Monte Vista & De La Salle

[NorCalScout]

Monte Vista over De La Salle- I am not sure either team is playing very good basketball at the moment and I hate going against Allocco in big games, but if there is one person who has had his number, it's been Jones. MV has to be thankful for a well deserved #1 seed because I am not sure they get to the finals without it. Inconsistent play at their point guard, wing and post over the last three games must come to an end if the Mustangs want to put another nail in the Spartans coffin. De La Salle had two blowout games against overrated BVAL opponents and a scare against San Ramon the other night. They will need to be more consistent & patient with their shot selections and if this game is in the 40's and low 50's, then I think the Spartans win but if it's in the mid 50's to 60's, chalk up win #6 in a row for the Mustangs.

Both teams have a tremendous one two punch (Mitu & LaShells as well as Ratinho and Peters) and whatever team gets solid play and scoring from their teammates should win. Mileski and the key for the Mustangs, if he can keep Romeo contained and a non factor in their offense, then they will have a clear advantage but if the Spartan guards can control the game, tempo and get penetration, then this 5 game win streak & domination over the Spartans could be over.

 

[ball of fame]

Good insight but MV hasnt been play well at all.. Need 40 from Mitu to beat a weak Antioch team. Then needed overtime to beat a decent Castro Valley team, then needed a zone and bad shot selection from Berkeley in 2nd half to beat them. DLS on other hand has beaten their first two opponents the way they have should have, then defeat SRV who was playing really well coming into semi game... I think DLS wins by 6-8 points.. and both team will be heading to NorCal open division. Should be a great game in a great enviroment.

 

[larry legend33]

Ball of Fame
I agree with you completely. MV is not playing well and its all about momentum. DLS played well in the game against SRV they just missed a lot of shots so it looked ugly. I actually wouldn't call the SRV game a scare. SRV made a 60 foot heave at halftime to take a 3pt lead DLS was the far better team in the second half. I was at that game and I never thought DLS would lose. DLS took control early in the 3rd and never gave back the lead. Remember a 6-8 pt lead by DLS is a lot to overcome. DLS holds a lot of teams to that total in a qtr.

DLS is def D1 for Norcal but where does MV end up? State champion in D1 in 2014 and with there record, leage champs, and possible section title are they going to open? I don't know all the rules nor do I care to read bylaws so if somebody knows let me know. DLS D1 will be hard to beat in Norcals.

 

[RealisticParent]

I am with you Ball of Fame, I think the Spartans are playing much better then the Mustangs and I too think the Spartans win and win by double digits here. Ratinho is playing like the best player in this league and they will make everyone but LaShells and Mitu beat them.

 

[NorCalScout]

Larry, If I am not mistaken, Monte Vista overcame a 10-12 4th quarter lead at De La Salle to force overtime and then with by 5 in 2OT. I couldn't agree more, as I stated above, the Mustangs aren't playing their typical style of basketball that lead them to beat De La Salle twice, Woodcreek and Folsom earlier this year but they are playing well enough to win and be in the NCS Finals. How many teams can say they are playing some of their worst basketball of the year, yet they are in the NCS finals?

This team knows how to win close games. Freedom, San Leandro & Folsom each by 2 points, Woodcreek by 1 point. This team is battle tested and isn't afraid of the pressure associated with these kids of games. Jones is at his best when his team has their backs up against the wall. Tonight will be a huge test and I will go with the team that has dominated their opponent the last two seasons.

 

[kiddman32]

I'll have to watch this one online... GF is laid up with a bad leg... But I will be able to get to tomorrow's games at St. Mary's.

Anyway, I'll be rooting for DLS as always, but am having trouble believing the Spartans will win despite the fact they are currently playing quite a bit better overall than MV seems to be at the moment... Hard to go against the domination of the last 5 games, even though every game is new and different.

I'm not even gonna try to call this one... but...

GO SPARTY!!

 

[concrete17]

Originally posted by NorCalScout:
Larry, If I am not mistaken, Monte Vista overcame a 10-12 4th quarter lead at De La Salle to force overtime and then with by 5 in 2OT. I couldn't agree more, as I stated above, the Mustangs aren't playing their typical style of basketball that lead them to beat De La Salle twice, Woodcreek and Folsom earlier this year but they are playing well enough to win and be in the NCS Finals. How many teams can say they are playing some of their worst basketball of the year, yet they are in the NCS finals?

