Sac-Joaquin Section Boys Championship roundup: Modesto Christian, Whitney, Sacramento, Marysville among winners

Preparing for the big dance, SJS crowns six boys champions over grand two-day event at Golden 1 Center

Six boys games over two days at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento and six new champions.

The Sac-Joaquin Section finals mean the winner gets to clutch, savor and later hoist a blue banner. All of the championships jumped and cheered - except one.

• SEE ALL BRACKETS/RESULTS FROM SJS BOYS PLAYOFFS

That was Modesto Christian. The state-wide powerhouse is saving energy for the CIF Northern California and state finals.

Division 1

No. 3 Modesto Christian 79, No. 4 Jesuit-Carmichael 53 — The Crusaders, top-ranked all season in Northern California but oddly seeded low here, rolled behind guard play and rebounding.

• SEE FULL GAMER/PHOTOS

BJ Davis and Jalen Brown scored 27 and 19 points, respectively, and the defending champions outrebounded the Marauders 47-15. That's no typo. MC (26-6) had more offensive rebounds - 19 - than Jesuit had rebounds to win their 21st SJS crown.

Andrej Stojakovic had 17 points for Jesuit (26-5).

BJ Davis did it all for Modesto Christian. Photo: Ralph Thompson

Division 2

No. 7 Whitney-Rocklin 61, No. 13 Granite Bay 56 — Ely Willis scored 15 points, Elijah Samdahl 11 and Matt Schroeder 11 lead the Wildcats to the program's second championship under coach Nick French in a game that had 11 ties and 15 lead changes.

Yaqub Mir had 27 points for Granite Bay.

Division 3

No. 2 Sacramento 66, No. 1 Vanden-Fairfield 61 — Senior captain Mike Wilson led the way beyond his 12 points, and Kendahl Hearne had 17 and Sir Marius Jones had 17 and seven assists to lift the Dragons to their eighth championship and first since 2016.

The 25-7 Dragons are coached by Matt Johnson, an alum of the school in his first year heading the program. He won a section title in 2006 with the program.

Division 4

No. 3 Marysville 65, No. 4 Calaveras 63 — Undersized but plenty quick, the Indians won their first championship in 30 seasons and third overall.

Joshua Brown had 26 points for Marysville, which has won 24 consecutive games and is 29-3. Kayden Ellyson had 11 points and Amrin Mann 12 to hold off Calaveras, in a final for the first time in 40 years.

Division 5

No. 2 Ripon Christian 58, No. 1 Fortune-Sacramento 54 — Eli Terpsma scored 19 points, Thys Van Der Hoek had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Jace Beidleman had 15 rebounds to lift the Knights to their 12th championship.

In just its fourth year in basketball, Fortune was led by brothers Tyree Rose (13 points) and Tyrece Rose (11) and by Christian Barrett's 18.

Division 6

No. 3 Valley Christian-Roseville 72, No. 4 Sacramento Waldorf 29 — Ian Glapshy had 16 points, Chase Clary 14 and Chris Donker had seven points and 14 rebounds for the Lions, who won their first championship to move to 22-8.

Waldorf, coming off a win over top-seeded Stone Ridge Christian-Merced, suffered a blow early in the game when leading scorer and rebounder Eli Neuhaus went down with a bad ankle. VCA went on a 40-8 run to take control.