Sac-Joaquin Issue 173, Nov. 24, 2019

SAC-JOAQUIN EDITION NOV. 24, 2019 VOL. 10 ISSUE 173

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hen you cover high school sports for a living, there’s never a more exhausting time than November.

That’s when the worlds of football and basketball come crashing together. And oh yeah, postseasons for girls volleyball, water polo, cross country, girls golf and girls tennis. Wrestling and soccer aren’t far behind, either.

While it’s all happening out there, we still made time to crank out our 10th annual Basketball Preview special edition. We’ve got more than 25 pages of hoops coverage between our Bay Area and Sac-Joaquin editions.

You’ll find four different features along with 30 of the top boys and girls players and 40 of the top teams. There’s even more at SportStarsMag.com as our NorCal Preseason Rankings are expanded to a Top 25 for both boys and girls, featuring comments for all 25 teams.

SportStarsMag.com is going to be the place to be for all that aforementioned fall postseason coverage, too.

We’ll have features from the football and volleyball postseasons, as well as updates and stories on water polo and cross country as well.

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THE BIG 10 BEGINS

As if we didn’t have enough going on this month, we’ll also be beginning our Big 10 Project — a 10-month celebration of SportStars’ first decade covering NorCal Sports. The Big 10 will be a series of lists ranking the top 10 teams and individuals from the past decade across several sports.

The first Big 10 Ranking will debut during the last week of November. We’ll also open our first fan vote of the project, featuring girls volleyball.

As we near the start of this project, I want to put an open call out to coaches and fans to send in Big 10 nominations for any of the fall sports (football, girls volleyball, boys and girls water polo, boys and girls cross country, girls golf or girls tennis). We’ll be doing our own research, but it would be great to hear suggestions.

Do you believe you coached, or coached against, an athlete or team you felt should be considered among NorCal’s best of the decade? Please email me at editor@sportstarsmag.com and let me know your thoughts.

We’ll put a call out for the winter Big 10 nominations in mid-February. Which, of course, is just about the time that our sporting worlds clash again as spring invades the winter. But we’ll be ready.

In the meantime, enjoy this welcome to the new hoops season. Perhaps as you wait for kickoff to one of Friday’s big playoff games. ✪

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YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #10, Nov. 24, 2019 Whole No. 173 is published by Caliente!

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ellie bushnell GRANITE BAY - GOLF - FRESHMAN It would be hard to have a better first season of high school golf than Bushnell. Her stellar season potentially reached an apex on Nov. 4 when she fired a 5-under par 67 to take the top medalist honors in the CIF NorCal Golf Championships at El Macero Country Club.

Bushnell’s round also helped the Granite Bay girls golf team claim a second-place finish, just one stroke back of champion Dougherty Valley-San Ramon. The Grizzlies qualified for the CIF State Tournament, taking place on Nov. 19 at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

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Send your nominations to: Editor@SportStarsOnline.com or tweet us using #SSOTW

November 24, 2019

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ll coaches are different, and while philosophical differences some times come into play, parental concerns around coaching start at the most basic level: Is my child safe in his or her care?

It’s a question the USA Volleyball and the NCVA take very seriously.

General info about NCVA’s background checks usually amount to this line from the USAV Parent Guide: “Every adult over the age of 18 working with USAV juniors has a comprehensive background check performed biannually.” But what information — social security verification, address search, county courthouse and/or statewide search, national database and sex offender registry search — disqualifies a potential coach?

The following automatic disqualifiers are listed in the USAV Screening Policy: All sex offenses and homicides, regardless of time limit; felony violence and felony drug offenses in the past 10 years; any misdemeanor violence offenses in the past seven years; any multiple misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses within the past seven years; or any other crimes (not listed) against children in the past seven years. Furthermore, individuals found to have pending court cases for any disqualifying offenses will be disqualified. If the disposition of the pending case does not meet the criteria for disqualification as listed above, the individual would be cleared and reinstated.

But how are crimes collected?

Are these background checks effective to filter out people unfit to work with minors? Who performs

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these background checks for NCVA? The answer is Southeast Security Consultants, Inc. SSCI’s motto is ‘Information is protection.’ Committed to finding the best methods for accurate and complete data, they also seek the cost of its absence. SSCI found in a 2016 case study by Randy Rodebaugh found other companies offer national database-only searches to screen applicants as a cost-cutter for volunteer-driven organizations. As a result, 23 of the 56 individuals disqualified by SCCI throughout the 2015-16 screening period would have slipped through the cracks using only a database search. Pending cases will not appear on a national database, another reason courthouse investigations are imperative.

