Sac-Joaquin Basketball playoffs

The brackets have been released, and 94 total teams have made the playoffs across 6 divisions (my alma mater, Oakdale, was not one of them). To qualify for the playoffs, a team had to do one of three things: win league, finish in the top-16 in the power rankings (top-12 for division V and top-8 VI), or have at least 15 total wins (new rule starting this year). Because of the 3rd rule, two divisions have more than 16 teams in it. I will start with division III, and then go in order.

Note: Scores in red.  I got them from the Sac-Joaquin Section Website

DIVISION III

First Round (Wednesday February 20, 2013- 7:00 P.M.)
(16) Manteca Buffaloes @ (1) Modesto Christian Crusaders (MC 56-18)
(9) Foothill Mustangs (Sacramento) @ (8) Fairfield Falcons (FAIR 68-55)
(12) Rio Americano Raiders (Sacramento) @ (5) Lincoln Fighting Zebras (RA 66-60)
(13) River Valley Falcons (Yuba City) @ (4) Weston Ranch Cougars (Stockton) (WR 70-43)
(14) East Union Lancers (Manteca) @ (3) Casa Roble Rams (Orangevale) (CR 80-60)
(11) Vanden Vikings (Fairfield) @ (6) Patterson Tigers (PAT 68-61)
(10) Inderkum Tigers (Sacramento) @ (7) Placer Hillmen (Auburn) (PLA 62-59)
(15) Ceres Bulldogs @ (2) Sierra Timberwolves (Manteca) (SIE 66-25)

Second Round (Friday February 22, 2013- 7:00 P.M)
(8) Fairfield @ (1) Modesto Christian (MC 79-40)
(12) Rio Americano (Sacramento) @ (4) Weston Ranch (Stockton) (WR 83-61)
(6) Patterson @ (3) Casa Roble (Orangevale) (CR 53-47)
(7) Placer (Auburn) @ (2) Sierra (Manteca) (SIE 71-51)

Semi-Finals (Tuesday February 26, 2013- @ Cosumnes River College-Sacramento)
(4) Weston Ranch (Stockton) vs. (1) Modesto Christian 5:30 P.M (MC 63-58)
(3) Casa Roble (Orangevale) vs. (2) Sierra (Manteca) 9:00 P.M. (SIE 44-39)

Championship (Friday March 1, 2013- @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(2) Sierra Timberwolves (Manteca) vs. (1) Modesto Christian Crusaders 9:00 P.M. (MC 66-54)

DIVISION I

Out-Bracket (Friday February 15, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(17) Rodriguez Mustangs (Fairfield) @ (16) Bear Creek Bruins (Stockton) (BC 68-58)
(18) West Wolf Pack (Tracy) @ (15) Armijo Indians (Fairfield) (ARM 61-52)

First Round (Wednesday February 20, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(16) Bear Creek Bruins (Stockton) @ (1) Sheldon Huskies (Sacramento) (SHE 94-40)
(9) Kennedy Cougars (Sacramento) @ (8) Lodi Flames (KEN 71-59)
(12) Bethel Jaguars (Vallejo) @ (5) Granite Bay Grizzlies (BET 74-72)
(13) Oak Ridge Trojans (El Dorado Hills) @ (4) Golden Valley Cougars (Merced) (GV 50-49)
(14) Chavez Titans (Stockton) @ (3) Bella Vista Broncos (Fair Oaks) (BV 77-49)
(11) Davis Blue Devils @ (6) Lincoln Trojans (Stockton) (LIN 80-78)
(10) Turlock Bulldogs @ (7) Franklin Wildcats (Elk Grove) (FRA 67-65)
(15) Armijo Indians (Fairfield) @ (2) Pleasant Grove Eagles (Elk Grove) (PG 75-62)

Second Round (Friday February 22, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(9) Kennedy (Sacramento) @ (1) Sheldon (Sacramento) (SHE 91-62)
(12) Bethel (Vallejo) @ (4) Golden Valley (Merced) (BET 75-62)
(6) Lincoln (Stockton) @ (3) Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) (BV 67-63)
(7) Franklin (Elk Grove) @ (2) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (PG 71-30)

Semi-finals (Wednesday February 27, 2013 @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(12) Bethel (Vallejo) vs. (1) Sheldon (Sacramento) 4:00 P.M (SHE 86-72)
(3) Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) vs. (2) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 9:00 P.M (PG 68-60)

