SAN LEANDRO — Saturday night’s 80-70 win over Central Valley powerhouse Modesto Christian in the NorCal Ultimate Challenge at San Leandro High proved Salesian hasn’t missed a beat.
Since graduating a talented senior class that led the Pride to the CIF Open Division championship game last season, Salesian has reloaded and is ready for another crack at a state title.
“The goal is the Open State championship,” said junior guard Elias Obenyah, who scored 19 points in Saturday’s win. “We’re going back there this year, and this time, we’re going to win it.”
Salesian’s Elias Obenyah (2) grabs a rebound against Modesto Christian during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Coming off a stellar football season, junior forward Carlton Perrilliat is making his case as one of the best wings in the Bay Area. Perrilliat dropped a game 30 points and hit two 3-pointers while taking on the assignment of guarding Long Beach State-bound scorer Gavin Sykes.
Salesian’s Carlton Perrilliat (21) drives against Modesto Christian during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
“He can score the ball for us and get rebounds so strong around the basket,” said Salesian coach Bill Mellis. “He’s tough and he can step out and shoot the three. He’s making strides everyday and today he was terrific.”
Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the first half, but Salesian started to pull away in the third quarter. The Pride came out of halftime and went on a quick 6-2 run that forced Modesto Christian to call a timeout 1:50 into the second half.
Steady shooting kept Salesian ahead by a comfortable margin and a buzzer-beating Perrilliat 3-pointer to end the quarter gave the Richmond school a nine-point advantage going into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, it was all Salesian.
Perrilliat threw down a one-handed slam to take a 10-point lead at the six-minute mark. Modesto Christian couldn’t buy a bucket as Salesian’s defense suffocated the usually free-flowing offense. The Pride controlled the tempo in the final minutes and cruised to a comfortable win.
“It was a great win to pick up in December,” Perrilliat said.
Salesian head coach Bill Mellis coaches his players against Modesto Christian during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian’s Elias Obenyah (2) goes up for a lay up against Modesto Christian during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian’s Juelz Richo (11) battles Modesto Christian’s Greg DuFosee (3) for a rebound during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian’s Alvin Loving (1) battles Modesto Christian’s Ry Atkins (12) for a ball during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Boys basketball
No. 3 Dougherty Valley 70, No. 8 Moreau Catholic 49
In the most anticipated matchup of the NorCal Ultimate Challenge, Dougherty Valley was utterly dominant.
Behind solid guard play, the Wildcats made easy work of a bigger Moreau Catholic team and cruised to a blowout win.
Rashod Cotton II led Dougherty Valley with 19 points and senior Kenny Cloud had 17.
Dublin transfer and UC Davis commit Jalen Stokes missed his fourth straight game as he has not yet been cleared to play.
Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) sits on the bench next to coach Mike Hansen while playing Moreau Catholic during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
“We gotta go with who we have right now and they’ve got to gel,” Dougherty Valley coach Mike Hansen said. “Everyone gets so caught up in winning and losing in December. I’m worried about February and March. You can come find me then and hopefully we’re really good.”
The Wildcats led by three points at halftime, but took over in the third. Dougherty Valley outscored Moreau 20-9 in the period behind 11 points from Cloud.
The San Ramon school took its biggest lead of the night on an-and-one layup from Xayne Mojadidi that gave the Wildcats a 61-38 lead.
“It’s a big win for us,” Hansen said. “When our guys play the right way, I think we’re pretty damn good.”
Kareem Jackson led Moreau with 14 points.
Moreau Catholic’s Brendan Williams (33) blocks a shot by Dougherty Valley’s Xayne Mojadidi (10) during the second half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Moreau Catholic’s Cole Loud (12) goes up for a basket while being guarded by Dougherty Valley’s Xayne Mojaddidi (10) during the second half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Moreau Catholic’s Kevin Chapman (10) goes up for a basket against Dougherty Valley during the second half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Dougherty Valley’s Kenny Cloud (24) goes up for a basket against Moreau Catholic during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Dougherty Valley’s Kenny Cloud (24) shoots past Moreau Catholic’s Kellen Hampton (22) during the first half of the 2024 NorCal Ultimate Challenge held at San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
No. 11 Clayton Valley 65, Clovis West 62
The Ugly Eagles won their third straight game with an impressive 65-62 win over Fresno-area challenger Clovis West.
Zion Grissom scored a team-high 20 points. Utah State commit Elijah Perryman had 15 points and guard Jett Tran added 11.
Clayton Valley will play in the Gridley Invitation Tournament next weekend and will have its opening round game against Clovis North on Thursday.
No. 12 Liberty 72, Vanden 66
Liberty opened its season with a solid win over NorCal juggernaut Vanden.
Junior Dante Vigil and sophomore guard Jaiden Miller each scored 20 points in the win.
“We knew coming into this game it wasn’t going to be easy,” Vigil said. “We knew it was gonna be a dog fight. So we just had to come out with energy and show them we’re not no joke.”
Bellarmine 56, Fremont-Oakland 41
Junior point guard Will Corbett scored 30 points to lead Bellarmine over Fremont at the NorCal Ultimate Challenge on Saturday.
Brennan Williams added 12 points and Cam Razavi had nine as the Bells won their second game of the season.
Deyonte Spears led Fremont with 11 points.
Girls basketball
No. 1 Archbishop Mitty 65, La Jolla Country Day 40
The Monarchs easily moved past La Jolla Country Day to win the school’s Sweet 16 Tournament behind a monster game from star forward McKenna Woliczko.
Woliczko had 28 points, 12 rebounds and four assists to earn tournament MVP. She was 12 for 19 from the field and 2 for 3 from beyond the arc.
Sophomore point guard Tiera McCarthy and freshman forward Maliya Hunter earned all-tournament honors.
No. 5 Oakland Tech 60, North Community 41
After dropping their first game on the Minnesota road trip, Oakland Tech bounced back to beat North Community by 19.
Jhai Johnson had 28 points and eight rebounds in the win.
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Moreau Catholic 49, Mt. Diablo 45
The Mariners earned a close win over Mt. Diablo at home to snag their first win of the season.
Moreau’s Mahlaysia Atkins had a team-high 15 points and Ellie Ortega added 14.
Mt. Diablo senior guard Natalie Dance scored a game-high 18 points in the loss.