This team knows how to win close games. Freedom, San Leandro & Folsom each by 2 points, Woodcreek by 1 point. This team is battle tested and isn't afraid of the pressure associated with these kids of games. Jones is at his best when his team has their backs up against the wall. Tonight will be a huge test and I will go with the team that has dominated their opponent the last two seasons.

NorCalScout........good assessment but you overlooked one point.....

I am going to the game with concrete17 junior. When he is in the house he has seen a pretty good winning percentage by his Spartans. I made the mistake of not taking him to Carson in 2013 and we know what happened there. Flew him back from Chicago in 2014 to be sure no repeat in the State Bowl. So tonight I'm banking on his presence. And just to be safe I am wearing my weathered 2009 Championship shirt (that mrs concrete has thrown in the trash at least umpteen times).

We'll see who calls this correctly...you're well thought out intelligent arguments or my superstitious, mojo.
(Oh and not to push the point, this morning I found a dollar *Face Up* in Philz Coffee and when I looked up, some guy with a green MSU jacket walked by with a big Spartan head on the back.....just saying)

 

[NorCalScout]

I hate to say I told you so but I warned you what the outcome was going to be. It's hard to go against a team that has owned and dominated another team the way Jones and his Mustangs have dominated Allocco and his Spartans. Concrete17 junior and his winning percentage just took another hit. It's a great thing that De La Salle didn't make it to the open, or else we would be talking about 7 straight and 4 times in one year.

Good luck Spartans in D1, you and Sheldon wanted to be in with the Big Boys but it wasn't in the cards this year!!

 

[concrete17]

Originally posted by NorCalScout:
I hate to say I told you so but I warned you what the outcome was going to be. It's hard to go against a team that has owned and dominated another team the way Jones and his Mustangs have dominated Allocco and his Spartans. Concrete17 junior and his winning percentage just took another hit. It's a great thing that De La Salle didn't make it to the open, or else we would be talking about 7 straight and 4 times in one year.

Good luck Spartans in D1, you and Sheldon wanted to be in with the Big Boys but it wasn't in the cards this year!!

No embarrassment there......you looked deep into your glass basketball and made the correct call.

Impressive game, fast, good defense, great back and forth on the court. (Just didn't go the way I would have like to see) Gotta love the way Jones uses his player; they definitely believe in him. Not ready to say he's the better coach..........if the Spartans hit more free throws last couple games could've been a different outcome.
The way Mitu was hitting his shots he would've give Curry a run for his money in the All Star shootout. That kid was unbelievable; 36 of the Mustangs' 50 point belong to him. I could've worn every piece of good luck clothing, stuffed Spartan pillows in my shirt----front and back and turned concrete Jr into triplets and still not affected the outcome of his shooting. Glad I have got to see this kid play (do you know where he is thinking about college?)

I think the Jones--Allocco matchups are going to make for some great games in the future and a good rivalry between two good programs. Neither team is going to lay down and walk away. Definitely good luck to both teams.......hope to see both representing NorCal at Haas Arena.

 

[renegades10]

One can only wonder what happens if Asiasi was playing this season.

 

[NorCalScout]

Would it have really mattered? 6 in a row and I think 8 out the last 10 games have gone to a Jones coached team.

 

[larry legend33]

Jones as his # but lets not get carried away. Kid misses 2 FT's with 1/2 second left and game goes to MV. These games have been a total coin toss this year. Oh and if Asiasi plays this year I would make a case that DLS would be undefeated right now or maybe 1 loss. (they lost to Bishop Monty by 6). Asiasi was really the missing piece in the middle. You can't teach 6"5 255 with an NFL body in HS. There are athletes and then there are kids that come along once in a decade like him.

 

[NorCalScout]

Larry, no doubt about it, he is the missing piece and his size and strength is something I've been saying they've been missing all year. You can only play who is on your schedule with who's on your roster, no excuses needed. I think it was between De La Salle and San Ramon for the EBAL Championship and no one would have thought Monte Vista was going to compete for the title or at least I didn't with the loss of Rust (MVP), John & Jackson. I think next year will be a different story but fort the last few years, it's been impressive to say the least. Romeo missing those two free throws was critical, no doubt but that's why it's a part of the game. I am hoping he leads them to the State Finals, that would be a sign of a true leader & it couldn't happen to a nicer young man.

 

[NateThe great]

Oh my god. The missed FT excuse. You do realize that MVs Mitu missed the front end of a 1-1 with 12 or so seconds to go which could have given MV a 3 point lead.