No Responses to “NCS Boys and Girls Basketball Semifinal Predictions”

1. Bill Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

   NM over CV

2. Bill Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

   On NorCalPrepScores site they count a BYE for being one of the top seeds in a particular playoff as a Win(forfeit), under individual school areas. This doesn’t make sense. A BYE is neither a win or a forfeit taking place. It’s a reward for being one of the top seeds.

3. Will Whelan Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 5:55 pm

   Michael, this is Will Whelan from Norcalpreps.com aka Yungcoach. Do you know Cunningham’s ppg average?

4. Michael Bower Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

   Will,

   I can get his points per game for just league games tomorrow. I think it is around 16 ppg. I don’t know what it is for the whole season.

5. Will Whelan Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

   Thanks Michael. I am another person who think CV could take down NM. Ashmore really disappointed last year in the loss to Cal. The press worked early but then Cal started abusing it, and he left it on. He also made no adjustments and made no emphasis on boxing out Gory and Downs.

6. David Schoen Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

   Games I want to see, but can’t:

   Division I boys
   No. 3 Castro Valley at No. 2 Newark Memorial: I’m not going to mention anybody by name, but if you signed with Fresno State, this is the type of game in which you better show up big. Hey, when was the last time Castro Valley was any good? Quick, somebody find Silman.

   BSAL playoffs/Division IV boys
   No. 3 Salesian at No. 2 Kennedy-Richmond: The Richmond derby. For those who don’t follow soccer, a derby (pronounced “darby”) is a fancy word for a cross-town rivalry. By the way, what is it like for those teams in the North Bay that have to come down and play a BSAL squad in the playoffs? It must be like when I was in high school and we had to go to the OC for the water polo playoffs. “Well, it’s been a nice season. Now let’s go to Garden Grove and get our butts kicked.” We took a trip to Garden Grove … sorry, Sublime moment.

   Division V boys
   No. 6 Lick-Wilmerding at No. 2 St. Elizabeth: Just ’cause I want the Mustangs to have a shot at Branson. Plus, they might hang 100 again.

   Division I girls
   No. 5 Washington at No. 1 Deer Valley: A huge chance for the MVAL to get a little girls hoops respect, which has been missing since the days of Ami Forney. Wow, I just dropped an Ami Forney reference. But my biggest question is whether the Washington coach will go for the candy-raver look and break out a lollipop during the game.

   Division III girls
   No. 3 Bishop O’Dowd at No. 2 Hercules: Could be the best game of the semis. Hercules has a really nice team and those kids at O’Dowd are really talented. Hard to imagine one of these teams won’t make it to the NorCal playoffs. Speaking of which …

   Division IV girls
   No. 3 St. Patrick-St. Vincent at No. 2 Moreau Catholic: This is, without a doubt, the Main Event in the semis. St. Pat’s was in the state title game in 2007 and might not make NorCals a year later even with most of its team returning? Reminds me of a few years ago with Piedmont, St. Mary’s and couple other teams. I think Healdsburg was undefeated one year, but whatever. Moreau has been on the cusp for a couple years and this would be a huge breakthrough. For anybody who hasn’t seen St. Pat’s Alex Cowling play, think of Shantrell Sneed with more range. Loyola Marymount got a steal. I never got a chance to see Malia Nahinu play. She good? Arizona hasn’t exactly done the best job evaluating talent in recruiting the last few years.

   Division V girls
   No. 3 Emery at No. 2 Head-Royce: First team to 30 points wins. Seriously. Synchro Bull has to come up big for Emery against the Jayhawks’ smothering D. Can Mike Talps’ Head-Royce baseball team can outscore his girls basketball squad? Hmmm …
   By the way, Erin Lewellen and Talps were two of my favorite coaches to talk to on the phone at the Trib. Always had their stuff in order and did a great job with their respective programs. I wish they could both win.

7. Andy Says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

   if CV shoots good wenesday night they will take down NM

8. What the Says:
   February 25th, 2008 at 10:27 am

   Who has CV beat this year…Durkin, Bower, do you just flip a coin to pick the winners or have you actually watched these teams play?

9. Mike M Says:
   February 25th, 2008 at 10:42 am

   Can Dublin get past O’Dowd?
   WOW!! Costello sure has turned that program around in a hurry.

10. Kyle Bonagura Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 11:02 am

    What the-
    Logan, Monte Vista, SRV, Las Lomas, San Leandro, O’Dowd, Hayward. You don’t go 24-3 or whatever CV is without being good.

    That being said, after watching Newark play on Saturday, I think the CV run will end on Wednesday.

11. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am

    Kyle listed the wins for CV. That will be a great game between CV and Newark. I just watched CV take down Pitt and the Trojans looked really good. They had a couple lapses but still were ahead by double digits pretty much the whole way.

    I think CV is running the offense too well to lose against Newark. But I still think that game will go down to the wire.

    As far as Dublin over BOD, I think that can certainly happen. Costello is a former HAAL coach and knows the O’Dowd style of ball. I just think BOD has too much inside firepower for Dublin.

12. What the Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    CV barely beat Logan, Barely beat SRV, Beat Monte Vista during football season, lost to Foothill, San Leandro and Hayward. Teams that usually give NM a rough time are ones that are athletic and physical, I’m not sure if CV fits that billing.

13. Kyle Bonagura Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    NM only beat Logan by 4 in its first game too, you can’t ask for the wins then discredit them. Especially when CV is the league champ from a better league.

    Sounds like you think this is going to be a cake walk for NM, I just don’t see that happening.

    Last year, Cal High wasn’t that athletic of a team (by west side of the hill standards) and it handled NM easily in NCS.

14. MUSTANGMADNESS Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    I know there are other “hyped” matchups in other divisions, but you should come check out the St.Liz Mustangs. If your eyes can keep up!!!

15. shane Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    I got CV over NM by 5. Broome is way to tough and atheltic for NM to defend… they do have a beast inside that may give CV problems… but CV’s offense is clicking way to well right now as you said Bower.

16. What the Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    Kyle,
    Never said it was going to be a cakewalk for anyone. I just feel that CV is hard to gauge when they lose to Foothill, Hayward and San Leandro, but still beat San Leandro, Logan and Pittsburg. I’m not entirely sold on them thats all. Also Cal wasn’t necessarily athletic, but they were very physical.

17. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    What the-

    It sounded like you thought I was crazy for picking Castro Valley, that’s why it seemed like you thought Newark would win in a cakewalk. It will be a great game.

18. jim Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    Hey Schone i think CV was pretty good last year they won 22 or 23 games in a much tougher Haal than this year, I hope that answers your ???????

19. David Schoen Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    Thanks, but it’s Schoen.
    And CV was an 8 seed that got trashed in the first round by San Leandro last year. We’re talking about a team with a legitimate shot at NorCals now. Biiiiig difference.

20. David Schoen Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    By the way, is the HAAL really down from a year ago? I call BS on that. Whatcha think Bower?

    I count six playoff teams in both years. CV is obviously better. Hayward seems like its better and same for San Leandro when healthy. Moreau won a playoff game this time. As far as I can tell, only O’Dowd, which is still the No. 2 seed in D3 this year, and San Lorenzo (instead of Tennyson) are down from ’07.

21. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    Yes, I don’t get where people are coming from when they say the HAAL is down this year. Hayward is better than a year ago, CV is better than a year ago and SL was better or at least the same as a year ago before the injuries. O’Dowd is down from a year ago, but it made it to the state title game last year so hard to top that this season. Heck, the Dragons are still in the semis for Division III. The HAAL isn’t down at all _ that’s the biggest myth ever.

    Mt. Eden had a decent season, Moreau won a playoff game, Tennyson is down, and even San Lorenzo was decent. The Rebels might have even won a playoff game, but they held out two of the starters in the first round for disciplinary reasons.

22. jim Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    Hayward better in think not they lost there top three scores all of which are playing in college SL lost two D-1 players and a real good jc player in Busch San lorenzo lost powell a star at Mac and Calvin an all league player Moreau lost two very good scoeres and there point guard a very good player Cv might be better no one else is even close all leagues are down that does not mean the haal is better look at the players each team lost by the way o’dowd lost two d-1 players as well those players on all of those teams were not replaced by better ones

23. Vegas Bill Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Alright guys I am here to make my picks.

    I saw my fellow blogger SHANE had Newark as 5 point dogs so I proposed that line to my “friend” downtown and he took that line. So thanks for the help there SHANE it made the process easier.

    So I took Newark +5 over Castro Valley

    He had to do some research to give me a line on the DLS game. But he just texted me from Kelvin Sampson’s cell phone and the line is ….. 7

    So, looks like I have:

    Newark +5 and DLS -7 over Monte Vista

    **

    Waterhouse do you care to get the farm involved again? Or are you still on the wagon?

24. What the Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 7:26 pm

    Vegas,
    How do I make an official bet? LOL, I’ll take Newark plus 5.

