa (10.4), a freshman. First time meeting.
Division 5
NORTH
No. 4 International (26-6) at No. 1 Athenian (25-8), 7 p.m.: Finally a matchup with some history as the two programs have faced off 13 times since 2005, with it almost evenly divided. (International leads series, 7-6). The teams have split the last six decisions dating back to 2018, including two games this season. International won 57-53 on Feb. 3 on the road, while Athenian got payback at International, 73-68, in the North Coast Section D5 semifinals. Athenian is led by seniors Evan Lucas (16.5 ppg) and Surya Devasenapathy (16.2).
No. 3 Oakwood (15-14) at No. 2 San Domenico (18-11), 7 p.m.: Coming off a 23-6 season, the Hawks are riding a five-game wins streak. Under first-year head coach Mike Fulton, who led the girls team to a state title and Branson girls state crowns before that, won regional games over Lowell (57-38) and Futures (68-47). The teams have never met.
SOUTH
No. 5 North-Bakersfield (28-6) at No. 1 San Pedro (23-11): First-time meeting between Central and LA City programs. This is the visiting Stars' first 20-win season since 2006-07 and they've surpassed that mark by a long shot, winning 24 of their last 25 including six straight. After losing to George Washington Prep at sections, San Pedro beat Notre Dame (77-60) and Firebaugh, another Central Section squad, 78-65 in the quarterfinals.
No. 7 Buckley (21-11) at No. 3 Verdugo Hills (23-11): And yet another first meeting between programs. The visiting Griffins fell on hard times starting in 2019, going a combined 18-36 over the next three seasons before going 15-11 last season. They've won six of seven going into Saturday games. Verdugo Hills has rebounded sharply after going 13-16 last season.