Championship (Saturday March 2, 2013 @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(2) Pleasant Grove Eagles (Elk Grove) vs. (1) Sheldon Huskies (Sacramento) 8:30 P.M (SHE 60-57)

DIVISION II

Out-Bracket (Friday February 15, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(17) River City Raiders (West Sacramento) @ (16) Wood Wildcats (Vacaville) (WOOD 73-48)
(21) Vacaville Bulldogs @ (12) Buhach Colony Thunder (Atwater) (BC 78-63)
(20) Cordova Lancers (Rancho Cordova) @ (14) Johansen Vikings (Modesto) (COR 58-48)
(19) Johnson Warriors (Sacramento) @ (14) Benicia Panthers (BEN 74-69)
(22) Atwater Falcons @ (11) Gregori Jaguars (Modesto) (GRE 54-50)
(18) El Camino Eagles (Sacramento) @ (15) Roseville Tigers (EC 91-83)

First Round (Wednesday February 20, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(16) Wood Wildcats (Vacaville) @ (1) Sacramento Dragons (SAC 79-45)
(9) Del Oro Golden Eagles (Loomis) @ (8) Del Campo Cougars (Fair Oaks) (DC 58-51)
(12) Buhach Colony Thunder (Atwater) @ (5) Cosumnes Oaks Wolf Pack (Elk Grove) (CO 89-88)
(20) Cordova Lancers (Rancho Cordova)@ (4) Grant Pacers (Sacramento) (GRA 59-55)
(14) Benicia Panthers @ (3) Antelope Titans (ANT 60-54)
(11) Gregori Jaguars (Modesto) @ (6) Burbank Titans (Sacramento) (BUR 76-54)
(10) Laguna Creek Cardinals (Elk Grove) @ (7) Rocklin Thunder (ROCK 62-42)
(18) El Camino Eagles (Sacramento) @ (2) St. Mary's Rams (Stockton) (EC 63-62)

Second Round (Friday February 22, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(8) Del Campo (Fair Oaks) @ (1) Sacramento (SAC 86-55)
(5) Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) @ (4) Grant (Sacramento) (GRA 63-59)
(6) Burbank (Sacramento) @ (3) Antelope (ANT 57-40)
(18) El Camino (Sacramento) @ (7) Rocklin (ROCK 77-65)

Semi-Finals (Wednesday February 27, 2013 @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(4) Grant (Sacramento) vs. (1) Sacramento 5:30 P.M (GRA 72-69)
(7) Rocklin vs. (3) Antelope 7:30 P.M (ANT 55-47)

Championship (Saturday March 2, 2013 @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(4) Grant Pacers (Sacramento) vs. (3) Antelope Titans 4:30 P.M. (ANT 70-63)

DIVISION IV

First Round (Wednesday February 20, 2013- 7:00 P.M.)
(16) Hughson Huskies @ (1) Colfax Falcons (COL 75-48)
(9) Escalon Cougars @ (8) West Campus Warriors (Sacramento) (WC 73-63)
(12) Amador Buffaloes (Sutter Creek) @ (5) Mesa Verde Mavericks (Citrus Heights) (MV 69-61)
(13) Mariposa Grizzlies @ (4) Liberty Ranch Hawks (Galt) (LR 75-48)
(14) Waterford Wildcats @ (3) Riverbank Bruins (RIV 83-46)
(11) San Juan Spartans (Citrus Heights) @ (6) Bret Harte Bullfrogs (Angels Camp) (BH 72-57)
(10) Ripon Indians @ (7) Encina Bulldogs (Sacramento) (ENC 75-60)
(15) Delhi Hawks @ (2) Summerville Bears (Tuolumne City) (SUM 70-33)

Second Round (Friday February 22, 2013- 7:00 P.M.)
(8) West Campus (Sacramento) @ (1) Colfax (COL 66-57)
(5) Mesa Verde (Citrus Heights) @ (4) Liberty Ranch (Galt) (LR 69-42)
(6) Bret Harte (Angels Camp) @ (3) Riverbank (RIV 88-65)
(7) Encina (Sacramento) @ (2) Summerville (Tuolumne City) (SUM 72-69)

Semi-finals (Wednesday February 27, 2013 @ Tokay High School-Lodi)
(4) Liberty Ranch (Galt) vs. (1) Colfax 7:30 P.M. (LR 64-59)
(3) Riverbank vs. (2) Summerville (Tuolumne City) 9:00 P.M. (SUM 72-55)