25. Jimmy Durkin Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    What the,
    I’m a little late hopping on here to reply to your coin flip question (had a rare day off today), but I have seen Newark play, although not Castro Valley. I wasn’t too impressed with Newark at the MLK Classic, although I know they are playing much better right now than then. I’ve admittedly not been the biggest Castro Valley fan mostly based on the non-league schedule they played (how do you not schedule one game against a team from the best league in the area — the OAL? At least put Tech or Castlemont on the schedule.) However, they’ve been the more consistent team this season and I think they’re playing with more to prove. We’ll see. It could go either way.
    And to second the feelings I think Bower had, what’s the deal with trying to call us out for that pick? A No. 2 playing a No. 3 and you’re basically calling us crazy for picking the No. 3? Doesn’t make much sense buddy.

26. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    Just because you lose your top scorers doesn’t mean your TEAM got worse. Hayward is playing far better as a team than it did last year and the puzzle fits this year as it did last. But I think Hayward is playing better team ball right now than last year’s squad. San Leandro didn’t really use Cunningham until late in the season when Nitoto and Busch were hurt so he has given them a boost this year. Travis Sims is way more of a factor this year as well until he got injured. Shaheed Young has stepped in nicely as well. I think SL was just as good as last season…

    As for CV, it definitely is better this season. Jourdan DeMuynck has stepped in nicely and provided a solid defender in the box. Parker can shoot off the dribble better than most and Teicher is another big guy to fill the paint inside. DJ Broome is well…DJ Broome. He is just a stud. That kid should go Division I and I have heard that from a couple coaches. His height has been a factor, but the scouts are really missing the boat if he doesn’t go somewhere. There is no way last year’s CV team is better than this year’s team.

    This is quite a year for the HAAL in a “down year.” I guess they are just full of state title teams in an up year…

27. Andy Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    its gonna be one hell of a game wenesday night
    interesting fact: CV has lost by 9 total points this season in their 3 loses… CV lost by 1 early in the season to Foothill when all the pieces werent yet together. Lost to SL by 4 without their best player and by 4 again to Hayward with their second best payer hurt… ALL on the road. every game CV has lost has been close. So WHAT THE we will see what happens
    I got CV by 5 too

28. jim Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    easy michael i guess thats why no college wants you as a scout Div 1 you are stretching it alittle he is a great player but high school and div-1 are a whole different story and there is noway sl is anywhere near last years team not even close remember there are ten automatic wins in the haal out of sixteen no other league has that many bottom feeders

29. Vegas Bill Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    Hey What The,

    You gotta be out here and find a guy you trust. Everyone gets a guy when you move here. It is part of the welcome package.

    Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

30. High School Sports Junkie Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    Hey I wanna see some pick-em results and get the next round up and going

31. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Ha, the last thing I want to be is a Division I scout. Never would want my job to depend on a kids success in college. But we can just agree to disagree on the SL thing. I don’t really care who was better, both teams were good and fun to watch until both got injured.

32. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

    I am sure Bonagura will hop on that soon, sports junkie.

33. jim Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    i agree with you on the scouting comment we will agree to disagree and yes injuries hurt both this years team as well as last years they should be very good next year

34. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    I see nearly all of us went Washington in that Deer Valley-Washington semifinal. That should be a good one. Maybe Washington gets over the hump.

35. Michael Bower Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:46 pm

    Yes, next year is the year for San Leandro. Hayward should give them a run at the HAAL title.

36. shane Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 10:51 pm

    Vegas Bill,

    As your fellow blogger you should listen to me… CV by 5 im telling you.

37. Big Red Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    DJ Broome will have his hands full as Newarks sophomore point guard is the same height…….and perhaps quicker……Demuynck vs Jones…great matchup there as well…great game on wednesday night…good luck to both teams….

38. shane Says:
    February 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Big Red,

    There is no way Newarks sophomore guard can hang with DJ… no way! He was breaking 4 man presses by Pitt by himself…. i hope they are ready to double or triple.

    Demuynck vs. Jones should be good two big D.1 caliber guys matching up…

    i cant wait for tomorrow.

39. Tom Says:
    February 26th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    I also believe the HAAL and well as most other leagues are “down”. The Haal had many more “names” last season. If that makes sense to you guys. You could take 2-3 stars from any team last year. Moreau was better(pg,wings), SL was better(bush,thomas,nitoto), Odowd was far better(went to state), and just cuz they are in the semi’s doesnt mean anything. There is no way ur reaplaciing two d-1 players, Mt eden was better(meka), Tennyson was better(davenport, shaneel), slz was better(calvin,powell, hayward was better(ford,two centers, raspberry) and CV lost some darn good players too(22-5, scoring champ), and they had all these players on the bench last season. Nick Jones “inherited” this Great team…that i think will beat NM tomorrow. Now if CV’s old coach would have stayed i wonder if yall would be saying he should get coach of the year.

