De La Salle and Logan reach section title game
Tim Kostolansky evidently took his matchup with Keshad Johnson on Wednesday in the North Coast Section Division 1 semifinals very seriously.
The 6-foot-7 senior for topseeded De La Salle-Concord had 20 points and 15 rebounds, leading the host Spartans (27-3) to a 60-46 win over fourth-seeded San Leandro (24-5), which got 13 points from Lawrence Long.
Nobody else scored in double figures for San Leandro, including Johnson, a 6-7 forward headed to San Diego State who finished with just six points and two buckets on eight shots.
Kostolansky did most of the work on Johnson, but had lots of help. The Spartans allowed just 28 points through three quarters. Thomas Gregorios added 13 points, freshman Jeremiah Dargan 11 and Andrew Flannigan 10 for the Spartans, who go for their 11th NCS title at 8 p.m. Friday against James LoganUnion City at St. Mary’s College.
“It always starts at the defensive end for us,” Kostolansky said. “We focus there first and the offense always comes. Our defense and rebounding really keyed things for us.” James Logan 86, Dublin 83: Tim Oldham raced toward Dublin’s basket to grab the ball, turned and fired in a 30-footer at the buzzer to give thirdseeded Logan (24-5) a win at secondseed Dublin (25-5). The Colts trailed 68-58 in the fourth quarter, then seemingly had the game won with an 83-78 lead and 24.7 seconds left. More NCS: In D3, Carter Mahaney’s floater in the lane just before the buzzer gave second-seeded CampolindoMoraga (22-6) a 70-68 overtime home win over third-seeded St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo (20-11), which got 22 points from Akil Edwards, who made a driving layup and free throw with 8.3 seconds left to tie the game 68-68. David Ahazie had 25 points and Aidan Mahaney 18 for the Cougars. Jaden Alexander added 15 points for the Bruins. … Campolindo will play topseeded Salesian (30-0), a 54-41 winner over St. Joseph Notre DameAlameda. … In D5 action, Charley Moore had 23 points and Max Fried added 18 points and 14 rebounds, leading second-seeded University (22-9) to a 79-62 win over visiting Clear Lake (26-3). Charlie Kennedy had eight second-half points for the Red Devils, who play top-seeded Stuart Hall (27-4), an 82-58 winner over fifth-seeded Hoopa Valley (21-8). In D2 play, Leonard Turner and Max Anderson had 12 points apiece, leading host and second-seeded Moreau Catholic-Hayward (23-7) to a 55-46 win over 14th-seeded Las LomasWalnut Creek (13-16). Moreau will play top-seeded Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (21-7), a 56-46 winner over visiting and fourth-seed Redwood-Larkspur (23-8). … The top two seeds, BransonRoss (28-2) and Fortuna (29-1), breezed to double-digit D4 victories.
SAN FRANCISCO SECTION
Mission 76, Lowell 34: In a semifinal at Kezar Pavilion, Ben Knight had 16 points, David Sonnier added 14 and Jaraughn Torno 12 as the top-seeded Bears (20-9) toppled the Cardinals (16-14), who got 12 points from Jace Ng. Lincoln 77, Washington 62: Also at Kezar, Shakur Blaylock and Gabino Valdivia had 23 points apiece, leading the Mustangs (21-9) to a semifinal win over the Eagles (14-16), who got 20 points from Da’Jon Aranas.
CENTRAL COAST SECTION
Sacred Heart Cathedral 72, MenloAtherton 65: Kori McCoy had 19 points, Cedric Reed Jr. 18 and Oisin McCormack 11 points and 16 rebounds, as the Irish (12-14) became the first CCS Open Division eighth seed to advance to the final with a semifinal victory at Independence-San Jose. James Beckwith scored all of his team-high 18 points for fourth-seed Menlo-Atherton (22-4). Bellarmine 68, Riordan 61: Despite 27 points from Bryce Monroe, the second-seeded Crusaders (18-8) fell short in overtime against the thirdseeded Bells (20-6) at Independence. Junior post Ian Elam (21 points) forced overtime with a contested interior bucket with 4.1 seconds left.
GIRLS NORTH COAST SECTION
St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda 54, Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa 47: Zhane Duckett had 16 points, Malia Mastora 15 and Talana Lepolo 13, leading St. Joseph (22-6) to a win at Newman (24-5). Notre Dame will play top-seed Salesian (22-8), a 61-35 winner over Eureka (22-9). More NCS: In D1 play, No. 1 seed Carondelet-Concord (25-4) and No. 2 Heritage-Brentwood (26-3) each won by double digits and will play 6 p.m. Friday at St. Mary’s College for the championship. … In D2 semifinals, MiramonteOrinda (27-2) won by 34 and Bishop O’Dowd (19-9) won by 32. … In D4, top-seed St. Patrick-St. Vincent (26-3) squeezed past visiting Piedmont 64-59 and will play Del Norte, a 47-42 winner over Lick-Wilmerding.
CENTRAL COAST SECTION
Top seeds Mitty (24-2) and PinewoodLos Altos Hills (24-2) cruised in semifinals at Piedmont Hills-San Jose. Stanford-bound Haley Jones had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Hunter Hernadez added 14 points as Mitty defeated fourth-seed St. Ignatius 78-51. The Wildcats dropped to 16-10. Pinewood defeated third-seed Valley Christian 81-43. The Warriors dropped to 16-10.