Boys Sac-Joaquin Section Basketball Playoff Brackets | News

SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Sac-Joaquin Section released the boys basketball playoff brackets on Sunday, where there was some new blood topping each Division.

The Sheldon Huskies, Antelope Titans, Foothill Mustangs highlighted Division I-III, while Modesto Christian took their familiar top spot in Division IV. All will compete over the next two for the right to play for each Division Section Championship, which will be held in Sacramento at Power Balance Pavilion on Mar. 2 and 3.

Below is a look at each Division bracket and the first round matchups to kick-start the playoffs.

Division I:  CIF SAC-JOAQUIN BOYS DIVISION I BRACKET:

The defending Division I Section champion Sheldon Huskies regain the number one seed after an impressive 22-5 overall record and 9-1 Delta River league record. The Huskies stole the top seed for defeating the second seeded Jesuit Marauders twice in the regular season. Sheldon defeated Jesuit 88-70 in January and then narrowly beat them again 71-70 to begin February.

Elk Grove's Franklin Wildcats (21-5, 9-1) take the third seed in a very competitive Division I bracket consisting of the No. 4 West High School (22-5) out of Tracy, No. 6 Pleasant Grove (21-5), and No. 7 Kennedy (20-7).

The Wildcats were the only team this season to defeat the Antelope Titans, Division II's top ranked team, in a 64-54 victory in December - in their second game of the year.

The Division's semifinals will be held Wednesday, February 29 at Power Balance Pavilion.

Division II:  CIF SAC-JOAQUIN BOYS DIVISION II BRACKET

The Antelope Titans were quite possibly the Sac-Joaquin Section's most dominant team this season. Owners of a 26-1 overall record and 10-0 in the Capital Athletic League, the Titans lone defeat came against the aforementioned Wildcats.

Titans head coach Robert Richards leads a team who has won 25 straight and averaging over 65 points per game. Junior Gabe Bealer leads the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game and 6-foot-6 junior Isaiah Ellis is a monster on both ends of the floor, scoring 12.2 points per game and has blocked 74 shots this season - averages 2.7 swats per game and has game-highs of six blocks in four games this season.

Also highlighting Division II is the Sacramento Dragons (22-5, 14-0) as the second seed, Stockton's No. 3 McNair (20-4), No. 4 Bella Vista (23-4), and an impressive No. 6 Del Campo Cougars (22-5).

The Division's semifinals will be played Wednesday, February 29 at Power Balance Pavilion.

Division III:  CIF SAC-JOAQUIN BOYS DIVISION III BRACKET: 

The feel-good team of the season has to be the 24-3 Foothill Mustangs, who went undefeated in the Pioneer Valley League. They defeated No. 3 Center two out of three times and it seems likely they will meet up again in the Section Championship at Power Balance Pavilion on Mar. 2.

In the lower part of the bracket, Center will have to get by Manteca's red-hot Sierra Chieftains (21-5) who are the Division's second seed. Sierra has yet to face Center, but fell short to the Mustangs by 20 earlier at mid season.

The Division III semifinals will be held Tuesday, Feb 28 at Cosumnes River College in South Sacramento.

Division IV:  CIF SAC-JOAQUIN BOYS DIVISION IV BRACKET:

Modesto Christian heads into the Division IV Section playoffs as the top seed with a 22-5 overall record and an undefeated 12-0 record in the Trans Valley League, a spot very familiar to the school which has a tradition of success. After winning a state championship in 2004, the Crusaders have won a section title in every year since - until last season when they fell to Amador in the semifinals. They have only been in D-IV since 2008, but the Section titles remain.

Second seeded Bret Harte (22-4, 15-0) of Angels Camp is the favorite to challenge the Crusaders in the Section Championship. The D-IV semifinals will take place Wednesday, Feb. 29 in Lodi at Tokay High School, before the Section Championship takes place at Power Balance on Saturday, Mar. 3.

Division V:  CIF SAC-JOAQUIN BOYS DIVISION V BRACKET:

Sacramento's Capital Christian Cougars (22-5, 9-1) take the top seed in Division V. The Cougars were riding a 15 game winning streak before dropping their final game of the season, 51-38 to Lindhurst (21-6) - D-III's fourth seeded team. 

Second seeded Central Catholic (22-5) of Modesto and No. 4 Sacramento Waldorf (25-3, 12-0) are expected to challenge the Cougars for the Section Championship. Those teams and No. 4 Ripon Christian earned first round byes in D-V.

The semifinals will be held at Galt High School on Wednesday, Feb. 29 and the Section Championship will take place on Friday, Mar. 2 at Power Balance Pavilion.

Division VI:  CIF SAC-JOAQUIN BOYS DIVISION VI BRACKET:

Only two games will take place prior to the Division VI Section Championship, to be held Thursday, Mar. 1 at Galt High School.

Carmichael's Victory Christian secured the top seed after a 17-5 overall record. No. 2 Sacramento Adventist and No. 3 of New Life Christian of Marysville, round out the top seeds in the bracket. 

By Sean Cunningham, SCunningham@News10.net
Twitter: @News10Sean