HOMESTEAD: STEADY AT THE LINE
Aside from the tons of of eyeballs and screaming spectators, the best shot in basketball – at the very least in idea – is the free throw.
After seventh-seeded Homestead’s 69-63 stunner at No. 2 seed Los Gatos on Tuesday night time within the Central Coast Part Division I playoffs, the Mustangs didn’t buckle beneath the strain and put the best photographs within the basket.
Drew Hamburger was 14 of 18 from the free-throw line, paying no heed to the handfuls and dozens of boisterous Los Gatos college students, as he scored a team-high 23.
“He missed 20 games with an injury, and he came off the bench tonight and was just phenomenal,” Homestead coach Matt Wright stated.
Drew’s brother Will dropped in 16 factors, and savvy level guard Brian Chou scored 19 to present Homestead a three-headed assault.
The Cupertino college went into Los Gatos with a 21-4 report and an unwavering perception in itself. Regardless of hailing from the second tier of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, the Mustangs knew it may take down one of many prime group’s from the SCVAL’s upper-tier league.
“We knew it was an A-league team, and that their program has had a lot of success over the years,” Wright stated. “But we felt like we can match up with anyone. A-league, B-league, it doesn’t really matter. ”
The Mustangs are not any strangers to postseason success. Homestead reached the Division I title recreation in 2021. 4 years later, Wright has an opportunity to get again there if his group defeats No. 3 Carlmont, a 73-49 winner over Santa Teresa on Tuesday.
– Joseph Dycus
Monta Vista’s Stanley Du #21 shoots towards Homestead’s Will Hamburger #22 in an SCVAL basketball recreation, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Cupertino, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group)
MILLS GIRLS BACK IN CCS TITLE MIX
Earlier than Mills’ CCS quarterfinals recreation towards El Camino on Tuesday night time, head coach Justin Matsu visited the cemetery the place his father and former longtime Mills coach Dave Matsu is buried.
Whereas there, Matsu mirrored on how far the Mills program has come and the legacy his dad constructed. Dave constructed the groundwork for a Mills program that has been to a few consecutive CCS title video games and on the verge of a fourth.
Now in first full season as head coach, Matsu is constant to inject excellence into the small Milbrae college.
“He built this program hoping to play our best ball in March and February in the playoffs, and we’ve been fortunate to do that the last couple years.”
No. 2 Mills breezed previous No. 7 El Camino 54-34 within the CCS Division III quarterfinals behind a balanced scoring efficiency from Kelly Ho (13 factors) and Sofia Kwan (12).
Mills will play No. 3 Santa Cruz within the semifinals, a group Mills has been very conversant in over the previous couple of years. The Vikings beat Santa Cruz within the 2022 CCS semifinals and the 2023 CCS championship recreation. Mills misplaced to the Cardinals in 2024 in non-league play, however beat them 54-29 earlier this 12 months within the first recreation of the season.
“They’re well coached, they’re a good team and we know they’re going to get after it,” Matsu stated. “It’s fun. It’s kind of built up into, like, a little postseason rivalry.”
If Mills can get the win on Thursday and seeds maintain, the Vikings will get a rematch with Notre Dame-San Jose within the championship recreation. Mills fell to Notre Dame in heartbreaking vogue final season within the Division III finals.
– Nathan Canilao
Mills head coach Justin Matsu instructs his group throughout a timeout within the fourth quarter at Menlo Atherton Excessive College Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Atherton, Calif. (Photograph by Jim Gensheimer)
RECORD-BREAKER: HUGE NIGHT FOR PALO ALTO STAR
Jorell Clark didn’t simply lead top-seeded Palo Alto to a 58-40 victory over ninth-seeded Evergreen Valley within the quarterfinals of the CCS Division I playoffs on Tuesday night time.
The senior made historical past.
He broke Palo Alto’s single-season scoring report, which David Weaver had held since he led the Vikings to a 31-0 report and Division III state championship in 1993.
Weaver scored 589 factors for Palo Alto that season.
With 28 factors on Tuesday, Clark has 609 factors this season and 1,449 for his profession.
He’ll attempt to preserve the Vikings’ season occurring Thursday once they play fifth-seeded Leigh within the semifinals. As of late Tuesday, the CCS hadn’t introduced the location or time for that recreation.
– Darren Sabedra
Palo Alto’s Jorell Clark (12) smiles close to the top of a recreation towards Los Gatos within the fourth quarter at Los Gatos Excessive College in Los Gatos, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
DOUGHERTY VALLEY GIRLS PULL HUGE UPSET IN EUREKA
Dougherty Valley was not going to return house and not using a win – particularly after driving 300 miles up the California coast for its NCS Division III semifinal recreation.
No. 5 Dougherty Valley upset top-seeded St. Bernard’s-Eureka 47-45 on the highway in entrance of a packed health club to advance to the part championship recreation and safe its spot within the NorCal playoffs. The Wildcats will play St. Mary’s-Berkeley on Saturday at house.
Keira Tom, Mikala Caston and Charice Kay Bute all had standout performances.
In response to Birco, the group arrived in Eureka a day early and had a shootaround on Tuesday morning.
