School size and CIF competitive equity formulas did little to slow down Branson this past basketball season, especially with the Bulls being led by six-foot-five Viktor Rajkovic, a player who was able to do everything needed on the court during a historic 31-win campaign.

Rajkovic averaged a double-double for the year, with 20 points and 11 rebounds per game, but it was his performance down the stretch which absolutely cemented his selection as the top player in the North Coast Section. In the NCS Division IV title game, he absolutely exploded against Fortuna, scoring 30 points to go with 14 rebounds as the school of 320 students stormed to a 63-43 win. Then, in the CIF NorCal Division I quarterfinals, he led Branson past CCS Open Division champion Sacred Heart Cathedral. The 52-47 victory in itself was amazing, and his 35-point, 14-rebound performance was jaw-dropping, leading Fighting Irish coach Sean McKay to remark that Rajkovic was the best player he had seen all year.

Many thought that the Bulls’ run might come to an end in the regional semifinals against Mission Valley powerhouse Moreau Catholic, but instead Rajkovic delivered again, this time pouring in 28 points to go with 19 rebounds and five assists as Branson coasted to a 68-44 victory and a berth in the regional final.

“(Viktor) was absolutely unbelievable,” Branson coach Jonas Honick told Prep2Prep’s Harold Abend after the win over the Mariners. “Even (Moreau coach) Frank Knight said he was the best player they had seen all season.”

That left the Bulls in a match-up with the largest enrollment school in Northern California, Mission Valley champion and NCS Division I finalist James Logan. Despite facing a school 10 times its own enrollment, and Rajkovic left to face double and even triple-teams during the contest, the standout senior managed 20 points and 11 rebounds to keep the Bulls in the game, giving them the lead on his field goal with 2:27 to go, but eventually falling in a five-point loss.

“We watched film on him all week, and we knew we had to stop him in order to have a chance,” commented James Logan senior Malcolm Steadman.

That kind of respect was earned during a year in which Rajkovic led the Bulls to an unbeaten campaign in the always-competitive Marin County Athletic League, and then captured the league title prior to the NCS championship run, winning 28 straight games along the way.

For his performances throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Viktor Rajkovic as the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Player of the Year.

Other players considered include James Logan’s Brett Thompson, Salesian’s Shane Bell and San Leandro’s Keshad Johnson.

When small-school Branson routed Moreau Catholic in the CIF NorCal Division I semifinals, it was win number 715 for coach Jonas Honick, a number which seems almost unfathomable in an age when we celebrate coaches who stick around to compile just 100 victories.

And unlike some other coaches who rack up milestone victories, such as Honick’s 700th victory, which came in January against Drake, his impressive totals continued to pile up during one of the most impressive seasons ever had by a small school in Northern California.

“When you think of it, 700 wins is kind of crazy,” Honick commented to Prep2Prep’s Harold Abend shortly after reaching the milestone. “But the reason I am doing this is not about my coaching victories. I have information and knowledge that I feel strongly about passing on to the next generation.”

What makes Honick’s totals even more amazing is that he took an eight-year hiatus from coaching before coming back three years ago. His three years back at the helm now include three straight North Coast Section titles for the Bulls, and this year included an amazing run to the CIF NorCal Division I title game before falling to a James Logan team hailing from a school over 10 times the enrollment of Branson.

“This was a three-year project,” Honick told Abend, after also being selected as the Cal-Hi Sports Coach of the Year. “This year, we put it all together, and to go to the NorCal Division I final is a significant accomplishment.”

Indeed, this year was full of significant accomplishments for Honick, whose Branson team won 31 games, went 16-0 in the MCAL, captured the league tournament and then won the NCS Division IV tournament, playing up in divisions there as well due to the section’s competitive equity bylaws.

For his efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Jonas Honick as the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Coach of the Year.

Other coaches considered include James Logan’s Mel Easley, Fortuna’s Tony Miles and Campolindo’s Steven Dyer.

Thomas Gregorious

Viktor Rajkovic

Brett Thompson

Keshad Johnson

Shane Bell

Jaden McClanahan

Robby Beasley

Tim Kostolansky

Will Chavarin

JoVon McClanahan

Julian Vaughns

David Ahazie

Max Anderson

Brah’Jon Thompson

Nate Rutchena

Gabriel Hawkins

Ezra Manjon