“We choose SSCI for their comprehensive background checks that include local and statewide search,” NCVA CEO Donna Donaghy said. “We feel it is imperative to use the best services out there as the first line of defense to minimize safety risks for our players and community.”

Unfortunately, some offenders may not have a criminal record, breaching this defense; so it is the community’s responsibility to help ensure the safety of players. In addition to background checks, USA Volleyball’s SafeSport program is a collection of specific policies, training, supervision and grassroots feedback to help ensure the community identifies and reports abuse. SafeSport also helps coaches be self-aware to not commit misconduct, clearly defining standards for them to conduct themselves.

SafeSport policies define sexual, physical and emotional misconduct; bullying, threats, harassment and hazing to provide a comprehensive picture of abuse, and how to identify as well as report it. USA Volleyball provides training on these issues.

“It is important to be able to coach the game and recognize issues on the court, but it is equally important for coaches to address situations off the court,” Aftershock Volleyball Club Director Craig Hardesty said. “SafeSport training allows them to do that properly.”

Additionally, the SafeSport Handbook has two proactive policies to reduce risk of abuse: The Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy and Travel Policy.

If a club does not develop its own policy, these policies become their default. For example, the Communications Policy limits all electronic correspondence topics between adults and minors to team activities, and all content must be readily available to the public, ensuring transparency. Plus, minors must copy or include their parents in all electronic correspondence. This multifaceted approach ensures coaches and the community actively create an environment that deeply minimizes abuse and maintains professionalism.

We owe our children a life free of violence; together, it is possible through active diligence. ✪ — Kim Lampi for NCVA Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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— Antelope coach Sean Chambers queaking sneakers scramble to midcourt during Antelope’s girls basketball practice in early November, before darting toward one of six baskets that flank the center of the hardwood.

The fleet feet stop beyond painted arcs as players catch a pass and pause to launch a 3-point shot, before returning to midcourt. The first to three (sometimes five) treys avoids push-ups.

The ultra fast-paced drill that closes Antelope’s practice is a good preview of what’s to come for the reigning NorCal Division I semifinalists, who return nearly every piece of a dynamic 31-4 squad and operate a relentless system entirely comprised of sharpshooting guards.

It’s not quite “The System,” the frequent-subbing, point-surrendering, 3-point-reliant style of basketball developed at Grinnell College — but it’s not far off.

Without a true post player, Antelope will assault the basketball with deliberate intentions to score at least 80 points a game. It’s the lesser of two remarkably honest team goals that players and coach Sean Chambers will readily admit too.

The other is a CIF championship.

“I believe that with young athletes everything is about expectations that you set and let them fulfill,” Chambers said. “We are not coming like ‘Let’s see where we land and hope for the best.’

“We know we have a special group.”

Antelope averaged 70 points a game in 2018-19. The program returns seven of the teams’ top eight scorers, including two-time Capital Valley Conference MVP Jzaniya Harriel.

Chambers said Harriel, a junior, is Northern California’s top recruit for the class of 2020 or 2021 “I think Jzaniya is just ahead of the game, ahead in life,” he said. “She pushes herself everyday, and is probably out there right now, finding a way to train away from practice.

“It’s what makes the great ones great.”

Harriel led the state in scoring last year (797 points), was second in free throws made (189), ninth in 3-pointers made (96) and was second in double-doubles, a feat she managed 26 times after grabbing 434 boards.

Though she sports a GPA of nearly 4.8, Harriel literally can’t count the number of college coaches and recruiters she has spoken with. She recently visited Stanford and has received offers from Loyola Marymount, Cal Poly, New Mexico, Purdue, Santa Barbara, Washington State, UC Irvine, UNLV, Northwestern, Hawaii and Sacramento State.

She participated in the Team USA Trials in May and won an Adidas Gauntlet Championship in Indianapolis with Just Believe Sports (JBS) two months later.

JBS is where Harriel was groomed, after joining middle school teams when she was in fourth grade. It’s where Chambers coaches many of the top talents in the Sac-Joaquin Section, year-round.

“Coach Sean and I get along very well,” Harriel said. “He and my dad are the only coaches I have ever really had.”

Jzaniya’s father, Mister Harriel, played professional basketball in France. One of his most memorable critiques was after Jzaniya landed a 40-point game.

“He told me I could have scored 50,” Jzaniya said with a laugh. “I didn’t mind, and I even agreed with him.”

Most young athletes would crumble under pressure like that, but Jzaniya flourishes. Growing up with seven siblings, all of them basketball players, she refuses to settle for second-best.

She said her competitive nature, not her shot, is probably her most recruitable attribute.

“I grew up in a big household, always wanting, needing to win,” she explained. “We competed with everything, and now my desires are getting rebounds, stealing the ball, scoring.

“The desire to win is always there.”

