With many North Coast Section teams look for a chance at grabbing illustrious state titles, the tough question remains - will they be able to "run California" or will Southern California's dominance continue on like it has in recent years?
Bishop O'Dowd appears to be the one NCS team that has a shot at coming through in the Open Division. But if it makes it to the state title game, it would have to face the nation's number one team in Mater Dei-Santa Ana.
O'Dowd made the NCS championship game appear effortless (in the second half). It routed ElCerrito 89-69 after only leading by two at the half. Ivan Rabb led the Dragons with 30 points and is rated as the No. 3 recruit nationally in the 2015 class by ESPN.
O'Dowd has lost just four games, with one of them being to Mater Dei, 63-59.
If O'Dowd hopes to squeeze by Mater Dei, it will have to be able to defend the magnificent Stanley Johnson. Ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit by ESPN for 2014, Johnson is committed to Arizona. Johnson is averaging 25 points per game this season.
Nevertheless, the Dragons are a logical pick to win NoCals after losing to Modesto Christian in its first game during regionals, 57-42. Its toughest tests in NorCal this year will be Mitty and Capital Christian, both of whom are state ranked.
Monte Vista is the other NCS team vying for a state title. The Mustangs defeated Freedom 57-41 in the NCS Division 1 championship.
A state title will be just as difficult for Monte Vista. They would likely face Centennial, Chino Hills, El Camino, Loyola, Long Beach Poly or Mayfair. All of those Southern California schools are state ranked and have the talent level and coaching to claim a state title.
One of Monte Vista's goals -winning NCS- has been achieved. It wants more; it wants to bring glory to Alamo.
"Win NCS, NorCals, and make an appearance to win the state championship," said Monte Vista guard and Cal Poly commit Trevor John.
There could be a potential rematch with San Ramon Valley in the state quarterfinals (NorCal semis). They were the one team to defeat the Mustangs all season after Jerry Karczewski hit the game-winning three, turning the city of Danville on its ear.
Rematches with Freedom and De La Salle are possible too - both teams that Monte Vista has swept this season. It defeated Freedom by an average of 16.5 points and De La Salle by an average of four points.
Moreau Catholic, having just won the school's first ever NCS title, will be competing in Division 4 having secured a first-round bye.
"Our goal is to win a state championship," said Moreau guard Brandon Lawrence.
Just following the school's NCS championship, being able to achieve the state goal that they've been talking about is even more difficult.
Moreau would likely face either Bishop Montgomery or Sierra Canyon in the state championship (if it gets that far). Bishop Montgomery is ranked 12th. in California while Sierra Canyon is 5th.
Southern California has been on a tear recently, and that will likely not change anytime soon. But with the high-caliber boys teams in NCS, every team believes it has a shot to claim a state title.
As far as the NCS girls, O'Dowd probably would have been the team most likely to win a state title - but of course that opportunity has been lost because of the Dragons' disqualification from the tournament for a clerical error regarding its schedule.
NCS girls teams who could make some noise are No. 1 NorCal Open seed St. Mary's-Albany (26-7), No 2. Open seed Cardondelet (27-3) and No. 4 Salesian (27-6); No. 1 D-I seed Deer Valley (23-5); No. 4 D-II seed Clayton Valley (23-7); and No. 3 D-III seed Encinal (21-7).
