NCS basketball
Girls Division I final a matchup of thoroughbred teams
The top-seeded Monte Vista Mustangs will host the No. 2 seed James Logan Colts on Friday for the North Coast Section Division I title. Both teams are headed to the NorCal Regionals, win or lose. James Logan took care of San Leandro 57-47 and Monte Vista defeated Dublin 47-33 in the semifinals. Monte Vista and James Logan have clearly been the best teams in D-1. The teams have won all six of their games (three apiece) by no fewer than 10 points each. James Logan (19-7) put three players in double figures Tuesday night, led by Arshiya Ranjitkar’s 14 points. Hilary Golfo and Kiara White each scored 12. White also had 11 rebounds. Aunika Hornung had 14 rebounds. Monte Vista will take a 20-9 record into the championship game. Against Dublin, the Mustangs got a double-double from Alexis Woodson with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Sarah Brans had 14 points and five assists. – Mike Lefkow
Alhambra girls: Dark Horse no more
A fairly compelling story is developing at Alhambra, where the Bulldogs have guaranteed themselves a spot in next week’s NorCal Regionals after going on the road and beating West County 51-45 Tuesday night. Alhambra is 23-6 and has won 11 of its last 12. The Bulldogs came in as the No. 6 seed in Division III of the North Coast Section playoffs. Neither team led by more than nine points. Alhambra got 14 points from Lexie Lipary. Just as important were the combined 22 rebounds by Rylee Adam-Barnes, Desie Armstrong and Skyler Parker against a tough West County front line. The Bulldogs were without a coach until a month before the season started when Anthony Ertola stepped in. It took another week for the Bulldogs to secure a place to practice. They will have to wait a day to learn their opponent in the D-III finals. The San Marin at Moreau Catholic game was pushed back until Wednesday night. Moreau Catholic is the No. 1 seed, San Marin is No. 4. Ertola, by the way, is the son of former Alhambra AD Pat Ertola. – Mike Lefkow
Elsewhere in basketball
The Piedmont boys lost a close one to Branson 57-55 at Novato High School in a Division III semifinal. Piedmont is 17-11. No. 2 seed Branson visits top seed St. Patrick-St. Vincent on Saturday for the D-III crown. … In Division V, the third-seeded Athenian boys topped No. 2-seed Head-Royce 47-38. No. 3 Athenian (19-3) hosts fourth-seed Urban (17-11) for the D-V championship on Friday. … In girls D-V, No. 1 seed Mt. Diablo (23-5) was humbled by No. 5 seed University-San Francisco 78-46. – Mike Lefkow
Soccer
Not a lot of action in the NCS playoffs Tuesday, with only the Divisions II and III boys playing. Richmond and Bishop O’Dowd battled to a 1-1 tie in the Division II semifinals, then Richmond won on penalty kicks 3-1. It advances to the championship game on Saturday at noon at Redwood High’s Troppman Field. Redwood, the No. 1 seed, is 17-3-3. Third-seeded Richmond is 17-2-1. …The Acalanes boys lost to Marin Academy 1-0 in Division III. The fifth-seeded Dons were 10-6-8. – Mike Lefkow
Source: www.mercurynews.com