I'll be at Santa Clara Saturday, but I might as well chime in on all the divisions:
Open
Woodcreek v. Sheldon, Round 2! The first game two weeks ago looked like it might be a disappointment, with too many fouls called affecting the pace of the game badly and putting Brown on the bench for long intervals. However, things changed bigtime when Brown returned to action with 2 minutes left in the 3rd period despite having 4 fouls (two, maybe three, were completely bogus calls). The game picked up speed and the refs let the players play. And play they did! Brown was a beast inside, and Sheldon countered by cranking up their famous pressure D and hitting more shots. In other words, both teams stepped it up!
I'll go with Woodcreek to repeat, this time 70-67.
Div. 1:
Paly v. Logan. Both teams on a roll right now, and very similar records and schedule strength. Logan's big man may be the difference, but I'll go against my own "logic" and take Paly to continue its bracket-busting ways, 60-58
Div. 2:
St. Francis v. Moreau. These two love the running-game and would like to get ino the 80's or 90's. Just might happen, too. Interestingly, I saw the St. Francis-Paly game back in December, one of the better games of the year, and here they are in the Finals of two different divisions. Anyway... I'll pick Moreau to pull the slight upset on the road. Let's try 88-82 for a score.
Div. 3:
Mission v. Vanden. I saw Mission when they beat Central Catholic in double-OT at the Piedmont Showcase in January. At the time, I thought "pretty good, but not great"... But they just keep on winning... I saw Vanden beat St. Francis impressively at the El Cerrito tournament and their OT loss to Sheldon. My eyeballs say Vanden, but Mission just finds a way. The Bears need to avoid a showing like in their only loss (52-31 to Monte Vista, who Vanden beat by 5), and if they do they sure have a shot... But I'll go with Vanden here, 67-59.
Div. 4:
We finally get to a team I haven't play this year, Palma. They host an athletic St. Pat's squad. Palma split 2 games just 4 days apart (and apparently both at home) with HMB, and St. Pat's went to HMB and won by 12. They also both beat Piedmont, but St. Pat's won quite a bit more easily.
Gotta go with St. Pat's in this one... 66-55.
Div. 5:
Whaddayknow... here's another team I haven't seen, St. Francis of Watsonville. Never even *heard* of this school till late last season... So, I have to go with common opponents... St. F beat Argonaut 69-62, and Elliot blew them out 83-53 in the Sac section finals, a game I saw. Watching that game, my thoughts were "That's a state title team!". I'll stick with that even though it's at the other guys' place... Elliot 73-60.
Open
Woodcreek v. Sheldon, Round 2! The first game two weeks ago looked like it might be a disappointment, with too many fouls called affecting the pace of the game badly and putting Brown on the bench for long intervals. However, things changed bigtime when Brown returned to action with 2 minutes left in the 3rd period despite having 4 fouls (two, maybe three, were completely bogus calls). The game picked up speed and the refs let the players play. And play they did! Brown was a beast inside, and Sheldon countered by cranking up their famous pressure D and hitting more shots. In other words, both teams stepped it up!
I'll go with Woodcreek to repeat, this time 70-67.
Div. 1:
Paly v. Logan. Both teams on a roll right now, and very similar records and schedule strength. Logan's big man may be the difference, but I'll go against my own "logic" and take Paly to continue its bracket-busting ways, 60-58
Div. 2:
St. Francis v. Moreau. These two love the running-game and would like to get ino the 80's or 90's. Just might happen, too. Interestingly, I saw the St. Francis-Paly game back in December, one of the better games of the year, and here they are in the Finals of two different divisions. Anyway... I'll pick Moreau to pull the slight upset on the road. Let's try 88-82 for a score.
Div. 3:
Mission v. Vanden. I saw Mission when they beat Central Catholic in double-OT at the Piedmont Showcase in January. At the time, I thought "pretty good, but not great"... But they just keep on winning... I saw Vanden beat St. Francis impressively at the El Cerrito tournament and their OT loss to Sheldon. My eyeballs say Vanden, but Mission just finds a way. The Bears need to avoid a showing like in their only loss (52-31 to Monte Vista, who Vanden beat by 5), and if they do they sure have a shot... But I'll go with Vanden here, 67-59.
Div. 4:
We finally get to a team I haven't play this year, Palma. They host an athletic St. Pat's squad. Palma split 2 games just 4 days apart (and apparently both at home) with HMB, and St. Pat's went to HMB and won by 12. They also both beat Piedmont, but St. Pat's won quite a bit more easily.
Gotta go with St. Pat's in this one... 66-55.
Div. 5:
Whaddayknow... here's another team I haven't seen, St. Francis of Watsonville. Never even *heard* of this school till late last season... So, I have to go with common opponents... St. F beat Argonaut 69-62, and Elliot blew them out 83-53 in the Sac section finals, a game I saw. Watching that game, my thoughts were "That's a state title team!". I'll stick with that even though it's at the other guys' place... Elliot 73-60.
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