Success found in all corners of the Bay Area
Here are 15 of the best Metro teams in 2017-18, with an emphasis on success. Fighting back from adversity with a touch of drama doesn’t hurt. Alameda boys basketball: A senior-dominated squad (28-6) that lived in the large shadow of crosstown rivals St. Joseph Notre Dame and Encinal, the Hornets captured their community’s heart by winning the school’s first Northern California title, a Division 2 crown. Benno Zecic, a 6-3 point guard, was one of five players who regularly scored in double figures for coach Cameron Quick’s balanced team. Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa: No one team is called out for recognition. That’s because all its teams should be feted for adhering to the athletic department’s motto of “Play Through the Burn” after half the school was destroyed by the Tubbs Fire.
The girls soccer team captured a NorCal D3 title, the football squad reached the North Coast Section 3A championship game and the girls basketball team reached the NorCal Open Division tourney. Senior Maiya Flores — the school’s career basketball scoring leader — was one of about 100 students to lose their home in the fire. “It made our school so much closer,” she said. “It’s awful that it happened, but in a way, we’re definitely more grateful to just be here together.”
De La Salle-Concord baseball: Two home runs by Nick Cirelli, including a three-run jolt, put an exclamation point on an 11-0 North Coast Section D1 title win over Foothill-Pleasanton. It was the third straight championship for the Spartans (26-4), who outscored four NCS foes 42-3. They won 21 of their final 22 and finished No. 2 nationally in the MaxPreps computer rankings.
Galileo football: The notion of a San Francisco team winning a state football title has for years seemed remote at best. But behind sophomore Yarvell Smith (1,522 yards rushing, 21 touchdowns) and 5-foot-3 quarterback Adrian Poot, the Lions (11-2) won NorCal and state D6-A titles, logging more than 1,200 miles to win their final two games.
Las Lomas-Walnut Creek boys basketball: The Knights (31-4) captured their first NorCal (D1) championship with a senior-laden squad led by Nathan Robinson, Jason Holman, Devin Payne and Robert Prince, who five years earlier never lost a game at Walnut Creek Intermediate.
McClymonds-Oakland football: The defending 5-A champion Warriors (14-0) were even more dominant in 2017, outscoring foes 618-105 including 42-14 over Golden West-Visalia for the 5-AA state crown. AllMetro first-teamers Charles Alberty, a defensive back and receiver, linebacker Ramone Sanders, running back Jamar Julien and two-way tackle Amani Trigg-Wright led the charge.
Menlo School-Atherton boys tennis: Following a two-year drought, the Knights returned to the NorCal winner’s circle with perhaps their most dominant team. The Knights won their ninth NorCal crown since 2007 and finished 29-0.
Mitty girls basketball: Despite a season-ending tripleovertime defeat to PinewoodLos Altos Hills in the NorCal Open final, the Monarchs (29-1) finished atop the MaxPreps national computer and Chronicle Metro rankings. They were inspired by Naismith National Coach of the Year Sue Phillips and second-team MaxPreps All-American Haley Jones, a junior who averaged 21.8 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Mitty volleyball: The Monarchs (37-5), behind senior hitters Nicole Liddle (451 kills), Kamrin Caoili (378 kills) and Julia Devine (364 kills), and senior setter Makaela Tanaka (1,394 assists), won their staterecord 14th state title and finished No. 2 nationally, according to MaxPreps.
Monte Vista-Danville girls soccer: The Mustangs (25-1-1) not only won their eighth NCS crown, but first NorCal title while being ranked No. 1 nationally in the winter by MaxPreps. Led by sophomore Megan Edelman (21 goals, 10 assists) and juniors Hannah Deljkic (12, 16) and Lily Arbabaraghi (15, 6), Monte Vista outscored opponents 97-7. Novato girls lacrosse: The Hornets finished 24-1 and won their fourth consecutive North Coast Section Division 1 crown. Buoyed by eight seniors, Novato outscored foes 491-120 and received huge seasons from Charlie Rudy (147 goals, 53 assists), Jamie Level (107, 51) and DJ Wilmott (77, 59), and finished ranked 12th nationally by MaxPreps. The seniors won four NCS titles while going a combined 96-5.
Pinewood girls basketball: The Panthers (27-3) defeated the nation’s top-ranked team late in the season for the second time in three years, before losing in the state Open final to Windward-Los Angeles. Stanford-bound junior Hannah Jump and dynamic senior guard Brianna Claros led the charge.
Serra football: Behind the most prolific offense in WCAL history, the Padres (13-2) won their first outright league title in 48 years and then their first state crown (2-AA). Junior Luke Bottari (72 percent, 2,768 yards), senior running back Isiah Kendrick (2,048 yards, 34 TDs) and UCLA-bound twoway tackle Atonio Mafi (6-3, 360) led the way.
St. Ignatius boys soccer: The Wildcats (19-1-5) finished ranked first in the state and fourth nationally by MaxPreps after winning a first NorCal D1 crown. David Woodruff was the WCAL Forward of the Year and Nate Kushner the WCAL Goalkeeper of the Year.
Valley Christian baseball: The Warriors (29-3-1) finished No. 1 in the MaxPreps national computer rankings after winning a second straight Central Coast Section title. Seven regulars hit at least .300 and the pitching staff was topped by Kevin Pence (9-0, 0.89 ERA) and Arkansas-bound Patrick Wicklander (7-3, 1.57, 102 strikeouts, 76 innings).