Games of Monopoly can be intense in the Harriel household, though Jzaniya’s five older siblings have already left the house. Jzaniya’s mother, Melissa, is the only one who can stay on her properties, rent free.

Jzaniya plans to be a judge one day, and expects the character she nurtured on the court to be vital in the courtroom.

That desperate drive to win, Jzaniya calls it #humbleandstarving, also ignites the roster around her, all bolstered by year-round play with Chambers and JBS. This year, coaches and players predict a breakout season for junior Kaiija Lesane, who also won an Adidas Gauntlet title and averaged nearly 10 points a game last year.

S Antelope’s Jzaniya Harriel works on her shot (below) and her footwork (right).

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Jordan Goodwin “I think Kaiija is the second-best player in Sacramento,” Chambers said. “She is an absolute phenom who came up on the eighth grade boys circuit, so when she came to high school she was overly physical and that got her into foul trouble.

“Now she has balanced her physicality and plays a unique and gifted style of play.”

Lesane is also stronger, quicker than she was last year, and has learned a nasty fadeaway that nobody, not even Jzaniya, could guard in practice.

“I guess I would model it after Kobe Bryant,” Lesane said. “It’s a lot of pressure but I’m going to work to get there.

“I’m excited to see how far we can take this as a team. I’m pretty confident we will be able to win state.”

The confidence comes from a remarkable offseason that left Antelope undefeated in all fall and summer contests, winning most games by at least a 25-point margin.

It’s tough to match the intensity of a squad that regularly rotates at least eight good guards, all of them sharpshooters who manage a full-court press and post double-team.

Air Force-bound senior Jordan Goodwin (10.1 points a game last year) and senior sisters Angel (9.8 points) and Angelina Jordan also make heavy contributions, alongside junior Alina Daffon, sophomore Jules Chavez and freshman Ivy Babcock.

Antelope will need most of the eight to stay consistent during the postseason, when a bad night of shooting could end the season.

The Titans won the SJS title in 2018, but slipped to Sacramento in the Div. II finale Feb. 26 before rolling to consecutive wins in the state playoffs, including a 53-48 upset of Heritage-Brentwood, NorCal’s No. 2 seed.

Sacramento graduated its top four scorers, while Bear Creek-Stockton, the team that ended Antelope’s season in overtime, returns sophomore star Junae Mahan, who scored 31 points against the Titans. The other star at Bear Creek, Mya Blake, has transferred to Edison-Stockton.

NorCal Champion Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland beat Bear Creek in the bracket finale before losing to Rosary Academy-Fullerton in the state finals. O’Dowd graduated Jada Holland, already a true freshman star at Grand Canyon University, but the program returns West Alameda County Conference co-Player of the Year Amaya Bonner (only a sophomore), who has already received scholarship offers from top-25 NCAA programs. Star recruit Kennedy Johnson is also back for the Dragons.

The reigning CIF Div. I champion, Rosary Academy, returns lots of talent, but will be without star guard Kate Goostrey, who tore her ACL during a showcase game on Oct. 12, according to the Orange County Register.

The elite matchups are admittedly on Chambers’ mind as he loads his team with real ambitions for state hardware. He may roster the smallest lineup in the bracket, but expects to outwork everyone.

“I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “I think I became a great coach in the last two years because of this group.”

The SJS playoffs begin Feb. 17. Teams will need to condition all year to deal with Antelope. ✪ 12

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Kaiija Lesane

— Antelope coach Sean Chambers

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1. ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE (25-3)

Yes, it’s a cliché, but Archbishop Mitty does not rebuild — it just reloads. Usually, losing the top player in the nation to Stanford (Haley Jones), the top returner (Hunter Hernandez) to an ACL, and the third-leading scorer (Anna McNicholas, along with three other seniors) to graduation means a serious step back. But Sue Phillips has at least five Division I players and a program built to just keep on keepin’ on.

2. ST. JOSEPH NOTRE DAME-ALAMEDA (22-8) Shawn Hipol has taken the Pilots to five NCS title games in his five years there, and even though two starters graduated, the 10 returners — including Sophie Nilsson, who missed last year with an ACL— are more than enough to keep St. Joseph Notre Dame in the hunt for a third NCS championship.

3. ST. MARY’S-STOCKTON (22-9)

Led by 6-2 Amaya Oliver, the famed and ferocious St. Mary’s press will destroy the masses and worry the elite. The mix of experience (four seniors) and young talent (watch out for those freshman guards) will keep the Rams in the mix for the NorCal Open title.

And St. Mary’s, as usual, will play one of the toughest out-of-area schedules around.

