STOCKTON— San Ramon Valley left it all on the floor.
Despite a cold shooting night, early foul trouble and a raucous opposing crowd, the visiting Wolves somehow made it a game.
But in the end, Lincoln-Stockton was just too much.
With a chance to go to its second consecutive Division I state title game, SRV couldn’t overcome a cold shooting night as the Wolves fell 66-58. Lincoln will play SoCal powerhouse Sierra Canyon, led by three-star senior Bryce Cofield and Bryce James (son of NBA star LeBron James), on Friday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
After briefly taking a nine-point lead two minutes into the second quarter, SRV failed to register a basket until the 3:11 mark of the third period. While the Wolves cut the Lincoln lead to as little as five with just over 20 seconds left in the game, it was too late as Lincoln’s lead was just too much to overcome.
San Ramon Valley head coach Brian Botteen reacts after an offensive foul is called on San Ramon Valley’s Thomas Conley (11) in the second half of their CIF NorCal boys basketball Division I championship game at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Lincoln defeated San Ramon Valley 66-58. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
“It wasn’t our night, and credit to them,” SRV coach Brian Botteen said. “We never gave up until the end, but you can’t go eight minutes in a game and not score and expect great things to happen. But credit to their defense because this is their year.”
Senior Luke Isaak led SRV with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Elliot Conley added 15 points and his brother Thomas Conley chipped in 12.
“We had a lot of doubters coming into this season after we lost a lot of our seniors last year,” Thomas said. “But I couldn’t be more proud of our group for making it this far. I know it’s tough to lose this game, but it is what it is.”
SRV opened the second quarter with a one-point lead and looked to be running away with the game after hitting its first four 3-pointers to take a 30-21 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.
But like they’ve done all year, Lincoln strung together a long run behind its defense.
San Ramon Valley’s Elliot Conley (3) goes up for a layup past Lincoln’s Anthony Moore (4) in the first half of their CIF NorCal boys basketball Division I championship game at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Weber State commit Anthony Moore took over the second quarter with his elite shot making, scoring 11 of his game-high 21 points in the period. The Trojans scored 17 unanswered points after going down nine and took a 38-30 lead into halftime.
Lincoln went on a 6-0 flurry to start the third quarter, but didn’t allow SRV to score a basket until five minutes into the second half. Moore and senior point guard Donez Lindsey closed off driving lanes, forcing SRV into contested jump shots and tough layup attempts.
Botteen attributed mishaps on the defensive end as to why his team struggled offensively in the middle stages of the game.
“We struggled with rebounding and we then struggled to get shots to fall,” Botteen said. “They ultimately had a night on the boards and we couldn’t answer.”
Lincoln outrebounded SRV 38 to 22 for the game. The Trojans also put pressure on SRV’s depth as Elliot and starting center Brad Laird each had foul trouble early in the second quarter.
The Trojans game-planned to attack SRV’s stars on both ends in the second and third quarter.
“We know teams usually go on their run and get all their energy out in the first quarter,” Moore said. “We always know the second and third is always our quarter to play defense and come out and score.”
SRV went down 14 after three and trailed by as much as 15 in the fourth quarter.
But in classic SRV fashion, the Wolves didn’t lay down.
San Ramon Valley’s Thomas Conley (11) sits dejected on the bench after being defeated by Lincoln during their CIF NorCal boys basketball Division I championship game at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Lincoln defeated San Ramon Valley 66-58. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Following a Isaiah Davis layup that put Lincoln up 59-44 with just over three minutes left, SRV went on a 12-3 run to bring the Wolves within six. SRV got as close to five after an Isaak putback layup, but time wasn’t on the Wolves’ side.
Lincoln iced the game at the free throw line to end SRV’s season and hopes of getting to its second consecutive state D1 title game.
“That’s the type of team we are. We’re never going to give up,” senior point guard Mason Thomas said of SRV’s fourth quarter run. “They punched us. We punched right back, and we didn’t give up until that whistle blew and the buzzer went off.”
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While SRV’s senior class wanted to end with a second state title game appearance, there were no low-hanging heads walking back into the locker room. This group of seniors, which includes both Conley brothers, Isaak, Laird and Thomas, went to four consecutive NorCal playoffs.
Thomas Conley said he cherished every moment, especially playing alongside his brother this season.
“It meant a lot to me because this could be the last time my brother and I step on the court together competitively,” he said. “This group of seniors have been playing for a long time now. It meant everything and we gave it our all in the end. And I couldn’t be more proud.”
San Ramon Valley head coach Brian Botteen encourages his players while playing against Lincoln in the second half of their CIF NorCal boys basketball Division I championship game at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Lincoln defeated San Ramon Valley 66-58. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
