Modesto Christian, Central Catholic boys to host NorCal basketball openers

For seven Stanislaus District basketball teams, the 2015-16 season lives with a Northern California Regional championship a possibility.

The CIF released pairings Sunday afternoon for the Northern and Southern California Regional championships, and five teams from the Stanislaus District received a No. 2 seed or better.

Modesto Christian, which won a record 18th section championship Saturday night at Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena, was seeded second in the Open Division, with De La Salle-Concord earning the top spot.

The Crusaders (30-1), ranked No. 1 in Cal-Hi Sports’ NorCal poll ahead of De La Salle (28-2), will entertain No. 7 St. Francis-Mountain View on Friday at 7 p.m.

"At the beginning of the year, we wanted to be in a position to host Open Division games,” Modesto Christian coach Richard Midgley said. “Now, we’re in a position to host two and play a third at a neutral site. So we’re excited about the big games and big events we’ll be hosting.”

There’s a distinct possibility Modesto Christian will be forced to play at an off-campus facility. CIF rules stipulate that first-round NorCal games be played in gyms with a capacity for 1,400 spectators. Modesto Christian’s gym accommodates 800.

“I haven’t spoken with anyone at all from NorCal playoffs,” Modesto Christian athletic director Greg Pearce said. “It’s all going to come down to seating capacity and what gyms are available.”

Wherever they play, the Crusaders and Lancers (26-3) will be familiar with each other because they scrimmaged in the preseason.

Central Catholic (25-5), which captured the Division IV section crown Saturday for its first title since 1988, also earned a No. 2 seed and will take on No. 15 Kennedy-Richmond on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Raiders also may have to look for another place to play. Rules state Division IV first-round games must be played in a venue that seats at least 600, and Central Catholic’s gym holds a little more than 400, according to athletic director Billy Hylla.

Weston Ranch (27-4) and Manteca (25-6) – Valley Oak League rivals that squared off Saturday in the Division III final, with the Cougars earning a 69-57 victory – received the first and second seeds in Division III.

They’ll open with 6 p.m. games Saturday, as will Mariposa (24-4), which was given a No. 2 seed in Division V.

The Argonaut girls (19-10) were seeded eighth and Ripon Christian (15-12) are 10th in Division V, while Turlock Christian (20-9) was seeded seventh in Division VI. Both will open Wednesday at 7 p.m.

This story was originally published March 6, 2016 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Modesto Christian, Central Catholic boys to host NorCal basketball openers."