Congrats Coach Bonfigli- Win #700!

[larry legend33]

I just wanted to say congrats Newman coach Tom Bonfigli. He's been a great coach and mentor to thousands of players and students over the years including me. I haven't done the research but winning 700 games has to put him in the top 20 all time in state? That is over 20 wins for 30+ years. Plus he isn't done so 800 is only 4 years away.

D4 has some really good match ups in round 2. You have Salesian going against Marin Catholic. (Upset Alert) I really think MC is going to beat Salesian. You have 2 very good teams from Humboldt County battling (Arcata and Mckminville) battling St Mary's and St Pats. Those teams are historically underrated. The big difference is they have to travel which is a big disadvantage.


Good luck to all.

 

[concrete17]

Thanks double L-3.....
Like NorCalSportsFan your posts are usually knowledgable, informative and always entertaining.
You bring info about schools. players and ooaches that otherwise might stay buried in local hometown newspapers......if they still are writing about prep sports.
Your posts have helped keep me returning to this board after football season is over. Because of your posts I follow programs beyond my own narrow East Bay area.

Keep up the great work... ......

 

[larry legend33]

Concrete- Thanks for those kind words. I live and breath sports and try and get out to the east bay, north bay and SJS. I think all these leagues and kids need a voice. There are some very good teams and players around. I thought hoops was a little down this year to start but I think it has to do more with the fact we don't have the few marquee 4-5 star kids we've had in the past. Overall though we have some very good teams that should represent well come state.

Football next year should be a little more even in the SJS. Folsom was just so good last year it wasn't funny. Next year you have DO, Folsom, Oak Ridge, Rocklin, Jesuit, and a handful of others that look evenly matched.

 

[northbaybbguru]

Larry,

are you going to make it over to Cardinal Newman for the boys/girls doubleheader on Saturday?

Girls game vs. Justin Siena starts at 6:30...Boys game vs Cloverdale starts 30 mins. after girls game ends.


Interesting dynamics on the boys game......in Bonfigli 1st year in 1981/82 he beat Cloverdale for 1 of his 1st maybe 8 wins.
Now he's at 700 and he's playing Cloverdale again.

That 1st Cloverdale game in 81/82 had Craig McMillan (SRJC Coach, Arizona, HS all American)...also had Craig Bergman who is the current Monte Vista AD and went on to Arizona also, for football.....and don't forget Robby Rowland who went on to play for the Detroit Tigers....that is quite an impressive group on 1 team for a small school like Cloverdale...Cloverdale won back to back state championships those 2 yrs. if I'm not mistaken.
Craig McMillan has 2 sons playing for Cloverdale now, and they are supposed to be studs!! Life has a way
of coming back around.....circle of life stuff and all.

pretty cool....

 

[observer22]

That was a pretty talented squad for such a small town. It was Rich Rowland that was on that team. Robby is his son. Bergman also played hoops at Arizona for Lute with McMillan & Tolbert, before transferring to Santa Clara to play QB for the Broncos.



This post was edited on 2/27 11:26 AM by observer22

 

[larry legend33]

I wish I was making it back guys but I have some youth hoop obligations. I will be back for the Semi's or NCS champ. Maybe we can hook up.

The girls are going to roll. I would expect them to win by 30+. I see them going to state as well. The boys will be in a good game. I want to say both Mcmillian kids are both 6"5-6"6 and can play. One is only a soph too. I expect the boys to pull away by 10 or so but Cloverdale will not be a push over.

Mcmillian was the best. I don't know if people remember this but he was 1st team MCD all american and 1st Team Parade All American. Nobody has ever done that from Sonoma County. I doubt it will be duplicated. 6"6-6'7 guard who was a 4 year starter at Arizona with all those great players. They also won state champ when there was only 3 divisions. They were playing with the giants back then.

Anybody knows where Bonfigli ranks in state? Has to be top 20. Like I said 4 more years and I bet he's at 800. He's still in great health.

 

[northbaybbguru]

(Robby...oops)...Considering I played against them, I should have remembered that it was Rich....I think I'm going senile....haha

Harold Abend wrote a good article on Prep2prep about Bonfigli in Dec...go to P2P and click on the Cardinal Newman link on the bottom where they have all the schools...it will come up....It mentions where he stands in the state if I'm not mistaken.


As far as the Boys go...I think D4 is by the far the softest division in Norcal....checking out the other sections I don't see any monsters.
CN has as good of shot as anyone to make another state run.....its definitely wide open.

The girls have a tougher road....a lot will depend on who gets called up to the open from D4....Brookside, Salesian or SMB , if any or all happen to get called up...that obvious will make a big difference. And of course don't forget Piedmont...fully healthy for the 1st time all year and balling.

 

[G61]

Larry,
Granite Bay vs. Folsom tonight at the dog pound. You in!?

 

[larry legend33]

Thanks for the heads up on Bonfigli Northbayguru. I will check it out.

This years Newman team is nowhere near as talented as that 2013 team that went to state and almost upset Pacific Hills. I want to say 3 kids off that team are playing college hoops right now. Very good HS team this year but nothing special. You need special to compete at State. I was hoping that the SMB and Salesian of the world get called up on the girls side. That was why I was saying Newman girls could go. Even not they still could beat these schools.

G61- I was all ready to go tnite but I have another obligation. … I don't see Granite Bay staying within 15 of Folsom. Actually more like 20. But GB had a nice win over Jesuit. Have fun and keep my updated!

I'm real curious how OR does against Sheldon. OR is playing pretty well and is coming off 24 pt win over Bella Vista. They have enough players to make it a game IMO.

 

[G61]

I will give you my take on the game later tonight!

 

[G61]

OR was up by like 7 at half. Still haven't got the final score yet.

Folsom wins 61-54. See my post in the forum.

 

[G61]

This post was edited on 2/27 9:16 PM by G61

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

He is definitely within top 20 and in special company. Gary McKnight, Mater Dei is over 1000 this year. Next coach still coaching is around 200 behind McKnight. Bonifigly was #15 at start of season with six other coaches still currently coaching are ahead of him. 6 coaches have over 800 wins at start of season with 2 others that should surpass 800 by end of this season.

 

[observer22]

700 is outstanding. There aren't many coaches that ever get past 500. Where is Allocco at in wins? He had some great success at Northgate before taking over the helm at DLS and seems to win 20+ even in "down years".

 

[larry legend33]

Alloco is probably very close but his winning % is off the charts and he hasn't been coaching as long so he will get there fast I'm sure. I wouldn't be surprised if its 90% at DLS. In typical years he's 25+ wins and for a good streak it was closer to 30. I think they are 25-3 right now. I'm not sure if these guys circles have ever crossed but they are a lot alike in many ways.
They seem to get the most out of there players regardless of the talent.

Go Cardinals… Good luck tnite.

 

[bella123]

Yes he has to be in top 20. Gary McChesseburger at MD is widening the gap at the top weekly. I know Lou Cvijanovich has to be around 850! He has some outstanding teams at Santa Clara and beat Bonfigli for the state title in 89'! Shon Tarver led Saints beat what I think is a top 3 Newman team
of all time (Silver, Hostettler, Monahan and Co.)

 

[larry legend33]

Those Santa Clara-Oxnard teams were legendary in SCA for like 2 decades. That team that beat Newman had like 3 D1 players and of course All American Shon Tarver. Mccheesburger! Ha ha. MD is beatable this year. Not nearly as strong as prior years.