Prep roundup: Salesian, Dougherty Valley boys roll into league title games

Boys basketball

No. 2 Salesian 90, Bethel 34

Alvin Loving became the 12th player in Salesian history to reach 1,000 points in his career during a dominant Tri County Athletic League Rock Division semifinal victory. The 6-foot-4 senior, who is headed to Yale University, scored 20 points as the Pride improved to 24-2 this season. Elias Obenyah had 13 points for the winners. Next up for Salesian is St. Mary’s-Berkeley in the TCAL Rock title game Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Henry J. Kaiser Center in Oakland. It will be preceded by the girls’ championship between Salesian and Pinole Valley at 12:30. Loving joined former Salesian stars Jabari Bird, James Akinjo and all-time leading scorer Myron Jordan with 1,000 points at the Richmond school. Loving is a four-year starter for the Pride.

No. 4 Dougherty Valley 70, No. 8 California 54

The Wildcats outscored the visitors in every quarter while earning a berth in the EBAL title game against De La Salle. The teams will play Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Wildcats’ gym. Dougherty Valley (20-7), playing at home, beat DLS earlier this season 59-48. Wildcats’ star senior Jalen Stokes scored 20 points against California and Kenny Cloud added 14. Brayde Kuykendall and Ketan Kumar each had 16 points for the Grizzlies (23-5).   

No. 10 Liberty 65, Heritage 54

The Lions capped a perfect 10-0 season in the BVAL and won their 19th in a row. Liberty (24-2) led 53-36 after three quarters. Andrew Vixon had 18 points and Jaiden Miller scored 16. Also in double figures for the Lions were Dante Vigil (11) and Brendan Beresford (10). Heritage finishes the regular season at 11-14, 5-5. Jace Bernard and Nate Grube scored 11 points apiece for the home team. Olanre Owoborode scored 10.

No. 12 Oakland 59, Berkeley 44

Dominque Trotter poured in 16 points and Romyn Waugh had 10 in a non-league contest that pushed the Wildcats to 19-7. Berkeley slipped to 11-4.

St. Mary’s-Berkeley 53, Albany 39

Jaden Jones and Donovan Mikel each scored 15 points, helping send St. Mary’s to the TCAL Rock final against Salesian on Saturday. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. at the Henry J. Kaiser Center in Oakland. The Panthers (20-8) have already lost twice to Salesian this season, but neither game was a rout. The score were 64-50 in the first game and 61-50 in the rematch. St. Mary’s is a young team that will have two 6-6 players returning next season. Mikel, a sophomore, had eight rebounds to go along with his 15 points. CJ Baltrip, a 6-6 junior, had 10 points. Jones, who is a senior, had five assists. Albany is 21-6 and likely to receive a North Coast Section playoff berth when seedings are announced on Sunday.

Sacred Heart Prep 57, Priory 52

The Gators led by nine points after three quarters in this West Bay League matchup. Alex Straser, a 6-5 senior, had 18 points for the home team and Matthew Norris contributed 15. Sacred Heart Prep is 7-2 in league play, a half-game behind first-place King’s Academy. Priory (6-3,17-6) is in third place, 1½ games behind TKA. The Panthers were paced by 6-8 junior Mate Palotai with 18 points. Balazs Nyikos had 15 points.

Girls basketball

No. 4 San Ramon Valley 85, Dublin 31

The Wolves, who don’t have a single senior on their roster listed on MaxPreps, rolled into the EBAL title game with three sophomores leading the way in scoring. Ella Gunderson had 18 points, Hania Bowes tallied 17 and Maya Knapp added 13. San Ramon Valley (24-3) led 55-18 at halftime against a Dublin team that’s 22-6. Makaela Beltran had 11 for the Gaels. The Wolves will host Carondelet on Saturday for the EBAL championship. The Cougars (23-4) advanced by beating California 59-34.

No. 11 Oakland Tech 47, No. 10 Bishop O’Dowd 44

The visiting Bulldogs received 17 points from Jhai Johnson and 15 from Terri’A Russell in a non-league match between two of the East Bay’s better teams. Twelve of their combined 32 points came from the free throw line, on 12 of 16 shooting. Oakland Tech improved to 18-8 this season. Bishop O’Dowd is 14-8.

No. 15 Salesian 71, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 51

Senior guard Janiya Sawyer pretty much did it all in the Pride’s TCAL Rock semifinal victory. She led her team with 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals to send Salesian (19-8) into the championship game Saturday against Pinole Valley (18-9), a 56-43 winner over St. Mary’s-Berkeley, at the Henry J. Kaiser Center in Oakland. Tipoff is at 12:30. Three other Salesian players also scored in double figures. Freshman Emma Bryant had 14 points including a trio of 3-point baskets, Vanessa Parilla had 12 points and Jamia Sawyer added 11. St. Patrick-St. Vincent slipped to 11-14. 

Kennedy-Richmond 53, Swett 34

The Eagles ran their season’s record to 16-3 by beating Swett in a TCAL Stone semifinal contest. Almbria Gallon scored 20 points for Kennedy, and Amyira Shaw contributed 12. Swett is 12-11. Kennedy will face Albany for the TCAL Stone title. Albany (17-7) squeezed past Vallejo 42-41. 

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Westmont 46, Leigh 29

Lara Macian scored 24 points as Westmont (17-7, 7-3) clinched at least a tie for the BVAL Santa Teresa title. Only Silver Creek can finish the same 7-3 in league play, and Westmont beat the Raiders earlier in the season. Adina Freudenblum had 10 points for the Warriors. Cali Wallace led Leigh (6-4, 11-12) with nine points.  

Santa Teresa at Sobrato, suspended

The Saints were clinging to a one-point lead at Sobrato when the game was stopped because a leaky roof made the floor a little too dangerous for the players. Santa Teresa, which was leading 39-38, could finish 6-4 in BVAL Santa Teresa play if it hangs onto the lead when play is resumed. Saints coach Sean Peterson said league officials are hopeful the game can be completed Saturday. The Central Coast Section will seed the playoffs on Wednesday. 

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