MC hoops squads head separate ways

Modesto Christian High fans have a decision to make tonight: a short drive to the Salida campus to see the boys play a heavy underdog, or a 230-mile haul up Interstate 5 to see the girls face a team that looks much like them.

With gas at $3.50 a gallon, it could be as much a financial decision as anything. While MC is expecting a sold-out gym for the boys, the girls likely will play in front of a handful of supporters.

That's the price they'll pay for falling into a 19-point hole and not being able to climb out in Saturday's Sac-Joaquin Section final. The loss pushed the girls (27-4) into the No. 5 seed and led to the long trip to face Northern Section-champion Anderson (23-4) at 7 p.m.

The boys (27-4) earned a No. 2 seed and the right to host No. 7 Palma of Salinas (20-8), also tonight at 7. The Crusaders also would host a semifinal game Thursday should they beat the Chieftains.

Three NorCal teams are prominent in CalHiSports.com's Division IV state poll: No. 2 St. Mary's of Albany (30-1), No. 3 MC (27-4) and No. 5 Kennedy of Richmond (26-5), MC's likely semifinal foe.

Palma has a duo that matches up with 6-foot-7-inch Reeves Nelson and 6-2 D.J. Seeley better than anyone the Crusaders saw in the section playoffs, but that doesn't mean it has an edge.

"We don't have Division I players, so we need to slow down Modesto Christian," Palma coach Paul Alioto said. "We need to keep it in the 60s to get a chance to win."

MC, averaging 85 points per game, scored a section playoff-record 122 against Encina in the semifinals. Nelson scored a playoff-record 53 points -- on his way to setting a tournament record with 121 total -- and Seeley had 30.

"We played against Nelson a few summers ago and faced Seeley two years ago," Alioto said. "The transition game is difficult to stop because the big kid gets the rebound and leads the break, and that gives everyone else a half-step head start on the defense."

Alioto said it's too late to shift to zone -- his Chieftains play tight man defense -- so 6-8 Clark Fox will look to contain Nelson around the hoop and 6-foot John Bonano will guard Seeley when he slashes in the key.

While MC's boys are projected to play in Saturday's regional final at Folsom High, the girls will need a few upsets on the road.

Four ranked teams are in Division IV -- No. 3 Justin-Siena (27-3) of Napa, No. 4 St. Patrick-St. Vincent of Vallejo (24-5), No. 5 Valley Christian of San Jose (26-6) and No. 9 Christian Brothers of Sacramento (27-4) -- so MC got a nice first-round draw, even if it does mean a four-hour bus trip.

Anderson matches up with MC in the front court with two 6-footers to counter Jessica Graham and Lauren Lucchesi. The Cubs' Amranille Rowland and Molly Morton combine for 34 points and 19 rebounds a game, but the best matchup may be MC's Brandi Henton and Anderson's Megan Remley in the backcourt.

"We've got two 6-footers, but our big girls can get out and run, too," said Anderson coach Jeff Osborne, whose club averages 60 points per game and a 23-point margin of victory. "Megan is a good 3-point shooter, and she gives us that outside shooting."

Anderson is 19-2 over its last 21 games, losing twice to Northern Section D-III champ West Valley.

"We won the section two years ago but got upset last year," Osborne said. "Our girls think this is our year to make up for that."