The Bay team may have had more college bound-talent and state championship game experience, but it was the Sacramento team’s day at the high school girls basketball senior all-star game Friday at the Norcal Courts in Martinez.

In particular, it was Brianna Burgos’ day.

The Sheldon High senior headed to Sonoma State scored 31 points to lead Sacramento back from an early deficit and to a 73-65 victory.

Sacramento outscored the Bay team 19-7 in the fourth quarter to earn the win.

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Richmond High guard Isaiah Brown has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Sonoma State next season.

“I met some good people,” Brown said. “They were all really welcoming. They made me want to come back.”

Brown averaged 27.2 points per game as a senior for the Oilers, earning Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League MVP honors. That he was named MVP was especially telling, considering Richmond went just 1-26 on the season.

“It was a real tough season,” Brown said. “No matter what we did right, we just couldn’t get those wins.”

A two-sport star at Richmond who also impressed as a do-everything player on the football field,  Brown said he did give some thought to playing on the gridiron at the next level. But, he said that basketball has always been his No. 1 priority and once the offer came from Sonoma State, he was ready to take it.

Salesian High boys basketball star Jabari Bird will compete in June to earn a spot on the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team.
The 6-foot-6 junior guard is one of 24 players to accept an invitation to compete for one of the team’s 12 rosters spots. He’ll travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to train with the team June 5-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
The team that is selected will compete June 16-20 in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil.
“I’ve always grown up watching the USA team and always wanted to be a part of it,” Bird said. “It’s a real big moment in my life and my career.”
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Here is the 2012 All-East Bay boys basketball team, as selected by the Bay Area News Group-East Bay.

Player of the Year: Jabari Bird, Salesian

Coach of the Year: Don Lippi, St. Joseph Notre Dame
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This is fresh from tomorrow’s paper (or tonight’s web site), and I figured I’d post it here as well to generate some discussion. What do you guys think of the possibility of an open division in basketball?

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Here is the final poll for the 2011-12 boys basketball season.

Also receiving votes: Las Lomas (20-11, 2 points), College Park (20-10, 1). The East Bay Prep Boys Basketball Poll is voted on by the prep sports staff of Bay Area News Group-East Bay.

Yay Area’s Finest, well known in the local boys basketball community for its mix tapes, is hosting an all star game on Friday, March 30 at El Cerrito High. The inaugural YAF All Star Classic begins with a dunk contest at 7 p.m. and the game is at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. General admission is $8 and it’s $5 for students with ID.

Here are the all-important rosters:

Orange Team

High school basketball fans who can’t make it to Sacramento this weekend are in luck. Comcast SportsNet will be televising all 10 games. CSN California will have the Division I-IV games while the Division V games played Saturday morning will be on CSN Bay Area. Recently only the Division I and Division II games have aired. Every game except for the Division I games on Saturday will be aired live. The Division I boys will be aired at 10 p.m. on Saturday while the girls will be shown at midnight.

Jimmy, Ben and I will also have the live blog going this weekend, so be sure to join us here, too.
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A big crowd is expected for Tuesday’s NorCal semifinal between Jesuit-Carmichael and De La Salle. Here’s the ticket info.

Tip time is 7 p.m. Only one game this time (Carondelet is hosting at Ygnacio Valley). Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for seniors/students. Gates open at 5:30. No ticket pre-sale this time, so if you want to ensure a seat, get there early.

Got a full lineup of action in the CIF NorCal playoffs this weekend. If you’re looking to catch two games in one place, De La Salle is hosting a pair. Here’s the ticket info.

Carondelet will play McNair-Stockton at 4. De La Salle takes on Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove at 7:30. Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for students/seniors/kids. If you buy a ticket for the Carondelet game, you are allowed to stay for the DLS game, but there are no in and out privileges.