Dougherty Valley shall be aiming to seize its first second NCS title and first since 2011. The Wildcats have a shot to make college historical past on Saturday as each the women and boys groups shall be aiming to seize NCS crowns.
“I just got off the phone with Mike Hansen and he said he’s super proud of us,” Birco stated. “We’re both super excited. The girls are pumped and it’s just been a good ride.”
– Nathan Canilao
CALIFORNIA GIRLS UPSET TOP SEED in 2 OTS
Clayton Valley Constitution appeared each bit like a No. 1 seed within the first quarter on Tuesday night time as the house group roared to a 10-point benefit over California in an NCS Division I semifinal.
However in a recreation full of ebbs and flows, California obtained that final punch.
After Clayton Valley made 1 of two foul photographs late within the first additional time to maintain the sport going, the fifth-seeded guests from San Ramon heated up from past the arc within the second OT body to advance to this weekend’s closing with a 75-63 victory.
The Grizzlies will play second-seeded Bishop O’Dowd at San Leandro Excessive College on Friday or Saturday for the championship.
Taylor Lim, Sofie Addiego, Mary Dilling and Lauren Yee every made a 3-pointer to account for all of the scoring within the second additional time.
California shall be looking for its first part title. O’Dowd shall be aiming for its thirteenth NCS crown.
– Darren Sabedra
GIRLS: WESTMONT STUNS TOP-SEEDED HILLSDALE
Trevor Naas didn’t put in a particular gameplan or check out something new in No. 9 Westmont’s 49-43 CCS Division II shocker over top-seeded Hillsdale. His Warriors simply performed the identical gritty, tough-nosed protection that has not allowed a single opponent to attain greater than 57 factors in a recreation.
In a recreation the place each level mattered, level guard Lara Macian was significantly essential. The sophomore scored eight factors, nevertheless it was her ballhandling and skill to get Westmont arrange that stood out to her coach.
“She just carried the load for us against their defensive pressure,” Naas stated. “We knew they were going to keep fighting and sending out waves of pressure, and she just kept handling and staying composed.”
Eire Elerath led the Warriors with 11 factors, whereas fellow sophomore Avery Naas scored 9. Up subsequent is Prospect, which Westmont outlasted 47-43 in additional time on Jan. 9.
“I would expect, very much, for the game to be the same again this time,” Naas stated.
– Joseph Dycus
Bellarmine tops Westmont, Mitty beats St. Ignatius in CCS Division I soccer playoffs, St. Francis, Granada advance
Monday’s CCS basketball playoffs: Prime storylines, surprises, developments, extra
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Friday’s Bay Space basketball playoffs: Prime storylines, surprises, developments, extra
Thursday’s Bay Space basketball playoffs: Prime storylines, surprises, developments, extra
NCS: SEMIFINAL LOSERS STILL ALIVE
In years previous, when an NCS group like Frank Allocco Jr.’s Clayton Valley Constitution or Willis Gardner’s Amador Valley misplaced within the semifinals, there have been no ensures that their season would proceed. However due to a change to the NCS format, packages that fall within the semis are given a second likelihood.
The 2 semifinal losers in Divisions I by way of V will play each other in a third-place recreation, with the winner advancing to regionals. So Amador Valley, which misplaced 49-47 on a last-second shot at Redwood, will now tackle Allocco’s Clayton Valley group for a spot in NorCal.
“We just have to prepare and prepare,” Clayton Valley sophomore Zion Grissom stated a few matchup with Amador Valley. “We just have to do what we have to do.”
– Joseph Dycus
Clayton Valley’s Elijah Perryman (1) shoots a free throw after a technical foul throughout their North Coast Part semifinal playoff recreation towards Clayton Valley at Dougherty Valley Excessive College in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEDNESDAY
After greater than every week off, the top-seeded De La Salle boys and No. 2 seed Salesian shall be again in motion. The NCS Open Division’s prime seeds will tackle No. 4 Dublin and No. 3 San Ramon Valley, respectively. … Within the NCS women Open, No. 1 Acalanes takes on Cardinal Newman and San Ramon Valley faces EBAL rival Carondelet for the third time in a month. … Barring the upset of all upsets by Valley Christian within the boys CCS Open Division pool play, No. 1 Riordan will clinch a spot within the title recreation towards No. 2 St. ignatius, which has already received its pool. … No. 1 Archbishop Mitty is anticipated to beat Riordan and roll into the women closing, whereas No. 2 Pinewood might want to dispatch a tricky Priory squad for the correct to face its largest nemesis. … In NCS Division II, No. 1 Moreau Catholic performs host to College and No. 11 Marin Catholic will try and stun No. 2 Cardinal Newman. …On the women aspect of that division, Moreau will go on the highway to play at Justin-Siena. … It could possibly be an all-Alameda County closing within the NCS Division IV women bracket if chalk holds. No. 1 Encinal performs host to No. 5 Sonoma Valley, and No. 2 Head-Royce takes on No. 3 Sonoma Academy.
– Joseph Dycus
Initially Printed: February 26, 2025 at 7:00 AM PST