Championship (Saturday March 2, 2013 @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(4) Liberty Ranch Hawks (Galt) vs. (2) Summerville Bears (Tuolumne City) 3:00 P.M. (SUM 63-52)

DIVISION V

First Round (Wednesday February 20, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(9) Delta Saints (Clarksburg) @ (8) Buckingham Charter Knights (Vacaville) (BCC 57-50)
(12) Millennium Falcons (Tracy) @ (5) Woodland Christian Cardinals (WC 74-55)
(11) Delta Charter Dragons (Tracy) @ (6) Jim Elliot Christian Eagles (Lodi) (DC 71-64)
(10) Bradshaw Chr. Pride (Sacramento) @ (7) Forest Lake Christian Falcons (Auburn) (BRA 72-39)

Second Round (Friday February 22, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(8) Buckingham Charter Knights (Vacaville) @ (1) Central Catholic Raiders (Modesto) (CC 79-28)
(5) Woodland Christian Cardinals @ (4) Brookside Christian Knights (Stockton) (BC 83-79)
(11) Delta Charter Dragons (Tracy) @ (3) Ripon Christian Knights (RC 66-47)
(10) Bradshaw Chr. Pride (Sacramento) @ (2) Capital Christian Cougars (Sacramento) (CAP 54-36)

Semi-finals (Wednesday February 27, 2013 @ Galt High School)
(3) Ripon Christian vs. (2) Capital Christian (Sacramento) 7:30 P.M (CAP 41-31)
(4) Brookside Christian (Stockton) vs. (1) Central Catholic (Modesto) 9:00 P.M. (BC 69-54)

Championship (Friday March 1, 2013 @ Sleep Train Arena-Sacramento)
(4) Brookside Chr. (Stockton) vs. (2) Capital Chr. Cougars (Sacramento) 5:30 P.M. (CAP 40-39)

DIVISION VI

First Round (Wednesday February 20, 2013)
(8) Trinity Prep Crusaders (Napa) @ (1) Faith Christian Lions (Yuba City) (FC 88-54)
(5) Lodi Academy Titans @ (4) Turlock Christian Eagles (TC 70-53)
(6) Freedom Christian Eagles (Fair Oaks) @ (3) Stockton Christian Eagles (SC 81-67)
(7) Victory Chr. Vikings (Carmichael) @ (2) New Life Christian Crusaders (Olivehurst) (VC 45-44)

Semi-finals (Friday February 22, 2013-7:00 P.M)
(4) Turlock Christian @ (1) Faith Christian (Yuba City) (FC 65-60)
(7) Victory Christian (Carmichael) @ (3) Stockton Christian (SC 67-64)

Championship (Thursday February 28, 2013 @ Galt High School
(3) Stockton Christian Eagles vs. (1) Faith Christian Lions (Yuba City) 8:00 P.M (FC 69-48)

Note: From what I understand from the section website, division VI does not go to the Northern California playoffs.

All semi-finalists in the other divisions will advance to the Northern California tournament.

QUESTIONS

I had a question on facebook so I will answer all questions the best I can.

1) Predicted champions (ok no one asked me this one).  Admitedly, I did not pay enough attention this year to make an educated guess.  That has never stopped me before, so here it goes. DI- Sheldon, DII-Sacramento, DIII- Sierra (upset over Modesto Christian. From what I've read, Sierra has the tools to do it). DIV- Riverbank (I saw them last year.  They are good.) DV- Central Catholic (I know they won the Modesto City Tournament, a mostly division I and II tournament with a good portion of the team still playing football). DVI- New Life Christian

2) What does Oakdale have to do to be relevant in basketball.

- The last time Oakdale made the playoffs was 2003 or 2004 (I can't remember which year).  I do not feel qualified to answer this question, because I do not have enough knowledge for all ends of the spectrum.  However, when I am asked, I will give the answer from what is my point-of-view.  I think there are 6 things that need to be done (some easily attained, others will take some work, and I admit one is a dream).

