Playoff Previews!
For the 11th straight season...here are my capsule summaries of playoff teams/matchups!
I probably don't know as much about "your" team as you do but this gives you the chance to learn at least a little about whoever you would like to know more about (such as the team your team is playing!).
I've mentioned the results of any games I saw the teams play, some prominent players and some overall observations. Remarks like "won, 75-70", "averaged 7.5 asts" or "scored 30 pts" refer to stats from the game or games I attended. (note: these stats do NOT include this year's semifinal games).
Sunday, March 16 – State Championships:
Men: #2-S San Bernardino Valley vs. #3-N Santa Rosa:
San Bernardino Valley: Went 6-0 with wins over Riverside, Santa Rosa, Canyons, Chaffey, Mt. San Jacinto and Chabot. With CCSF's elimination, SBVC moves into the favorite's role, and it begins with SoCal Player of the Year Arizona State-bound SF Gerry Blakes (19.8 pts, 10 total threes, 7.4 rebs, 4.0 asts, 1.8 stls). He is just part of a stellar backcourt that also features PG Keith Smith (19.9 pts, 2.8 asts, 1.6 stls) and sharpshooting SG Charles Callison (16.4 pts, 16 total threes). SF Tymarieh TA Dixon (14.0 pts, 5.2 rebs, 2.0 asts, 2.2 stls) is a gap-filling utility man who usually guards the other team's top scorer. The front line of Ctr Marcus Fuggins (6.4 pts, 7.0 rebs, 2.6 blks) and PF Darren Smith (3.0 pts, 3.2 rebs) is more defensive-minded but very intimidating.
Santa Rosa: Lost to San Bernardino, 64-48, in December and beat Chaffey in the state semifinals. The Bear Cubs are mainly a jump-shooting team, and were matched up against an ultra-athletic SBVC squad following a long bus ride. The results were all too predictable; after SRJC made its first 5 shots, the legs got heavy and the shots stopped falling and as Vin Scully would say, that was that. SG Matthew Hayes (19 pts, 3 3pt, 4 asts) and SF Alex Kobre (13 pts, 3 3pt, 5 rebs, 2 asts) are the main shooters. PG Davone Oliver (4 pts, 6 rebs, 6 asts) is small but strong and assertive, and SF Troy Hammel (5 pts, 4 rebs, 2 asts) provides support off the bench. Ctrs Luke Cocheran (3 pts) and Darin Grayer (2 pts) are role players and screen-setters. PF Brian Johnson showed what he is capable of in Nov 2012 with 9 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts, 3 blks and a steal vs. Lassen.
Bottom Line: Santa Rosa was at its lowest point in that loss to SBVC and went 2-and-out in the Riverside tournament to fall to 3-6. But coach Craig McMillan rounded the Bear Cubs into shape and they won 20 of 22 games after that, capturing the ultra-tough Big 8 conference. SBVC still rates the favorite here for being so athletic and so strong in the backcourt, but expect Santa Rosa to shoot better longer this time around.
Women: #1-S Ventura vs. #2-S Mt. San Antonio:
Ventura: Went 2-0 with conference wins over Allan Hancock and Moorpark. PG Lisa Marie Sanchez (17.0 pts, 5.5 rebs, 7.5 asts, 3.5 stls) is the key, able to score herself or set up shooters SF Cynthia Hernandez (21.5 pts, 9 total threes) and SG Dre Vega (6.5 pts, 3 total threes). Ctr Brooke Dixon (12.5 pts, 9/10 total fgs, 8.5 rebs) is strong in the middle and PF Adrianne Sloboh (7.5 pts, 7.5 rebs) is a solid inside. Depth is an issue with SG Micaela Pericone-Kapp (4.5 pts, 2.0 rebs, 2 total three) the only reserve to score more than 2 points in the two games combined.
Mt. San Antonio: Beat Pasadena, 67-51, in February. This looks like your typical Mt. SAC team - tough, athletic and deep. Eight players scored at least one field goal in the win at PCC, a ninth had 4 rebs and 2 asts and a tenth started and had 3 rebs and 2 asts. SG Tahniya Sweatt had 18 pts on 8-for-11 and Ctr Johnea Thompson had 12 pts, 5 rebs and 2 blocks. SF Sabrina Norton had 10 pts. But I doubt it matters much who scores; Mt. SAC wears down opponents with its toughness, intensity and depth.
Bottom Line: I have little idea how the CCCWBCA figures out its seeds; the formula reads like the tax code, and I hire a CPA to deal with that stuff in my real life. But it looks like Mt. SAC, the defending state champ by the way, is a pretty solid favorite here. Ventura is a well-balanced team with an excellent point guard and a few shooters, and that gives the Pirates a realistic chance of winning. But Mt. SAC could hardly have been more impressive in that win at Pasadena, so I have to give the champs the edge here.