40. Michael Bower Says:
    February 26th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    No question that basketball as a whole is down in the East Bay this year. But the HAAL has the best league outside the OAL in the East Bay this year.

41. Tom Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 7:37 am

    Definitely agreed with, but thats not speaking volumes about the rest of high school basketball. Good Luck to the HAAL teams this week though.

42. vanessa Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 10:25 am

    …and the OAL will boast the game of the year tonight with #2 Oakland facing #1 Mack for the third time this season. It’s hard to beat a team three times (however,Oakland did it last night coming from behind against Fremont)so this is going to be a great match-up tonight.

43. jim Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    Toms statment of the haal was right on none of those players mentioned above from all those other teams were replaced with better ones so how can the league be better Well said Tom

44. Damon Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    Any updates on the nwark/cv game and Mv/de la salle?

45. Melissa Hall Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Game’s in double overtime–score is 68 to 66 (Newark) with 3 minutes left.

46. Melissa Hall Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    Newark won 74-70.

47. jim Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    de la killed mv newark by 5 in double ot thats what i heard de la vs newark in the finals

48. Bill Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    NM 74-70 over CV (2 ot ) DeLaSalle over MV –FINALS

49. Vegas Bill Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    Newark 74-70 in double overtime. I heard it was an unreal game.

    Man both teams came through and covered. Maybe I should open my own sportsbook.

    Good Night Now!!

50. Big Red Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    SHANE,

    LOOKS LIKE NEWARKS POINT GUARD PUT SOME EXCELLENT DEFENSE ON DJ…..GREAT GAME…….I THOUGHT HE COULDNT GUARD HIM???? CASTRO VALLEY GOT LUCKY HE WENT DOWN IN THE FOURTH WITH CRAMPS……..LETS GO DE LA!!!

51. What the Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    vegas,
    You said Newark would lose by five. So how did you cover?

    Again…I got lots of respect for waterhouse and bonagura….the rest of you guys just jumped on the bandwagon…

    It was a tough, good game, taking nothing away from CV, they came to play…but they came up just short.

52. Bill Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 9:42 am

    CV up by 9 with 1:48 to go, up by 5 with 39 sec. left in regulation—-a truly good team would have finished this one off. (15 missed free throws, all told, 2 ot, didn’t help). Very impressive for a first yr. coach though. Next yr., will be tough to come even close to this one, losing best players. (Broome, great to watch). CV should get into the habit of playing a tougher pre=season schedule.

53. Bill Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 9:44 am

    Also, I agree HAAL was much weaker this yr.

54. Michael Bower Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am

    Bill,

    I wouldn’t judge CV by one game blown in the final minute. The fact they were up that much on a good Newark team shows how good the Trojans were this season…they’re “a truly good team.” 15 missed free throws and they still were in position to win. It took a couple long-range 3-pointers and double OT to put the Trojans away. Anyone who says they aren’t truly a good team obviously doesn’t follow prep hoops very much.

55. Michael Bower Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 9:59 am

    Yep, HAAL was down compared to last season, but like I said before, this season it was the second best league in the East Bay.

56. dmiller Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am

    Mike,

    O’Dowd losing to Dublin??? Dublin is playing some inspired ball under Tom the Bomb and it’s a great group of kids out there.

    That’s a big indicator right there. That’s not the O’Dowd of yester-year, far from it in fact.

57. Michael Bower Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am

    O’Dowd of course isn’t as good as last year. Everyone knew the No. 2 seed was too high for them. They had no outside shooting this season and that hurt them. Tom Costello is a great coach, too. He is going to turn Dublin into a powerhouse one day.

58. Jimmy Durkin Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 10:38 am

    You can’t underestimate any Costello coached team. I don’t know many (if any) coaches around who are better at getting the absolute most out of the team they have. I have it on record that Dublin may have fans pouring in from as far away as Waukegan, IL, to pack the house at St. Mary’s on Saturday.

59. dmiller Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 11:22 am

    The thing about Tom and his coaching, is that he gets the very most out of his kids… Last night, the pace they brought in the first half was nuts… it took some of the starch out of the O’Dowd size. There were 5-6 times in the first half O’Dowd would get it inside, get an easy bucket, then within six seconds, Dulin scored. The BOD big guys started missing short shots because they were just running out of gas.

    It was a lot of fun to watch in the packed gym….

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