Winners abound among Metro Teams of the Year

Not every team had to win its final game to be considered a Metro Team of the Year. Many of these squads didn’t, but are recognized for their excellence throughout the season. Teams are listed in alphabetical order.

Aragon-San Mateo girls: The Dons became the first school in San Mateo Union School District history to win Central Coast Section girls titles in each of the three seasons: volleyball (fall), basketball (winter) and softball (spring). All won CCS crowns despite not winning league titles.

Campolindo-Moraga boys basketball: The Cougars (27-7) were the only local boys basketball team to claim a state title, following a 55-40 Division 2 win over Colony-Ontario. The team was led all season by David Ahazie and brothers Carter and Aidan Mahaney. Aidan, a freshman, and sophomore Emmanuel Callas scored 19 points apiece in the title game.

Foothill softball: The Falcons made a case for best Bay Area softball team of all time, finishing 28-0 and with No. 2 ranking nationally by MaxPreps. The team outscored opponents 194-14 and was led by junior pitcher Nicole May (Oklahoma commit), infielders Hope Alley (Pittsburgh), Hailey Hayes (Boise State) and Ell Ebbers (Morgan State), and catcher Courtney Beaudin.

De La Salle baseball: Coach David Jeans thought last year’s team was the best in school history, but these Spartans (29-1) won a fourth straight North Coast Section Division 1 title, earned a No. 5 national ranking and finished with a 28-game winning streak.

De La Salle football: A seasonending 35-21 loss to Mater DeiSanta Ana did not diminish what De La Salle coaches said was one of the best teams in school history. The Spartans, buoyed by a tremendous defense, finished 12-1 and ranked ninth nationally.

Liberty-Brentwood football: Two years ago, Liberty won its first section championship in its 115-year history and the 2018 Lions won a state 1-A title. Oregon-bound quarterback Jay Butterfield and two-way standout Sione Vaki led the charge.

Lincoln football: It wasn’t so much the 13-0 season, the 449128 point differential or first state title, according to coach Phil Ferrigno. “The kids did everything we asked in the offseason and during the season,” he said. “These guys set the bar for all other Lincoln teams to aspire.”

McClymonds-Oakland football: The Warriors (12-2) claimed their third straight state crown and outscored opponents 517-111, including 457-40 during an 11-game winning streak to close the season.

Menlo School-Atherton girls basketball: With so many young players, the Knights figured to battle for a state title in 2020 or 2021, but instead captured the state Division 2 crown behind the play of sophomore point guard Avery Lee and freshman post Sharon Nejad. Mission boys soccer: The Bears (17-1-3) won the San Francisco Section’s first boys NorCal title with a dominating season that featured a 61-12 goal differential, capped by a 4-1 win over Hillmar in the final. The championship was dedicated to junior halfback Aaron Villareal, who was injured late in the season in a car accident that claimed the lives of three family members.

Mitty girls basketball: Led by National Player of the Year Haley Jones, the Monarchs breezed to West Catholic Athletic League and defeated Pinewood 72-51 in the CCS Open final. Mitty (25-3) finished with a No. 4 ranking in the nation. Oakland Athletic League girls basketball: Oakland and Oakland Tech won state championships on back-to-back days in March at the Golden 1 Center. Oakland Tech (30-6) won the Division 4 state title by 28 points and Oakland (30-5) won the Division 3 title by 16 points. Pinewood-Los Altos Hills girls basketball: The school, which has fewer than 400 students, won its second straight NorCal Open title behind the duo of Stanford-bound Hannah Jump and Klara Astrom and coach Doc Scheppler. Pinewood finished 27-4 and ranked 18th nationally.

Sacred Heart Cathedral girls volleyball: The Irish (31-7) — who had won at every level during their rich history with six CCS titles, five NorCal championships and a 2014 state Division 3 crown — breezed to WCAL and CCS Open Division crowns, led by league co-MVP Lauren Sera and a balanced squad coach Margi Beima thought might have been her best.

Salesian-Richmond boys basketball: The Pride were perfect for 31 games, ranked as high as No. 5 nationally by MaxPreps, but lost in the NorCal semifinals. Led by twins JoVon and Jaden McClanahan and junior Shane Bell, Salesian won four tournaments. The Pride finished ranked 14th nationally and third in the state.

San Ramon Valley-Danville girls lacrosse: The Wolves (22-0) outscored opponents 430-126, winning four NCS Division 1 playoff games by a combined count of 79-28. Valley Christian baseball: The Warriors (29-4) finished on a 16-game winning streak and took their third straight CCS Open Division crown with a 2-0 win over Mitty. They finished ranked 17th nationally.