Really good game last nite. Salesian won 68-61, tied score with 210 left . SMS steal and missed uncontested layup. Two freshmen stood out for SMS , Tai Sherman and 6'5 Ashley Lewis . They are going to be really good. Amaya Oliver seems to be getting better also. Good game from Salesian.
SMS-Salesian
- Thread starter Passionatedad
- Start date
Watch out for SMS! They look like they are rounding into form just in time for playoffs. I agree, both of these freshmen point guard Sherman and center Lewis played really well last night. They definitely could have won this game last night if they finished well down the stretch. Their early season minutes with a tough schedule has helped their quick development. And with Amaya Oliver looking healthier each game, they will be very scary in playoffs. Last night at one time, they had lineup with Lewis 6'5, Oliver 6'2, Blount 6'0, Moss 5'11, and Sherman. Not sure how any other teams will get any rebounds with that lineup. Also with their press, so long and tall all across the court. Just when it looked like they might be beatable this year, I am not sure now if Folsom, Bear Creek or McClatchy has enough.
So where does this team get seeded for D1 SJS Sections is the big question? How can this team not be seeded 1 or 2? I don't think the Committee will be able to ignore their absolute dominance over the years to place them any lower than 1 or 2. Will be interesting. I personally would like to see a SMS/Bear Creek and Folsom/McClatchy semi-finals, both of those would be awesome games to watch. Looking forward to PLAYOFFS!
So where does this team get seeded for D1 SJS Sections is the big question? How can this team not be seeded 1 or 2? I don't think the Committee will be able to ignore their absolute dominance over the years to place them any lower than 1 or 2. Will be interesting. I personally would like to see a SMS/Bear Creek and Folsom/McClatchy semi-finals, both of those would be awesome games to watch. Looking forward to PLAYOFFS!
I was struck by Salesian's perimeter pressure on defense. person-to-person, full court. when you have a Stopper in the paint, you can play tight/deny/overplay/gamble for steal. at times SMS had trouble taking care of the ball. I'd say turnovers were the difference, no slight to SMS, Salesian was outstanding on defense. 10 steals v top-notch opponent.
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Were you at the game? St Mary's is the 4th best team in D1 SJS and likely the 7th best overall.
Wow you’re really excited! They just lost. Relax,Think we all know what teams and players you a fan of Lol
Not sure why I need to relax, just trying to give the other readers/fans on this site some knowledge about the game and team that passionatedad posted about. Maybe I should change my name to passionatedfan? If you would like to know, I am a big fan of all the high school girls basketball teams in the area. I think most of the readers on this blog are also huge high school girls basketball fans. If you have some knowledge of the teams and players, feel free to post your opinion. And if you want to get excited about it, that would be great. If you read many of my previous posts, you will see me giving love to lots of programs and girls. We are lucky to have such amazing girls basketball programs and players to watch in this area! And many of them deserve the praise in my opinion!
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Straightline, I'm curious as to what you are basing this on? Maxpreps rankings? Or from what you have seen with your own eyes? And why do you believe they are the 4th best team in SJS D1 and 7th best in the area? I would love to hear your opinions and some information behind your thinking this.
I watched last night in person. Salesian is not going to blow teams out. they are a ground and pound and the coach is very liberal with the bench. I think SM is okay and if they win the section I will be wrong. I don't have them better than McClatchy, Folsom, Bear Creek, Antelope or Sac High. They have some nice pieces but some are waaaay over rated.
I still think their future is bright because the young kids are definitely talented and heard their next class is even better.
I think if SMS makes it to the D1 section final they "should" be selected to the NorCal Open division, win or lose. This is based on their one dozen+ current consecutive years of winning a SJS section final. If SMS loses the SJS section final I would think that two D1 teams will go to the Open (D1 winner & runner-up). But if SMS wins section title then I can see D1 and D2 winners of the SJS selected to the Open.
SMS is definitely playing better than they have been. They still have problems with turnovers and consistency. Last night their biggest problem was I don't think they hit even one three pointer. Yet they were still in the game until the end. How they do will depend on if they chose to regress back or build off of their last few games.
I would not be ready to either crown them as section champs nor relegate them to fourth best team. Basketball is a game of matchups and timing. Lewis matched up really well against Jackson. It was just one game but it was Lewis's best showing of the year. She negated Jackson's scoring and rebounding when she was on her. Jackson did her damage when Lewis was off he court or not on her. I expected Lewis's size and height to be a factor, but was still surprised to how effectively she matched up with Jackson. Still it was only one game and It was hard to tell if Jacksons difficulty was due to an off game or Lewis's. Either way, Lewis still has a long way to go in her development, but one can see the potential.