4. BISHOP O’DOWD-OAKLAND (24-10)

Malik McCord, like Sue Phillips at Archbishop Mitty, never seems to be fazed by the gaps left by graduation. Even though some key components have moved on, Amaya Bonner and Kennedy Johnson anchor yet another loaded O’Dowd roster. Plus, don’t worry about early losses — McCord designs his schedule to test the Dragons so they’ll play better in the postseason.

Archbishop Mitty’s Ashley Hiraki

5. MIRAMONTE-ORINDA (28-4)

The Matadors haven’t been able to get past Bishop O’Dowd the last two years, but with athletic junior Mia Mastrov and sharpshooters Erin Tarasow and Becca Welsh, Miramonte’s high-octane offense may have enough firepower to get the job done this time around. But rebounding will be an issue.

6. HERITAGE-BRENTWOOD (26-5)

When do-everything guard Jordan Sweeney graduated, it looked like Heritage’s home in the top 10 had been repossessed, but Milan Tuttle transferred from Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. Now the interior sister act of Amanda and Abigail Muse has someone to get them the ball.

7. CARDINAL NEWMAN-SANTA ROSA (24-5)

Any roster that starts with Anya Choice is going to be prime, and that 75-game North Bay League winning streak is likely to just keep on growing. There might be more challenges this year with a somewhat thinner roster, but Monica Mertle has won 162 games in the last six seasons, so odds are she’ll figure it all out.

8. ANTELOPE (31-4)

Thirty-one wins is a whole lot of wins, and with Jzaniya Harriel back to run the show, don’t expect much dropoff from Sean Chambers’s group. The schedule is daunting, though, with four tournaments — including one of the top brackets in the West Coast Jamboree — plus a couple of showcases. Still, Antelope will roll into postseason battle-tested and ready to do damage.

9. SALESIAN-RICHMOND (25-8)

Graduation hit hard in Richmond, as four of the top scorers and four of the top five rebounders have moved on, but the cupboard is far from bare. Juniors Amira Brown and Alexsandra Alvarado are ready for bigger roles, and senior Daylee Dunn is looking to have a breakout season.

10. PINEWOOD-LOS ALTOS HILLS (27-4)

There are those who will say this ranking is a gift, just another example of rounding up the usual suspects. However, those who have underestimated Doc Scheppler over the years wind up with egg on their faces and losses on their ledger. Courtni Thompson will lead the way for a small but dangerous lineup that won’t back down from anyone.

11. San Ramon Valley-Danville (26-5)

16. Sacred Heart Cathedral-SF (9-13)

12. Folsom (21-7)

17. West Campus-Sacramento (16-15)

13. Menlo School-Atherton (26-5)

18. Sacramento (25-8)

14. Oakland Tech (30-6)

19. California-San Ramon (22-6)

15. Valley Christian-San Jose (17-10)

20. Aptos (23-7)

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November 24, 2019

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Anya Choice

First Team AMAYA BONNER

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland / G / 5-11 / So. 2019 Averages: 12.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 spg Biggest Weapon: For Bonner, it isn’t “weapon,” it’s “weapons” — she can shoot, score, rebound, defend and run the offense (and she’s just a sophomore). From The Opposing Bench: “Amaya doesn’t need many shots to make a huge impact because she can change a game with her defense, rebounding and ball-handling as well as scoring. Her ability to defend at an elite level and play multiple positions, including point guard, makes her one of the best in her class, not just locally but nationally.” — Kelly Sopak, Miramonte-Orinda coach

ANYA CHOICE

CARDINAL NEWMAN-SANTA ROSA / G / 5-8 / SR. 2019 Averages: 22.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.3 spg Biggest Weapon: As with most of the first-team players, Choice can do pretty much everything, but her ability to get to the rim sets her apart. From The Opposing Bench: “She has a unique variety of moves, and when you combine that with her strength and quickness, it makes it really difficult to stay in front of her.” — Mike Wright, Ukiah coach

JZANIYA HARRIEL

ANTELOPE / G / 5-10 / JR. 2019 Averages: 23.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.9 spg Biggest Weapon: At 5-9, Harriel’s ability to affect the outcome as a rebounder is exceptional, but the 23.4 points a game isn’t a bad weapon, either. From The Opposing Bench: “She’s competitive and hates to lose. She has deep range and can attack the rim, and causes you to change your defense.” — Michele Massari, Sacramento coach

MIA MASTROV

MIRAMONTE-ORINDA / G / 5-11 / JR. 2019 Averages: 15.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg Biggest Weapon: Mastrov’s length, flexibility and footwork allow her to find paths to the basket that most cannot see. But if they sag off too much, the lefty will bury a 3. From The Opposing Bench: “From the first time I saw Mia play, I could tell she was a competitor. Mia comes to play and can kill you with the 3 or get to the basket with her quick first step and finish with either hand. She has continued to get better each year.” — Malik McCord, Bishop O’Dowd coach

