The Sports Informant

By Patrick Ibarra
Editor

After a week of play in the Sac-Joaquin Section boys basketball playoffs, only a few teams remain with hopes of securing a section title and a berth to the state championship bracket.

Division I

Division I play saw a wild first two rounds eliminate teams down to just four, with semifinal play continuing tomorrow at Arco Arena.

Top seeded Franklin of Elk Grove took care of business to reach the semis, beating No. 16 Edison on Feb. 26, 80-62, before knocking off No. 9 Pleasant Grove on March 2 at the University of Pacific, 85-40. Pleasant Grove beat No. 8 Lincoln of Stockton in the first round, 59-57. Franklin will hosts tomorrow’s semifinal game against No. 4 Turlock at Arco Arena at 5:30 p.m.

To reach the semis, Turlock first beat No. 13 Vintage on Feb. 26, 70-49, then knocked off No. 5 Rodriguez on March 2 at UOP, 78-68. Rodriguez beat No. 12 Davis Sr. in the first round, 62-31.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Merced advanced to the semis after beating No. 15 Kennedy on Feb. 26, 77-60, before beating No. 7 Grace Davis at UOP on March 2, 85-76. Grace Davis beat No. 10 Oak Ridge in Round 1, 67-63.

Merced will face No. 6 Sheldon in the semis at Arco tomorrow at 4 p.m. Sheldon beat No. 11 West on Feb. 26, 88-67, and No. 3 Burbank on March 2 at UOP, 74-69. Burbank beat No. 14 Golden Valley in Round 1, 46-29.

For the Division I tournament bracket, click here.

Division II

The Division II bracket entered the second round of competition. For first round results, click here.

In the second round, played at home sites of better-seeded teams, No. 1 Fairfield beat No. 8 Vallejo, 51-42. Fairfield will now face No. 4 Oakmont at 9 p.m. on March 4. Oakmont beat No. 5 Jesuit in Round 2 on Feb. 26, 82-70, to advance.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Woodcreek advanced again, this time with a second-round win over No. 10 Inderkum, 90-56, on Feb. 26. Woodcreek will face No. 6 Rocklin in semifinals at 7:30 p.m. at Arco Arena on Thursday. Rocklin, meanwhile, fought off No. 3 Yuba City in the second round, winning a thrilling 77-70 overtime game to advance to the semifinals.

Division III

In Division III play, teams battled in the second round for a shot at the semifinals, to played at Cosumnes River College tonight. Round 1 results can be found here.

No. 1 seed Sacramento advanced with a second-round win over No. 8 Lincoln, 85-64, and will face No. 4 St. Mary’s at 5:30 p.m. tonight. St. Mary’s beat No. 5 Rio Americano, 61-56, on Feb. 26.

On the other side, No. 2 Vista del Lago took care of business against No. 7 Manteca on Feb. 26, 78-62. The Eagles will play No. 6 Center at 9 p.m. at Cosumnes River College. Center knocked off No. 3 Del Oro on Feb. 26, 79-73.

Division IV

In Division IV play, teams begin semifinal play tonight at Tokay High School. Round 1 results can be found here.

In Round 2, No. 1 Colfax beat No. 8 Cosumnes Oaks on Feb. 26, 61-48. Colfax will face No. 13 Capital Christian tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Tokay High School. Capital Christian knocked off No. 5 Central Catholic on Feb. 26, 76-51.

On the other side, No. 2 Calaveras beat No. 7 Hilmar in Round 2 play, 60-45, and will face No. 3 Modesto Christian tonight at 9 p.m. Modesto Christian beat No. 11 Christian Brothers in Round 2, 91-79.

Division V

Only two teams remain in the Division V bracket, with the finals upcoming on Friday at Arco Arena.

After the smoke cleared from a tough tournament, No. 1 Victory Christian and No. 2 Ripon Christian were the only teams left standing, and will face off at 5:30 p.m. on March 5.

In Round 2 on Feb. 26, No. 1 Victory Christian beat No. 8 Global Youth, 57-55, to advance. Victory Christian then beat No. 4 Valley Christian on March 2 at Galt High School, 73-64, to make the finals. Valley Christian beat No. 5 Sacramento Waldorf in Round 2, 68-65.

Ripon Christian, meanwhile, beat No. 10 Forest Lake Christian in Round 2, 59-35, to advance to the semifinals, where it faced No. 3 Bradshaw Christian. On March 2 at Galt High, Ripon Christian advanced again, this time to the finals, with a 63-62 win over Bradshaw Christian.

Round 1 results can be found here.