I would not be ready to either crown them as section champs nor relegate them to fourth best team. Basketball is a game of matchups and timing. Lewis matched up really well against Jackson. It was just one game but it was Lewis's best showing of the year. She negated Jackson's scoring and rebounding when she was on her. Jackson did her damage when Lewis was off he court or not on her. I expected Lewis's size and height to be a factor, but was still surprised to how effectively she matched up with Jackson. Still it was only one game and It was hard to tell if Jacksons difficulty was due to an off game or Lewis's. Either way, Lewis still has a long way to go in her development, but one can see the potential.
A question: Should SMS' past success influence this year's NorCal placement?
My argument against: The players on this year's team should be the focus, and placing them in a bracket that might be too high for them just because players in years past were better seems really unfair. Aquira DeCosta/Jackie Gemelos/Chelsea Gray are not suiting up -- so why should their achievements impact this year's placement?
My argument against: The players on this year's team should be the focus, and placing them in a bracket that might be too high for them just because players in years past were better seems really unfair. Aquira DeCosta/Jackie Gemelos/Chelsea Gray are not suiting up -- so why should their achievements impact this year's placement?
Sac-Joaquin "Public" schools don't have much of a chance at the NorCal and statewide playoff level. The private schools operate at a whole different level. One off year doesn't rectify a generation of winning titles.
SJS Champs D1 Only:
2013 St. Mary’s Kennedy 63-47
2014 St. Mary’s Oak Ridge 77-53
2015 St. Mary’s McClatchy 78-55
2016 St. Mary’s St. Francis 94-58
2017 St. Mary’s McClatchy 73-57
2018 St. Mary’s Folsom 71-48
SJS Champs D2 Only:
2011 St. Mary’s Del Oro 70-65
2012 St. Mary’s McNair 67-42
SJS Champs D3 Only:
2004 St. Mary’s Hogan 82-48
2005 St. Mary’s Sacramento 83-59
2007 Sacramento St. Mary’s 74-71 (A loss)
2008 St. Mary’s Sacramento 81-68
2009 St. Mary’s Sacramento 72-65
2010 St. Mary’s Sacramento 75-45
rectify? didn't know an Open selection criterion was "rectification".
I'm hoping they're selected, but purely on merit. once SMS misses an Open, no team will ever have made every Open. never, forever.
I'm hoping they're selected, but purely on merit. once SMS misses an Open, no team will ever have made every Open. never, forever.
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Just because they’re not as good as many of their previous teams doesn’t mean they’re not still battle tested and one of the top teams in NorCal. I hope they make it on merit, but if the 8 seed is a toss up between SMS and some team with no chance that’s never sniffed an Open, They’d be an easy choice. If they don’t make the SJS finals, I’m sure we’ll see them in D1.
Oh past history of success is considered. Let us not kid ourselves. It may not be written but it is considered.
Hopefully SMS will find a way into the Open again this season. I like the fact they're the only program North or South that has made it into the Open every season of its existence. So based on that and the fact they are probably healthier than they have been all season if they make it to or win the SJS Section final(s) the fact they had key players injured and are not the same team that struggled without them, and are one of the top 8 teams ( if they prove to be that with convincing play in the SJS Section) then perhaps they will be worthy of the Open. Based on how healthy they are now and how they play when healthy. Obviously they could have been better with their starters Oliver and Nicole Young who's been out the whole season with a knee injury. Starting without the leadership of perhaps their two most experienced and best players I'm sure didn't help the freshman and sophomores they started while playing one of the toughest ( if not the toughest) schedules of anyone. I think their merit of play and the fact they are starting to build chemistry late is what will make this team worthy not just the past tradition which just adds to the fact IMO. But Open or not hopefully they keep pulling things together as a team and hit their stride in March. For that matter I wish the same to each and every team out there. It only makes the reward that much more special when everyone takes on the best of everyone else. I'm glad to see SMS starting to Jell. Good for them ! And congratulations to Salesian !
toughest? Salesian, Carondelet, BOD, Mitty & SHC might have something to say about that.
I think it was even tougher for SMS because they had perhaps their two best and most experienced players half injured or out most of the season. That makes a tough schedule even tougher. Not that BOD, SHC, and almost every other team hasn't faced a key injury. But SMS may have been left with the least experience players in terms of on the floor leadership. I think Salesian, Clet, Pinewood, and Mitty are already locks into the Open. Every team can't make it into the final 8 of the Open Division. And if the NCS is limited to the number they can place into the tournament it might leave the door open for the SJS Champion and/ or runner up. And I think SMS (if they hit their stride and win SJS section championship) will have as good or a better chance than BOD and SHC of getting selected into the Open. But best wishes to all of them and everyone else. Whether they get selected into the Open tournament or not hopefully all peak in March.