TAMEIYA SADLER

ST. PATRICK ST. VINCENT-VALLEJO / G / 5-8 / SR. 2019 Averages: 17.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 7.6 apg, 5.7 spg, 1.2 bpg Biggest Weapon: Versatility — when a 5-8 guard averages 10.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks (to go along with 17.4 points, 7.6 assists and 5.7 steals), that gives you an idea of just how well-rounded her game is. From The Opposing Bench: “Tameiya has great court vision and an uncanny ability to split defenders and get to the basket. She is surprisingly quick and extremely strong with great handles and lateral movement. She is a player who can put her team on her back.” — Steve Pezzola, Salesian-Richmond coach

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Mia Mastrov

Mya Blake

second Team KENNEDY JOHNSON

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland /Forward / 6-0 / Jr. Johnson averaged 14.7 points and 8.4 rebounds for the North Coast Section champs.

MARLEY LANGI

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose / Wing / 6-0 / Jr. Don’t scout the stat line for Langi, who missed a lot of last season with an injury — she’s a coveted recruit for the top preseason team in Northern California.

MALIA MASTORA

St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda / Guard / 5-10 / Sr. A quiet dynamo for St. Joseph Notre Dame, Mastora just does what’s needed to be done, from scoring (14.8 ppg) to defending to blocking shots (1.8 per game).

ABIGAIL MUSE

Heritage-Brentwood / Post / 6-3 / Sr. Muse averaged a double-double, and blocked 148 shots to anchor the Heritage defense.

AMAYA OLIVER

St. Mary’s-Stockton / Wing / 6-2 / Sr. Oliver’s elite athleticism elevates St. Mary’s press into horror-movie status — and she can score.

third Team MYA BLAKE

Edison-Stockton / Guard / 5-4 / Jr. The diminutive Blake transferred to Edison from Bear Creek-Stockton, but her 20.4 ppg and disruptive defense won’t get lost in the translation.

AVERY LEE

Menlo School-Atherton / Guard / 5-8 / Jr. Lee is the engine for emerging power Menlo, with 16.9 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 steals a game.

TALANA LEPOLO

St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda / Guard / 5-6 / So. Another player whose 2018-19 stats don’t tell much of the story. Lepolo is already high on the list of Pac-12 must-have recruits.

GABBY RONES

West Campus-Sacramento / Guard / Sr. Shooters gonna shoot and scorers gonna score, and Gabby Rones qualifies on both counts (36 percent on 250 3-pointers en route to 22.7 ppg).

BRIA SHINE

Christian Brothers-Sacramento / Wing / 6-0 / Sr. Shine averaged a double-double last year but the most impressive stat was the 101 deflected passes in her 31 games. ✪

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November 24, 2019

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“Being a firstgeneration (American) gives me a chip and a mindset to go out and get whatever I want. Hopefully that toughness can help this team win this year.”

— Isa Silva 20

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wo months, three states, two countries. With that track record, you could say Isa Silva is getting used to flying across the country.

This past summer, the talented Jesuit High School point guard boarded a series of flights, flying back-and-forth between Los Angeles and Carmichael playing for the 17-and-under Compton Magic team, which reached the Adidas championships this summer. In June, Silva packed his bags and traveled to the section 17 basketball camp in Arizona with his team. In July, he took trips to Alabama and even spent time in Columbia as part of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders tour.

“That was really cool,” Silva admits. “We got to help kids and play with kids from ethnic backgrounds and teach them the game. So it was definitely a busy summer, and I’m excited to be back in school and be with the team.”

He’s also used to flying around the basketball court.

The junior has made a name for himself on the hardwood as one of the top recruits in the region for the class of 2021.

Right now, he has offers to play basketball at Xavier, Colorado, USC, Vanderbilt, Arizona, TCU, Stanford, Fresno State, Santa Clara, UTEP, UC Irvine, Utah, UC Davis and Montana.

When asked about Silva, one evaluator said, “He’s a magician.”

The 6-foot-3 point guard has the sleight of hand to confuse defenders and he can poof and vanish to the hoop, leaving everyone in the dust. Last year, he displayed some of those tricks as he led the Marauders in scoring with 21.5 points per game.

His game is just as unique as his story.

Both of Silva’s parents were born in Mexico. They helped him discover his love for basketball, so he understands the importance of taking the game internationally and giving back to those less fortunate. He said his heritage also gives him an edge.

“Being a first-generation (American) gives me a chip and a mindset to go out and get whatever I want,” Silva explains. “Hopefully that toughness can help this team win this year.”

