Moreau, Clayton Valley have a unique storyline
Moreau Catholic coach Frank Knight has already given his players a history lesson. He has already told them about his friendship with Clayton Valley Charter coach Frank Allocco Jr., and that Frank Sr. — when he was the head coach at De La Salle — gave Knight an opportunity to coach.
Knight also told them that he and Allocco Jr. — former teammates at St. Mary's College — knew a thing or two about playing high school basketball back in the day (i.e. mid-1990s).
Saturday night, Knight and Allocco will meet for the NCS Division I title.
“Frank Allocco is one of my best friends,” Knight said. “He was in my wedding. We were roommates in college. Like I told them, I was the Northern California player of the year in '95. He was the Northern California player of the year in '96.
“We went to the NCAA tournament together. His dad is like my mentor. He gave me my first coaching job ever at De La Salle in 1999. So it's going to be a St. Mary's championship game. But Frank knows I am going to prepare and I am going to try to get after him, just like he's going to prepare and try to get after me.
“We'll be friends when it's over with. But we're going to go out there and try our best to dismantle each other's teams. We wouldn't want it any other way.”
Moreau advanced with a 71-69 victory over California on Tuesday night. The top-seeded Mariners (23-5) were led by senior wing LeBrie Goudy-Lee, who had 26 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Kellen Hampton added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
California (19-11) had three players in double figures: Amari Gray (20), Damarcus Collins (16) and Kellen Torrey (14).
Clayton Valley advanced by routing 12th-seeded Pittsburg 8352 on Tuesday night. Jake King, a 6-5 forward, made six three-pointers and finished with 30 points.
The Ugly Eagles (25-4) pulled away with a 15-0 run in the second quarter.
Boys: A new era of Pittsburg basketball
Pittsburg's dream of reaching a Northern California regional are over, but the days of football completely overshadowing basketball at the school also might be a thing of the past.
“It was a great run, and we had fun,” first-year coach Rich Gonzales said before adding, “We'll be back.”
After winning 14 games in the previous three seasons, the 12thseeded Pirates won 15 games in the regular season and then beat No. 5 Berkeley and No. 13 James Logan in the NCS Division I playoffs.
Their best player believes this year was more than just a Cinderella run.
“I feel like it's changed,” said Jeremiah Collins, who is expected to be back for his senior season. “We have great coaches, and we've also got tremendous talent.”
Pittsburg has plenty of experience returning next season, with Jason Robertson being the team's only graduating senior.
The players and coaches are ready to get back to work.
“We're a new staff, but we're all Pittsburg guys,” Gonzales said. “We're gonna come out hitting it hard once they get some rest.”
Girls: EBAL teams to meet in Division I title game
North Coast Section Division I girls basketball title, beating San Leandro 49-46 in a semifinal on Tuesday night.
But a familiar opponent stands in Monte Vista's way in its quest for another championship.
Granada beat James Logan 61-41 in the other semifinal, setting up an all-East Bay Athletic League championship game.
In its most recent matchup against Granada, Monte Vista won by a point in the semifinals of the EBAL tournament. When the teams met in league play, the Danville school beat Granada 59-45.
On Tuesday, Nia Coleman (19 points) and Rachel Brans (14 points) led the way for Monte Vista.
In the other semifinals, Granada surged to a 36-21 halftime lead and controlled the second half.
Boys: Pinole Valley on verge of making history
In December, Pinole Valley's football team won its first section championship in 43 years.
On Saturday at Dominican University, Pinole Valley's boys basketball team will have the chance to win its first section championship in program history, according to the NCS website.
Pinole Valley rolled past St. Patrick-St. Vincent 55-38 on Tuesday night in the Division III semifinal. Jordy McKenzie scored 16 points (12 in the first half) and Kaleb Allison and Zion Wilburn each finished with 12 points for the Spartans.
The No. 2-seeded Spartans will play top-seeded Branson. Pinole Valley (27-5) has been dominant in the postseason, winning all three of its games by doubledigit margins.
If there is anyone who understands the magnitude of the moment, its Danny Rynning. The member of Pinole's class of 1995 has been the head coach since 2018, and has led the Spartans to back-to-back seasons with at least 20 wins.
“To be in position to be the first team in school history to win a sectional championship is truly an honor and a blessing,” Rynning told the Bay Area News Group via text.
Closing shots
The Pinole Valley girls' season ended with a 45-27 loss to San Marin. The Spartans finished 2010. … After upsetting top-seeded Berean Christian in the previous round, Mt. Diablo fell to Upper Lake 65-52. The Red Devils finished 17-12.