A dozen Marin teams left standing
Section playoffs go into semifinals
Marin had more than 30 teams representing the county in various divisions between basketball and soccer. That number has been whittled down to 12 as the North Coast Section playoffs head into the semifinals this week.
Both Marin Academy teams, the Terra Linda boys, Branson School girls and Marin Catholic girls remain in the mix for soccer.
Basketball sees both squads from San Domenico, Branson and Marin Catholic plus the San Marin girls still in the hunt.
KLEBER MALDONADO, TERRA LINDA BOYS SOCCER >>
TL kept its postseason roll going with wins against Albany and Archie Williams in the NCS D-III playoffs last week. TL made short work of Albany, scoring all five goals in the first half of a shutout win. Maldonado was everywhere in the quarterfinal win against Archie Williams, playing a role in each goal. His throw-in led to TL's first goal, scored by Elvin Maldonado. Kleber Maldonado then turned Archie Williams over and played a through ball to Liam Hadden to tie the game at 2-2. Kleber Maldonado converted a penalty kick in regulation to make it 3-2 TL then took the do-or-die fifth penalty in the shootout before Rafael Gonzalez won it in the sixth round. No. 2 TL hosts No. 3 Benicia at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
CAMERON COLPITTS AND IMOGEN JENKYN, MARIN ACADEMY GIRLS SOCCER >>
The Wildcats have made reaching finals a habit in recent years and are making another deep run this year having reached the NCS D-III semifinals courtesy of a 6-0 win against Pinole Valley and a 2-1 victory over Encinal. Colpitts got the Wildcats off to a great start, netting a hat trick in the first-round win against Pinole Valley. Jenkyn netted a goal in both games, including the eventual game-winner against Encinal in Friday's quarterfinal. Sixth-seeded MA renews its rivalry with No. 1 Cardinal Newman at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Rosa. The two teams met in both the 2019 and 2020 D-IV title
games with Cardinal Newman winning both.
DOMINIC YU, MARIN ACADEMY BOYS SOCCER >> The topseeded Wildcats cruised through the first two rounds of the NCS D-III playoffs, taking out Campolindo 3-0 then Analy 4-0. Yu scored in both games, getting one against Campolindo and two against Analy. MA continues its quest for another section title on Tuesday with a 3 p.m. home game against No. 4 Ukiah.
ALLY HSIEH, BRANSON GIRLS SOCCER >>
The Bulls' striker posted a rare stat line across two games last week, scoring a hat trick
with three goals in the first game then piling up a hat trick of assists in the second one. Hsieh also tacked on her fourth goal of the week for good measure as No. 3 Branson advanced to the NCS D-III semifinals. The Bulls hit the road to face No. 2 Campolindo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
ALINA FRANCHETTI AND SIENA WHITE, MARIN CATHOLIC GIRLS SOCCER >>
A sophomore and freshman, respectively, Franchetti and White came up big in both games to help MC move into the NCS D-IV semifinals. Franchetti had a pair of assists and scored once in MC's 4-0 victory
over Head-Royce in the first round while White scored once and had an assist. The duo was even more impactful in the 2-1 win over Lick-Wilmerding on Saturday. White scored from the penalty spot to tie the game at 1-1 then took the corner kick that lead to Franchetti's game winner. MC faces top-seeded University at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Beach Chalet #2 in San Francisco.
GYTIS GERVICKAS AND GAVIN EARLY, SAN DOMENICO BOYS BASKETBALL >>
The Panthers powered into the NCS D-V semifinals with strong performances for their top two players. Gervickas averaged 21.5 points per game and Early averaged 17 a game — including a 15-point first half in a quarterfinal win against Berean Christian. No. 3 San Domenico hits the road to face No. 2 HeadRoyce on Tuesday night.
CHARLES WILLIAMS, MARIN CATHOLIC BASKETBALL >>
Williams averaged 21.5 points per game in a pair of nail-biters for MC last week. The Wildcats won their first-round game against St. Joseph Notre Dame by two points and their quarterfinal against Arcata by four. Williams scored 21 and 22 points to lead MC in both games. No. 4 MC takes on top-seeded University on Wednesday.
KEKOA MADAYAG, NOVATO BOYS WRESTLING >>
Madayag moved up one weight class this year but brought home his second consecutive section title. Madayag claimed the prize at 106 pounds last year and did it again this year at 113 pounds. Madayag went 5-0, including a win over Arcata's Dakota Sanders in the final, to become one of two Marin boys wrestlers headed to state. Archie Williams' John McKenzie placed second at 145 pounds to make it to state.
LUANA STATHOPOULOS, NOVATO GIRLS WRESTLING >>
Stathopoulos won three matches, picked up a forfeit win and had a first-round bye en route to winning the section title at 143 pounds to advance to state. Stathopoulos won an all-Marin final, defeating San Marin's Lyla Kondrashof to claim the title. Both wrestlers advance to the state tournament, along with Novato's Olivia Munoz (131 pounds) and San Marin's Jakayla McKee (101).