Silva is one of five key returners for a Jesuit team that reached the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs last year.

And Silva is the key cog in the team’s chance to make a return trip.

“As good as he is, and as much attention as he gets, he’s still a junior in high school,” Jesuit coach Tim Kelly points out. “… so (the next phase) for him is learning to control the game in its entirety.

“Some of that’s teachable, some of it’s natural, a lot of it’s natural.

We watch a lot of film, with Isa in particular. And we talk to him about the flow of the game, and I think that’s the next evolution of his game — starting to recognize when we’ve had two or three bad possessions in a row and how can he settle us down, or when it’s his turn to put his foot on the gas a bit.”

Silva credits Kelly and the coaching staff for his development.

Through practices, film sessions and one-on-one meetings, he said they helped him find what he calls Zen balance.

“It’s finding that balance, but staying aggressive,” he explains.

“That doesn’t mean I’m forcing it, it means I’m in the flow… and I think if I can control that flow, that dictates our team’s flow and they can feed off my energy.”

It’s taken Silva a few seasons to discover that.

He recalls his team’s February playoff loss to Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills as the last time he struggled to stay aggressive throughout the game. When the Trojans sent double-teams his way, he gave the ball up, but his team lost by four and he still feels like he could have done more to impact the outcome or put his team in better positions.

“Last year, this year and hopefully for the rest of my high school career, (they’ll double-team me) — it’s a compliment,” he adds. “The other defense is focused on you. So you have to figure out new ways for you to dictate their tempo, and not to let them dictate yours. I think that game was one of those games where it was hard for me to figure that out.

“That was definitely one of the most painful losses I’ve ever had because I feel like I could have had that balance earlier. But just learning and taking that adversity the right way is something I’ve learned about playing the point guard position.”

Mature beyond his years, Silva said losses like that are road bumps and an intrinsic part of the process of ultimately getting better. He said he’s embraced that, and welcomes more challenges, like the ones from his coaches in practice. The most recent being a physical rebounding drill.

“I think last year was a good lesson,” Kelly said. “When games really matter in the playoffs, and games get tough, it’s going to come down to defensive rebounding. I don’t think that’s changed in basketball since the start of basketball. It’s not always fun, it doesn’t make it on highlight tapes or Instagram, but it’s what helps you win. So I hope our guys are buying into that.”

Kelly has a unique situation this year — everyone on the team is already at practice, so unlike years in the past, the team can field a full squad from the start of camp throughout the season instead of waiting for other sports to conclude.

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Jesuit’s Chris Holley pushes the ball up the floor during the team’s 2019 Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I quarterfinal against Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills.

November 24, 2019

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“We have a really, really good group of guys, and we pick each other up when someone gets down. It’s not just Isa Silva or Jack (Andre) or Chris (Holley), it’s all of us.

We have great chemistry and it’s a fun group.”

— Kyle Anderson, pictured right

“We have a really, really good group of guys, and we pick each other up when someone gets down,” senior Kyle Anderson adds. “It’s not just Isa Silva or Jack (Andre) or Chris (Holley), it’s all of us. We have great chemistry and it’s a fun group.”

“We break every huddle with the word ‘together’ — it’s what we say all the time because if we’re going to be any good, it’s going to be together,” Kelly added.

Kelly, who moves into his second season at the helm of the program, said his team bought into his coaching philosophy from day one, and even though that 2018-19 season came to a halt in the playoffs, he was proud of the progress the team showcased.

“A lot of things went right for us last year, and those seniors were great,” Kelly recalls. “Of course, it’s tough to lose in the playoffs, but I don’t want to shortchange anything Oak Ridge did. They were a really good team, they have good players and were really well coached. They came into our gym and beat us, so there are lessons there.”

The Marauders also play in one of the best leagues in the section, said Kelly.

“Each night in our league is a challenge — there are no nights off, and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Kelly said. “So it’s a fun league to be in.”

With Silva and fellow underclassman Chris Holley in the backcourt, Jesuit has the firepower to keep pace with top programs like Sheldon-Sacramento, Folsom, Grant-Sacramento and others.

“My role on this team is to facilitate, get everyone the ball and get hyped on defense,” Holley said. “It’s not just scoring, and there is some pressure on Isa and me to score, but I also need to get everyone involved.”

Holley and Silva will facilitate the offense, while seniors like Anderson and Jack Andre will be leaders on the defensive end of the floor.

“My role is to be a quarterback and let my team know what defense we’re in,” Andre explains. “I also have to plug gaps, get in passing lanes and stop post entries. A big part of it is communicating where we need to be, what’s on the opposite side and helping my teammates.”

Kelly knows this could be a special group that has the chance to make a run in the playoffs.

“The talent is there and the unselfishness is there,” he said. “So it’s possible...