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please(eye roll)... you walk and in look at SMS and all you see if 6 ft+ athletic freaks...compare that to the other teams being OPEN considered...I dont care what issues or bad luck they have had...tougher? SMS? give me a break...
EVERYBODY deals with injuries..
EVERYBODY deals with sickness...
EVERYBODY deals with the teenage girl drama crap....
no one feels sorry for SMS... how about overcoming it like everyone else(with a 1/4 of their talent) has to attempt to every yr.
Heavin forbid they cant just roll the ball out and win games...game planning and coaching may have to be actually employed
EVERYBODY deals with injuries..
EVERYBODY deals with sickness...
EVERYBODY deals with the teenage girl drama crap....
no one feels sorry for SMS... how about overcoming it like everyone else(with a 1/4 of their talent) has to attempt to every yr.
Heavin forbid they cant just roll the ball out and win games...game planning and coaching may have to be actually employed
Truth will set you free! Very well said and those were BIG facts, yearly every team has their challenges. Strongly Agreed!
"please (eye roll)" That was funny !
Never said feel sorry for anyone. And people are free to hate whoever they want to hate because haters often do that anyway.
Just as people are free to root for whoever they feel like rooting for. I think it was fair to say SMS took on a tough schedule as they typically do years in and year out. And they have to deal with injuries and graduating top players like all other elite teams do which they are doing. That doesn't mean one can't point out facts since everything in the world happens for a reason.
As for having to coach and having to over come challenges I'm all for that too.
What initially got me to comment was on the fact I said if they can rebound late in the season and win the SJS Section they might get consideration for Open placement. And being the only program in the state that has been in the Open every year (whether folks like or hate that fact) it would be good IMO to see them keep the streak alive.
After taking a closer look at their season it will be hard to put them in the Open. But if they pull off big wins late who knows what the folks behind the Open selection decisions will do.
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In my early running for post of the year. perhaps I should do a weekly voting. This one is in the running.
I guess that decision will be left up to the selection committee as it always has been. I know I can live with whatever they decide. If they decide on a team or program that is disliked by some I wonder if those folks can also live with it.
I think people over look the fact that Moss (D1) and Blount(D1) have played Varsity since they were in HS. And Blount has played ALL YEAR and Moss has played Majority of games. Oliver and Young are additions. How many other programs can have D1 Players and are still getting excuses made for them are why not to be considered for the open. Lastly, I believe they were NOT in the Top bracket of the WCJ or Nike TOC as well as scheduling games like Pitman for non conference games. Save me with the regular SMS tough schedule stuff.
SMS is Open or BUST
SMS is Open or BUST
For the record, SMS strength of schedule is 22.2, fifth best in NorCal, just one-tenth behind BOD. Mitty's at 25.2, Salesian at 24.7 and Pinewood at 23.0.
Sacramento at 19.8, Heritage at 15.7, Antelope 13.6 for comparison.
Sacramento at 19.8, Heritage at 15.7, Antelope 13.6 for comparison.
I think it should be based mostly on this year's team, but not looking at past history is naive to me. It is part of the complete picture for a team (this year's talent, coaching staff, program pedigree).
Taking SMS for example, if they win SJS D1, are they not a Top 8 team?
There is no doubt to me if SMS wins the Section again for the 12th straight year, they are definitely a Top 8 team and will be going to the Open again (only team that has been in Open every year since it was started). Yes, they have 7 losses but to all very good teams. IMO, all their losses were to top teams. Now if they finish runner up in Section this year, then I think there is a chance they don't get selected for Open. Might depend on who wins D2 Section.
No question that if SJS wins D-1, they goes Open. But if SMS is the runner up, and it comes down to, say, them or Antelope or St. Joseph Notre Dame, I think the judgment has to be purely on this year. Now the other question is how to factor in injuries -- so do the losses without Oliver count as much?
But of course the committee doesn't know about injuries to other teams. What if Antelope lost a game with a girl playing with a bad ankle and playing poorly as a result? How does that kind of information get passed on to the committee?
But of course the committee doesn't know about injuries to other teams. What if Antelope lost a game with a girl playing with a bad ankle and playing poorly as a result? How does that kind of information get passed on to the committee?
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It probably depends on whether that girl went to the emergency room after the game. If so, boo hoo it doesn't matter. Right?
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