Boys basketball: Modesto Christian was built just for this

Crusaders' schedule helped get them one win from D-IV title

By RICHARD T. ESTRADA
restrada@modbee.com

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SACRAMENTO -- Modesto Christian High basketball coach Gary Porter has always built his teams with the playoffs in mind, from the way he schedules to the way he develops his bench during the season.

The same is true this year, as he peppered the schedule with a variety of teams -- some quick to shoot, others slow to fire; some from the Bay Area, others from the Central Valley -- to test his stars as well as his role players.

The result? A talent-laden outfit that got stronger as the season progressed, and he hopes it pays off today in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV crown.

Modesto Bee - Modesto Christian's #1 Di Seeley drives toward the basket as he is guarded by Etiwanda's #23 Tre Brewer on Saturday evening (12-29-07) during the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic at Modesto Christian Senior High School in Modesto. Modesto Bee/ Joan Barnett Lee

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS

WHERE: Arco Arena, Sacramento
WHEN: Today
WHO: The boys and girls teams from Modesto Christian High will play for Division IV championships.
BOYS: Modesto Christian (25-4) vs. Colfax (27-2), 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS: Modesto Christian (27-3) vs. Christian Bros. (26-4), noon
BLOG: Not ready for a trip to Sacramento, or have commitments that will keep you close to home? Don't worry, The Bee will give you a front-row seat to all the action through Richard T. Estrada's blog at thehive.modbee.com/warningtrackpower. The courtside blog begins before the MC girls game, and will have detailed updates on the boys as well, all the way to the final buzzer.
THE FULL NELSON: MC STAR GETS FIRED UP

Reeves Nelson turned into a beast in a matter of moments in Wednesday's 122-100 semifinal win over Encina. Here's how it started -- and how he finished it:
With MC leading by 20 in the third quarter, the 6-foot-7-inch forward appears ready to dunk -- but 5-11 Derreq Knaules tips away the ball from behind before Nelson can put it through.
Seconds later, Nelson comes in from the side and gets ready to dunk. Knaules, unable to get the ball, slams his body into Nelson, nearly undercutting him. Nelson pops up and chest-bumps Knaules, who was standing over him. Nelson gets a technical, setting up the ensuing sequence.
Nelson has the ball in the open court, with three defenders guarding the basket. He jukes the first, wraps a dribble around his back to elude the second and finger rolls the ball into the basket over the third defender.
Nelson is loose again, with only Knaules protecting the basket. Nelson doesn't hesitate for a moment, unleashing a thunderous dunk that has Knaules backing away as quickly as he can.
To complete the trifecta of baskets, Nelson is the trailer on a fast break. When a teammate's layup rolls off the rim, Nelson soars over a defender to tip it in. The tip-in gives him 40 points -- he'd finish with a playoff-record 53 -- and MC a 87-68 lead.
-- RICHARD T. ESTRADA

The Crusaders (25-4) meet Colfax (27-2) at 3:30 p.m. at Arco Arena in Sacramento, gunning for a ninth consecutive title and 11th overall -- both section records.

Not only does it pit two of California's top D-IV teams -- MC is No. 3 in CalHiSports.com's poll and Colfax is No. 7 -- but it features defending section champs.

MC has moved up to D-IV after winning D-V last year, while Colfax won the D-IV crown in 2007.

It's also part of an MC doubleheader: Its girls (27-3) play Christian Brothers (26-4) and 6-foot Nevada-bound forward Brittany Woodard at noon for a D-IV title.

As good as MC's boys might be from top to bottom, Wednesday's 122-100 semifinal win over Encina showed its stars have the ability to overwhelm an opponent.

With two Pac-10 college recruits -- senior guard D.J. Seeley has committed to Cal and junior forward Reeves Nelson has said he'll go to UCLA after next season -- the Crusaders pose difficult matchups for many teams.

The 6-foot-7-inch Nelson had a playoff-record 53 points against Encina and his three-game total of 94 puts him within striking distance of the tournament record of 118, held by Bill Cartwright.

Nelson and Seeley combined for 83 points in a game that will go down as one of the most entertaining in section history -- postseason or on any other stage.

"As a coach, I would have liked to have seen more defense," said Porter, whose club is No. 3 in the CalHiSports.com state D-IV poll. "But after awhile, I sat back and enjoyed it. If they want to run, too, that's what we like to do."

Don't expect Colfax to try that. It has one of the section's best in 6-3 forward Scott Kyrzman, who averages 22 points a game, but it can't match MC's athleticism.