Wins are really hard to come by, and there’s a lot of really good teams around here with a lot of talent. So I don’t think it’s fair to our team if we overlook any game on our schedule.

“So we’re going to keep our heads down and work really hard and at the end of the year, we can pause to look back and celebrate, hopefully.” ✪ 22

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November 24, 2019

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1. SHELDON-SACRAMENTO (24-11)

With back-to-back CIF Northern California Open Division titles and SportStars’ reigning NorCal Player of the Year Marcus Bagley returning to the starting lineup, the Huskies are a pretty easy choice to open the year at No. 1. There’s much more returning to the floor than just the Arizona State-bound Bagley. Senior guards Xavion Brown and Xavier Brown are both back, as are senior posts Pierce Davis and Darren Tobias. Junior point guard Yaru Harvey will be one to watch, too.

2. SALESIAN-RICHMOND (31-1)

The Pride was 31-0 when its season ended in a CIF Open Division semifinal loss to Modesto Christian. The doggedly consistent McClanahan Twins (Jaden and Jovan) graduated, but almost the entire rest of the roster returns. That includes last season’s leading scorer, Shane Bell, along with fellow seniors Tyler Brinkman and Tejon Sawyer. Junior Demarshay Johnson Jr, sophomore Austin Johnson and freshman Courtney Anderson Jr. will all have impacts as well.

3. ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE (18-9)

Last season’s West Catholic Athletic League Player of the Year, Devan Sapp, moved to the East Coast. However, the Monarchs may still boast the best true backcourt in the Bay Area with senior Marcus Greene and Pepperdine-bound junior Mike Mitchell. Sapp’s exit will also be softened by incoming Stuart Hall-S.F. transfer Nigel Burris.

4. WESTON RANCH-STOCKTON (31-2)

Last year’s coming out party looks like it may have been just a warm-up for Cougars. Senior All-NorCal first-teamer Gavin Wilburn combines with juniors Donjae Lindsey and Mi’Son Coilton to comprise a daunting triple threat. The team also gains more inside firepower with the arrival of 6-foot-6 San Leandro transfer Jordahn Johnson.

5. DE LA SALLE-CONCORD (29-4)

While the Spartans are going to need to fill the leadership void left by graduating seniors Thomas Gregorios and Tim Kostolansky, there’s no shortage of talent remaining on the roster. The Spartans have one of the best young tandems in all of NorCal with sophomore wings Chris Bunch and Jeremiah Dargan.

6. RIORDAN-SAN FRANCISCO (18-9)

Cousins Bryce Monroe (Sam Houston State commit) and Jelani Clark are back as one of the Bay’s top scoring duos.

The tandem’s supporting cast is a formidable one, featuring a massive frontcourt of 6-9 senior Riiny Riiny and 7-foot sophomore transfer Mor Seck.

7. MODESTO CHRISTIAN (26-9)

Injuries and eligibility rulings have clouded the outlook of last season’s NorCal Open Division runners-up. However, bet against this team at your own peril. Floor-leader Michael Pearson returns along with CSU Northridge-bound Alex Merkviladze, Stanislaus State commit Baljot Sahi and junior transfer Jaden Phillips (16.8 ppg with Foothill-Bakersfield).

8. BISHOP O’DOWD-OAKLAND (23-9)

Cal-bound senior forward Monty Bowser will lead the Dragons after a breakout summer. He’ll get help from junior wing Marsalis Robinson and much-heralded 6-8 freshman Jalen Lewis.

9. CAPITAL CHRISTIAN-SACRAMENTO (17-13)

New coach Matt Filer inherits a loaded roster with 6-4 senior wing Evan Johnson, a trio of talented junior guards — Caden Lewis, Sione Lose and Jonah Alvarez — and sophomore standouts James Freeman and Darrion Williams.

10. CAMPOLINDO-MORAGA (27-7)

NorCal’s lone defending boys state champions (Div. II) return nearly everybody. The Mahaney brothers, senior Carter and sophomore Aidan, will lead an extremely deep and cagy Cougars roster.

