Branson takes home pair of section titles
Marin basketball and soccer teams have had their fair share of success in the North Coast Section playoffs in recent years and 2023 was no different. Eight local teams made it to title games and four came away with victories.
The Branson School led the way with a pair of pennants in boys basketball and girls soccer, respectively. Marin Catholic secured its second girls basketball pennant in a row. The Terra Linda boys soccer team claimed the another pennant.
Of the four teams that came away on the losing end in finals, three of those defeats came against county rivals.
SEMETRI CARR, BRANSON BOYS BASKETBALL >> Carr splashed in seven 3-pointers en route to the best scoring night of his Branson career as the Bulls won the North Coast Section Division III championship with a 69-50 win against Pinole Valley on Friday night. Carr, still just a sophomore, scored 36 points as the Bulls won their fifth section title since 2017. Carr was also the Bulls' top scorer in a 61-40 semifinal victory against Piedmont, scoring 21 points against the Highlanders. Branson begins its NorCal run as the No. 2 seed in D-II, hosting Saint Francis at 7 p.m. Tuesday at College of Marin.
ALLY HSIEH, BRANSON GIRLS SOCCER >> The Bulls' striker scored in both games last week as Branson defeated Campolindo and Marin Academy en route to its fifth section title since 2016. Hsieh was directly involved with Branson's first goal in the semifinals, shooting from just inside the 18-yard box and forcing a partial save from the goalie. The ball ricocheted off an onrushing defender and crossed the line before another defender could make the clearance. There was no doubt about who scored Branson's second goal as Hsieh made a solo run from near midfield, evaded five defenders and blasted the ball into the net to give the Bulls a 2-0 cushion. Hsieh also converted a penalty kick late in the first half against MA, giving the Bulls a 3-1 lead going into the break. Branson starts NorCals at the No. 7 seed in D-II with a road game against St. Ignatius at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
JESSE RODRIGUEZ, TERRA LINDA BOYS SOCCER >> The freshman goalie came up with a pair of decisive saves in a penalty shootout to lift the program to its first section title since 2014 in the NCS Division III title game against Marin Academy on Saturday. Rodriguez saved MA's second kick then saved the fifth and final kick to secure the victory. TL opens NorCals as the No. 4 seed in D-III and host No. 5 Overfelt at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
GRACYN LOVETTE AND MADIE DAYTON, MARIN CATHOLIC GIRLS BASKETBALL >> Lovette scored 30 points across two games last week, leading the Wildcats to their second consecutive section title following a 46-22 win against San Marin in the D-III championship game on Friday. Lovette led MC in scoring in both games with 16 against Eureka and 14 against San Marin. Dayton provided a big boost at both ends of the court against San Marin, scoring 11 points and also spearheading the defensive effort against the Mustangs. MC is positioned well for a deep NorCal playoff run as the No. 1 seed in D-II. The Wildcats host Los Gatos at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
HANNAH GOLAN, BRANSON GIRLS BASKETBALL >> Although the Bulls ultimately came up just short of a section title, Golan was again immense as the Bulls made it to the D-IV final. Golan poured in a career-high 38 points in a 56-46 victory against Arcata in the semifinals. Although the Bulls went on to lose the final against Piedmont, the top-ranked team in Northern California, Golan scored a gamehigh 24 points. The Bulls are set to open the NorCal playoffs as the No. 2 seed in D-III, hosting No. 15 Los Altos at 5 p.m. Tuesday at College of Marin.
KEKOA MADAYAG, NOVATO BOYS WRESTLING >> Despite losing in the round of 16 in the championship bracket, Madayag battled his way through the 113-pound consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament to take fourth at State. Madayag went 5-2 with four of those wins coming in the consolation bracket. His fourth-place finish was the highest for a Novato boys wrestler at state under the current format — which began in 1973 — according to coach Rafael Ayala.
LUANA STATHOPOULOS, NOVATO GIRLS WRESTLING >> Stathopoulos reeled off three consecutive victories in the consolation bracket at state to assure herself of placing en route to an eighth-place finish in the 143-pound division. Overall, Stathopoulos went 4-3 at the tournament to claim the highest finish by a Novato girls since 2014, according to Ayala.