1) Make the playoffs (more importantly, keep the coach once they do)

When a team makes the playoffs, it often seems that the next team will build off what the previous team has done.  (Yes, I know there are exceptions.)  Sometimes, success breeds success.  This new rule of having 15 wins to make the playoffs can benefit the Mustangs.  For the first two years, they may have to do something that I despise.  That is padding the schedule full of smaller teams to get to 10-12 non-league wins, and winning 3-5 in league.  I often critize teams who do this, but Oakdale is not a strong enough program to challenge themselves.  Out of the 9 total wins this year, only one was from a bigger school (by enrollment), Kimball (Tracy).  Only 4 more were from schools with more than 1,000 students (Davis-Modesto, East Union, Pacheco, Sonora).  The other wins were: Delhi, Denair, Hilmar, and Hughson.  On a positive note, 3 of the teams are in the playoffs.  Anyway, Oakdale will need to schedule more Hughsons and Delhis to reach the playoffs.  Once, they are a playoff team and get playoff experience, the Mustangs can schedule tougher teams.  By the way, the coach of the last Oakdale team to make the playoffs was hired by Columbia Community College of Sonora shortly after the last playoff run. Coach Jeremy Fields has a brillant basketball mind, and Oakdale needs to keep him if he makes the playoffs.

2) Hold on to leads

Many a time, I read the Oakdale Leader to see that Oakdale took leads into halftime, and even to the 4th quarter only to have the opposition to make a run.  I do not think Oakdale would have reached 15 wins if it held on to all their leads, but 12 or 13 would not have been out of the question.  From the outside, that tells me that defense needs to improve.  However, I did not go to many games; therefore, I could be wrong.  Another possibility is that the team needs to be better conditioned.  Tired legs leads to bad shots late in the game.  Again, I do not know what is the malady here, I am just throwing possibilities out there.

3) Improve the youth program/develop a travel team

I played youth basketball, and it was fun.  However, every other sport has had it to where the best athletes play at a different level than the beginners.  That might not be fair to some kids, but unfortunately, we are at an age where people are being trainned younger and younger into sports.  I hear that the youth program has improved over when I was a kid, but perhaps Oakdale needs to start a traveling team for basketball.  They will need exposure to how serious the play is in the area.

4) Get better athletes from within

The United States has the best athletes in the world.  Why is the soccer team mediocre at best?  That is because most of the best athletes in the country are not playing soccer.  They are playing football and basketball.  Oakdale has some of the best athletes in the Sac-Joaquin Section; however, they are not playing basketball.  They are wrestling.  The wrestling team is so deep, I believe the JV team could be a top-10 team in the Modesto-area...easily.  Oakdale is a football, baseball, and wrestling town.  I believe a few of those athletes could play basketball, and it would not affect the wrestling team.  Plus, if they start early enough, they may improve the basketball team.

5) Get better athletes from the area

Let's face it, teams are not supposed to recruit, but better athletes will find a way to legally go to the best schools for their sport.  It happens often in the Sacramento area.  I have no doubt that it could happen down here.  However, the best players in the area are going to go to Modesto Christian.  The Crusaders currently have a player who would be going to Manteca had he gone to public school.  David Parris, son of former 49ers, Bubba Parris, is another case.  Had he gone to public school, he would have gone to Riverbank.  It may be a dream to get the best basketball players, though.  Another possible solution is to have a couple of the Mustang players join an AAU team.  I do not know where the closest one is, though.

6) Realignment (Get out of the VOL)

Yep, you read that right.  Currently, there is not a league in which Oakdale will be relevant, and I almost mean that literally.  However, with a little tweaking in the league, and Oakdale has the potential for the playoffs.  The VOL, is rated the second strongest league in the area behind the CCC.  The first proposal from the Sac-Joaquin Section for the 2014-2015 season is to put Oakdale in the MMC with Atwater, Beyer, Buhach Colony, Davis, Downey, El Capitan (Merced), and Johansen.  Oakdale could realistically finish 4th in that league, and maybe even 3rd.  That is a playoff spot. Last years Oakdale 8th graders won their league tournament that featured mostly Modesto schools.  If the first proposal is voted in, Oakdale would be facing those same players by the time realignment takes effect. 

By the way, the second proposal keeps the VOL the way it is with the exception of Sonora leaving for the MLL.  While that move keeps Oakdale in the VOL and the traditionalists happy, I don't see a program that doesn't hurt Oakdale in one way or another with this format (ok, maybe baseball, soccer, and water polo).  It will not help the basketball team, because they will still be in a league that even the current freshman, as good as they are in comparison to past Oakdale teams, cannot compete in.

These are some ideas I came up with.  Those more qualified than I might have more solutions, or even better ones.  However, something needs to be done to make the Mustangs relevant in basketball.

Note: A day after I first published this blog, I read in the Oakdale Leader that Oakdale is currently in a youth league program, and is currently working on forming a travel team with the possibility of joining an AAU program.