Velasco’s 22 points power Escalon past Calaveras in D-IV section playoffs
Arianna Velasco is primarily a softball player now but basketball was the first sport she played.
She has racked up softball interest from Division I schools and has plans for a visit early this spring. She does countless drills and plays nearly year-round with the Sorcerers travel ball organization, going to different states to play in front of college coaches.
But in the winter she’s not on the diamond, she’s in the gym running the Escalon High offense in her No. 11 jersey, pink, purple and white customized Sabrina Ionescu 3 signature shoes and McDavid knee pads.
“Basketball has always been there,” she said. “It was a hard decision which (sport) I wanted to pick, but I’m glad I can still play here in high school.”
On Thursday for the second game in a row, she was the driving force in the Cougars to a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoff win. The No. 4 Cougars hosted No. 5 Calaveras with Madi Babasa, a key member of their team, sidelined. In the Cougars’ 49-24 win, Velasco scored 22 points and assisted on a handful more as Escalon advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals next week. With the win, the Cougars also punched their ticket in the CIF Northern California Regional Playoffs that begin after next weekend’s section championships.
Velasco picked up a basketball before she picked up a softball bat.
She joined a rec league in Escalon and played for a while but wanted a more competitive environment so she joined a travel team.
Her development took a jump during the COVID pandemic. While at home, she spent hours in the garage dribbling a basketball. Between the legs, behind the backs, hesitations. After COVID, she got a trainer and trained in the park. Working on moves she pulled out to navigate through double teams in the Cougars’ first two playoff games.
“I think that’s where my ball-handling skill comes from, honestly,” she said.
Teams tried everything they could to stop Velasco, bringing out full-court man-to-man, double teams and triangle-and-2 defenses. In the first round, Venture Academy sent the double team when Escalon gained the first possession after the opening tip. Thursday, Calaveras brought out two to three different defenses in the second half alone. But nothing worked.
Velasco made a pair of 3-pointers and went 12-for-14 from the free-throw line. The team’s leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, Velasco helped seal the game how only she could. With seconds remaining, she drove left and when three defenders collapsed, she dished a pass to Jayci Trimble for a layup. Six other Cougars scored in the game; at least four scored off a Velasco pass.
“When we’re watching film, when I talk to her at practice and try to get in her brain and see how she’s feeling, she just has this different look in her eyes, like she’s ready to put the team on her back,” head coach Joe Dalpogetti said. “She doesn’t want the season to be over.”
The Cougars led early, going up 11-4 after the first quarter before breaking the game open in the second frame. They switched from man to a 2-3 zone defense to preserve energy and forced the Red Hawks to take tough shots. Dalpogetti says they struggled to secure rebounds, but the team did a good job collapsing and contesting any putback attempts Calaveras took. The Cougars allowed an early 3-pointer, but those were the only points they allowed in the frame. With 5 minutes, 42 seconds left, Velasco pushed the ball up the court and dropped off a pass to Avery Bartelink for a layup to put the Cougars ahead 15-7.
Velasco went on a 5-0 run with a three and a pair of free throws to make it a 20-7 game. A pair of Bartelink free throws gave Escalon a 22-7 halftime lead. It was more of the same in the third quarter. With 1:17 left, Escalon led 28-11 and after back-to-back threes, held a 34-11 advantage after the third quarter. Velasco opened the fourth with a corner three and they never let up, winning the No. 4 vs No. 5 matchup that was expected to be competitive.
“The computer would probably have it as a coin flip but I think playing at home is big,” Dalpogetti said. “You never know what the committee is going to do, but playing at home has got to be worth 10 points.”
Velasco says she’s been having more fun than ever playing basketball recently.
Her team relies on her more than ever, but she believes pressure is a privilege. She relies on them too, and they delivered Thursday every time she needed them.
“I’ve always had trust in them. I love my teammates, I just want to give them opportunities,” Velasco said. “I feel like my job is to help them get open and playmake for them. I know if I get them the ball, they’ll finish.
“I’ve never felt so energized playing with another group. I’m really pumped up for this. This is a really exciting playoffs.”
The Cougars play a familiar opponent in Tuesday’s semifinal when they travel to No. 1 Central Catholic at 7 p.m. The two sides played twice this season in non-league tournament championships when the Raiders won 42-31 at the tournament at Escalon and 62-35 25 days later in the MST Gallo Tournament championship.
“They’re super tough, they’re well-coached, they’re disciplined, they’re super athletic, we learned that the hard way twice,” Dalpogetti said. “I have a lot of respect for coach Allison and what she’s got going on over there.
“I know we’ve lost twice, but we’re going to prepare like we prepare for everybody. That’s what I’m preaching to this team is to fall in love with the preparation.”
Stanislaus District girls basketball quarterfinals
Division III
No. 3 Lathrop 60, No. 11 Ceres 52: The Bulldogs nearly pulled off their second playoff upset this season but fell by just eight points to the No. 3 team in the D-III bracket. Lathrop and Ceres are WAC opponents, so Thursday night’s meeting was their third matchup this season and the closest one of the 2025-26 campaign. With the win, Lathrop continues to be the only undefeated team in the Sac-Joaquin Section, advancing to 30-0. Ceres finishes the season 17-12 overall and 9-5 in WAC play.
Division IV
No. 1 Central Catholic 65, No. 8 Sutter 39: The Raiders kept their dream season alive as the No. 1 seed in Division IV. They scored at least 65 points for the second straight game and kept Sutter under 40 points. The Raiders advance to next week’s semifinal where they host fourth-seeded Escalon at 7 p.m.
Division V
No. 2 Faith Christian 58, No. 7 Ripon Christian 37: Faith Christian’s season continues as the Lions advance to the Division V semifinals with a win over visiting Ripon Christian. The Knights’ season ends at 10-16 overall and a 4-8 Trans-Valley League record.
