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.
The Championship (Sunday 3/13):
South:
#1-N San Francisco vs. #1-S Citrus:
San Francisco: Beat Saddleback, 65-60, in the semifinals Friday. UCLA-bound PG De'End Parker was the North's co-Player of the Year and leads a very talented squad into the final. He had 12 pts and 9 rebs vs. Saddleback but is versatile and will likely surpass those modest numbers Sunday. SF Jonathan Williams (15 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts), PF Fred Sturdivant (10 pts, 3 rebs, 4 blks, 2 stl) and SG Ivan Dorsey (14 pts, 2 threes) were also key, with Dorsey coming off the bench and hitting a couple of key shots. SG Collin Chiverton (5 pts, 2/12 fgs) had a rough day but was the team's leading scorer all season and is more than capable. Role-playing big men Ctr Myron Respress and Yoan Nola combined for 4 pts and 15 rebs. PG Daryl Cooper (3 pts, 2 asts, no turnovers) is a solid floor leader.
Citrus: Won five of the seven games I saw them play this season, including wins over Antelope Valley, Irvine Valley and Fresno in the playoffs. This year the Owls suffered from a perception that they have slipped, despite winning 26 games and boasting probably the deepest roster in the state. Obviously they haven't, and are a serious threat to win their second championship in the last four years. SG Lateef McMullan (13.4 pts, 3.7 asts, 15 total threes) is the top producer, but he has plenty of support. Ctr D.J. Shelton (12.7 pts, 6.6 rebs, 2.0 blks) is super-athletic and has really come on lately (21 pts, 9 rebs, 3 asts, 4 blks vs. IVC and 16 pts, 10 rebs vs. Fresno). SF Donte Archie (7.7 pts, 3.6 rebs, 3.4 asts, 1.6 stls) is versatile and PF Jacob Ranger (8.3 pts, 3.9 rebs) is skilled and they, like McMullan, are D-1 bouncebacks. Add two good point guards, Hakeem Washington (9.1 pts, 3.6 asts) and Donnel Phifer (7.8 pts, 3.4 asts, 2.7 stls), talented wing SF Garrett Jefferson (10.1 pts, 3.8 rebs), big man Ctr Greg McFarland (5.6 pts, 3.9 rebs) and super-shooter SF Brandon Parga (7.4 pts, 11 total threes) and Citrus has a quality team capable of beating anyone.
Bottom Line: CCSF has to be favored, having won 26 games in a row and all, but Citrus is peaking at the right time and played better than CCSF did in the teams' wins on Friday. Sturdivant left Friday's game early (looked like stomach flu) and his availability will be huge for CCSF. The Rams have a significant height advantage as well. The last time CCSF won the state title, it beat Citrus in the championship game, though it's unlikely any of the players remember that too well since it happened in 1962. It should be a great game, and could be a real track meet. It will likely come down to whichever team makes its shots and an X-factor such as Dorsey or Parga could well tip the balance in his teams's favor.
