CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs 2020 Round 3 (Preview)
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs are in full swing now heading into the semi-finals. Sixteen teams have been narrowed to only four teams left in the contest. There have been some exciting competitive games, others that ended in blowouts, and…
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Continue ReadingThe CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs are in full swing now heading into the semi-finals. Sixteen teams have been narrowed to only four teams left in the contest. There have been some exciting competitive games, others that ended in blowouts, and one underdog team that has made it deep into playoffs. Congratulations to Sheldon, Rocklin, Weston Ranch, and Capital Christian for making it to this point. On Friday the 28th the two best teams in the bracket will square off for section champs. In this preview, I wanted to talk about one player from each team and how they can be a huge difference-maker in the semi-finals while also helping their team get the chance to win a championship come Friday.
I’ll begin with the game in the top of the bracket which is Sheldon high hosting Rocklin High. Both teams are sitting at 25-5 on the season and have several key players that make huge impacts every game. Sheldon comes into this game with all of their starting five back in the roster since a few were out for several games.
Xavion Brown; Sheldon; Senior:
Brown reminds me of a young Rajon Rondo.An excellent all-around player for Sheldon High, who will make an impact for his team on the college level with the potential to go pro in a few years. Xavion Brown is the player you want on your roster, this year he averaged 8.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.9 RPG while adding at least a block and a steal per game. Brown paired with Sheldon’s other star player Marcus Bagley gives the number one seed a steep advantage in terms of size and skill level. Although it is unwise to count out any team especially Rocklin, still you have to give the edge to this very talented team. Mainly because of players such as Brown. If Brown is able to outwork his opponent, then the outcome of the game will end in Sheldon’s favor. Look out for Xavion Brown to make a massive contribution.
Darrius Kendall; Rocklin; Senior; PG:
The Thunder will have a lot of work to do in this game going against an excellent team Sheldon High. No matter the odds, Rocklin has a chance at upsetting the number one seed with the help of their star players. Especially their captain and point man Darrius Kendall. Sheldon and Rocklin’s biggest strength are their big men Bagley and Reinecke who will both have their hands full trying to slow down the other. I believe this game will come down to whoever’s guards are up to the task and play lights out. Kendall has played very well all season and has a chance to put up a big game with the help of his tenacity on both sides of the floor paired with above-average shooting skills. Look for Kendall to have himself a night if Rocklin is to move on to the championship game.
The next matchup we have is Weston Ranch @ Capital Christian. So far in the playoffs, Weston Ranch has worked tirelessly to get to this point since coming in as the 14th seed. They will have their hands full against the number 2 seed Capital Christian who is ready to punch their ticket to the section championship.
Jordahn Johnson; Weston Ranch; Senior; Forward:
Johnson the uber-talented forward from Weston Ranch High School is the man to watch in their semi-final matchup with Capital Christian. In his senior season, Johnson averaged a nice stat line of 14.2 PPG, 11.0 RPB, and at least a steal and block per game. His biggest strength is playing around the rim which he should look to do frequently in this game if he wants his team to play for the championship. Johnson has a Charles Barkley-Esque game style which centers around playing close to the hoop and dominating the boards. These skills paired with a high motor allow Jordahn to dominate opposing players. The downside is that he was only able to play 12 games this season, but when healthy, you better get out of this man’s way. I suspect Weston Ranch to lean on Johnson in tight situations throughout the game.
Darrion Williams; Capital Christian; Sophomore; SG:
Darrion Williams might be the only non-senior on the list but that doesn’t take away a thing from his game. This kid can straight up play ball and is playing well for Cougars. The best part about Williams is that he still has two more years left to play in high school to further develop the decent skill set he already obtains. This year Williams averaged 11.2 PPG, 2.8 APG, 7.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.8 BPG which is a mighty impressive stat line for a kid supposed to be playing at JV level. I gather that the Cougars are going to depend on their youngster to play well in their semi-final matchup by putting up around 10 points while making crisp accurate passes, being active on the boards, and playing active defense. Look for Williams to make a huge impact in this game and possibly on the college level in a few years down the road.