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Sheldon’s Darren Tobias 11. Dublin (25-6)

16. Grant-Sacramento (26-8)

13. Vanden-Fairfield (20-9)

18. St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo

12. Bellarmine-San Jose (20-8) 14. Dougherty Valley-San Ramon (19-9) 15. Folsom (26-7)

17. Jesuit-Carmichael (21-9) (20-12)

19. Franklin-Elk Grove (19-10) 20. Rocklin (26-7)

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November 24, 2019

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First Team MARCUS BAGLEY

Sheldon-Sacramento / W / 6-4 / Sr. 2019 Averages: 19.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2 assists Biggest Weapon: His strength. The Arizona State commit can score from anywhere on the floor, but when he puts his head down and heads to the paint, there are few defenders who can divert him. And if they resort to a foul, Bagley can typically finish anyway for the ‘and-1’. From the Opposing Bench: “He can shoot it, he can go down to the post, he can jump. He’s big and strong, so it takes a team effort to defend him” — Tim Kelly, JesuitCarmichael coach

DISHON JACKSON

St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo / C / 6-10 / Sr. 2019 Averages: 15 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3 blocks Biggest Weapon: He’s more than his size. He can dominate on the block and protect the rim with the best of them, but Jackson can also step out and sink a jumper. He’s holding offers from both Arizona and Cal. From the Opposing Bench: “He’s a game-changer. He blocks shots and he’s tough to guard. He can step out and make a jumper and he’s also really good from the free-throw line, so you can’t do the hack-a-Shaq approach.” — Bill Mellis, Salesian-Richmond coach

MIKE MITCHELL

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose / G / 6-2 / Jr. 2019 Averages: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals Biggest Weapon: His first step. The PepperMarcus Bagley dine commit is a proven scorer and strong on-ball defender, due in great part to his quickness. He can take a defender off the dribble, pull a step-back 3, and play suffocating defense. From the Opposing Bench: “Many of the best players in our league excel offensively, but this young man excels on both ends of the floor. That’s what separates him.”

— Mark DeLuca, Valley Christian-San Jose coach

ISA SILVA

Jesuit-Carmichael / G / 6-3 / Jr. 2019 Averages: 21.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2 steals Biggest Weapon: Elusiveness. His ability to shake defenders led one evaluator to call him “a magician.” After leading Jesuit in scoring as a sophomore a year ago, Silva holds several offers, including Xavier, Arizona, Vanderbilt and Stanford. From the Opposing Bench: “Isa is a problem for sure. He’s a great ball handler, so you can’t gamble too much. He’s crafty with his finishes so it also makes it hard for defenders to block his shot. That’s how I’d describe his game; just crafty.” — Marcus Bagley, Sheldon-Sacramento All-NorCal wing

GAVIN WILBURN

Weston Ranch-Stockton / F / 6-4 / Sr. 2019 Averages: 11.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals Biggest Weapon: Versatility. Cougars coach Chris Teevan can maximize his talented and deep rotation because Wilburn can play and make an impact at whatever position he’s needed. Pure and simple, Wilburn will be an x-factor for a dangerous, experienced group. From the Opposing Bench: ““He’s one of those guys we thought we had figured out, and then he did the things that we thought he couldn’t do. ... He was just a nightmare to prepare for.” — Brett Lewis, former Manteca coach

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November 24, 2019

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second Team ROBBY BEASLEY

Dougherty Valley-San Ramon / W / 6-2 / Sr. After three years at Dublin, the Montana commit has a chance to be a difference-maker for the Wildcats following his family’s move to San Ramon.

MONTY BOWSER

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland / F / 6-5 / Sr. After a breakout summer, Bowser became new Cal coach Mark Fox’s first commit in early October.

NIGEL BURRIS

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose / W / 6-4 / Jr. The versatile Burris will be out to prove he can hang against big school talent after starring at the smaller Stuart Hall-S.F. his first two years.

AIDAN MAHANEY

Aidan Mahaney

Campolindo-Moraga / W / 6-3 / So. Last year’s Cal-Hi Sports State Freshman of the Year was arguably the best all-around player for the state-champion Cougars.

BRYCE MONROE

Riordan-S.F. / G / 5-11 / Sr. The Sam Houston State-bound Monroe was the Crusaders’ leading scorer as a junior, averaging 17.7 per game to go with 4.3 assists.

third Team SHANE BELL

Salesian-Richmond / W / 6-3 / Sr. Bell will enter the season bristling with confidence after finishing his junior year as the leading scorer for the 31-win Pride.

JELANI CLARK

Riordan-S.F. / W / 6-3 / Sr. Clark does whatever the Crusaders need most from night to night. He averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Jelani Clark

TIEANO HARDEE

Vanden-Fairfield / F / 6-4 / Sr. A threat to score from anywhere, Hardee twice just missed setting Vanden’s singlegame scoring record (45) with efforts of 43 and 42.

MICHAEL PEARSON

Modesto Christian / G / 5-11 / Sr. Having already appeared in nearly 90 games for the Crusaders, Pearson will be the NorCal power’s unquestioned leader.

DAVION WRIGHT

Franklin-Elk Grove / G / 6-1 / So. He’s expected to make an even bigger impact this season after averaging 15 ppg as a freshman. ✪

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November 24, 2019

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November 24, 2019

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