MLK weekend is always a hotbed of phenomenal basketball, and tremendous league matchups, including huge rivalry games, start things off before a three-day weekend of showcase events.
No. 2 St. Ignatius (9-4, 2-1 WCAL) at No. 7 Serra (9-4, 1-2), Friday, 7:30 pm
Despite the fierce rivalry, these two teams have a lot in common. Both have overcome significant injuries in the post. Serra is without the services of 7-foot-1 Jack Wilson and 6-foot-6 Cade Rees for the entire season, while St. Ignatius won’t have 6-foot-6 Garrett Cason at all this year. Additionally, 6-foot-8 Sam Nangle has yet to appear in a game for the Wildcats and another 6-foot-8 junior, Neal Begovich, saw his first action in nearly a month in Tuesday’s win over Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Though the Padres won’t have Wilson or Rees, Parker McDonald, who hit the epic buzzer-beater to win last year’s Jungle Game, is starting to see significant minutes as he progresses from mononucleosis. Serra is also likely to have one more returning presence on Friday: PA announcer Bruce Anthony, who was visiting family on the East Coast last Friday when the Padres hosted St. Francis, just the third game the voice of Serra basketball has missed in 42 years.
No. 8 Riordan (11-2, 2-1 WCAL) at No. 9 Sacred Heart Cathedral (10-3, 1-2), Friday, 7:30 pm
Stopping James Chun and Je’Lani Clark was hard enough for Riordan’s opponents, but the Crusaders debuted a new weapon in Tuesday’s win over Serra as Zimbabwean transfer Watida Mukukula scored nine points in his debut after sitting out for a full year due to transfer rules. Mukukula adds to an already-deep bench that also includes David Sonnier and Donte Henderson.
On the other hand, Sacred Heart Cathedral has a great core, headlined by sophomore Bryce Monroe, who scored 28 points in Tuesday’s Bruce-Mahoney Game and picked up an offer from USF, but has yet to see much secondary scoring. E.J. Neal scored 18 on Tuesday and finished a rebound shy of a double-double, but the rest of the team combined for just 15 points and succumbed to St. Ignatius’ superior depth.
No. 3 St. Francis (11-2, 3-0 WCAL) at No. 13 Mitty (2-11, 0-3), Friday, 7:30 pm
There’s no doubt that Mitty can play with anyone. But can the Monarchs break through and get a win to jump-start things? Time is running out. Though Mitty doesn’t have a true center, Riley Grigsby can impact all facets of the game and Tim Kennedy has a deep group of guards at his disposal, including crafty passer Charles Meng and freshman Michael Mitchell.
While Logan Johnson, Maurice Wilmer and Roy Yuan headline the St. Francis lineup, depth has been crucial for the Lancers throughout their 11-game winning streak, with players like Matteo Fontana getting key minutes and rising to the occasion. With Tyler Manoa back in the fold after the U.S. Army All-American Game, coach Mike Motil has an even deeper lineup to work with.
No. 1 Bellarmine (11-2, 3-0 WCAL) at No. 12 Valley Christian (9-3, 0-3), Friday, 7:30 pm
Kendall Stubblefield scored 21 points on Tuesday as the Bells beat Mitty and will have a chance to showcase his wares against Valley Christian’s towering lineup. While the Warriors have lost all three of their WCAL games, all have been close until late. However, Bellarmine has done a great job of pulling away and avoiding late-game drama since an overtime win over St. Ignatius to open league play.
No. 21 Willow Glen (10-3, 3-0 BVAL Mt. Hamilton) at No. 10 Piedmont Hills (12-1, 3-0), Friday, 7 pm
The first huge clash in the BVAL will have effects felt throughout the section as Piedmont Hills is one of the prominent teams among a crowded field of Division I schools with a shot at the Open Division. Willow Glen is in an unusual position this year, as the Rams are part of a Division II field that isn’t likely to send three WCAL teams to the Open. Should Drew Marino’s side pull off the upset on the road, Willow Glen will start to get some consideration for the Open field. The Rams started league play by snapping a three-game losing streak with an overtime win over Leigh and won another tight game on Tuesday over Evergreen Valley. Max Moody scored 32 points against Leigh and is averaging 18.4 points per game.
No. 4 Sequoia (9-4, 1-0 PAL South) at Woodside (8-5, 1-0), Friday, 7:45 pm
Sequoia looked shaky in Wednesday’s win at Burlingame, a game that the Cherokees will need to use as a wakeup call for Friday’s rivalry game. Woodside led Aragon wire-to-wire on Tuesday behind 26 points from Gabe DeVitis. The Wildcats’ biggest obstacle will be the same one that every team facing Sequoia has had to deal with: trying to stop Ziggy Lauese. He record another double-double (20 points, 13 rebounds) in Wednesday’s win over Burlingame despite being heavily defended throughout the night.
No. 5 Menlo (10-1) vs. Mission (6-7), Saturday, 3 pm at Piedmont HS
The Piedmont MLK Classic schedule was altered to avoid rematches and lopsided blowouts, and it’s resulted in what should be a great matchup in the afternoon. Menlo will have a quick turnaround after Friday night’s game against Harker, facing a fast-paced Mission team that plays a much faster game than most of the Knights’ opponents. Mission will play Galileo on Friday, and when gametime rolls around Saturday, Arnold Zelaya’s team will need to find a way to stop 6’6 center Riley Woodson.
No. 11 Menlo-Atherton (7-4) vs. San Leandro (7-7), Saturday, 7:30 pm at Chabot College
After Friday’s trip to Carlmont, the Bears will have a quick turnaround for a showdown with an NCS Division I powerhouse. San Leandro will be coming in off a league game against Berkeley. M-A looked great in Wednesday’s win at Hillsdale but will be facing a Pirates squad that has faced a difficult schedule and owns an overtime win over Freedom.
While the Bears and Pirates haven’t faced any common opponents yet, San Leandro does have a February 9 game against a Mt. Eden team that M-A defeated by 20 last week. Against Hillsdale, James Beckwith scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half and Will Beasley led the Bears with 15.
