Everyone is probably expecting to see a Berkeley vs. Oak Ridge final, but Kennedy and Deer Valley both have other plans. Both teams are travelling to the section champions and appear to be peaking at the right time. Berkeley is playing well and appears to be the favorite. They made their way through the NCS playoffs with double digit wins in all games. Their last loss was to Nationally top ranked St. Mary's of Stockton and gave the Rams a very tough game. The Yellowjackets look primed to go to Arco again and look for a return trip to the State Championship game. Kennedy's lone losses come to three NorCal teams in Sacramento, Franklin and Oak Ridge and dispatched McClatchy twice during the season and if those scores are any indication they should give Berkeley a good game.

Oak Ridge started the season off with a bang when they travelled to Southern California and knocked off Nationally ranked Brea Olinda (who won the West Coast Jamboree) en route to winning the Ladycat Classic. The Trojans are led by Sara James, however they are deep and can have a different leading scorer on any given night. The visiting Wolverines will have their hands full. Deer Valley has been plagued by injuries all season and are finally getting healthy. They completely dominated Franklin of Elk Grove who only lost to Oak Ridge by 4 in the SJS championship game. Deer Valley is quick and athletic and this game will be a fun one to watch. The storyline is that both Kennedy and Deer Valley want a chance to face the opponent who defeated them en route to a section title and a chance to play at ARCO next weekend.

This division would seem to favor the Cougars of Carondelet, but with the very unfortunate injury to senior guard Ricki Radanovich the field might be a bit more level. Presentation is looking to upset Carondelet and hopefully earn a re-match with league rival Mitty. The Panthers are the clear underdog, but veteran coach Wade Nakamura will have them ready for the game.

Northgate is in the same position as Presentation as they are looking to slay the goliath. Northgate lost to Presentation earlier in the year and is the clear underdog. However they are playing well after going on the road to make the semifinals and should give the Monarchs a good match.

This division has two clear cut favorites and one team that is surprising everyone. When people see El Cerrito they are surprised, but the Gauchos are playing well and look to knock off the Dragons. Bishop O'Dowd has not lost to a team in Northern California and is looking to a potential game against the Dragons from Sacramento. Center might have something to say. Aside from a triple overtime thriller loss to Vista Del Lago in the SJS semis they might be the ones hosting. Two of their three losses were to them and they look to give Sacramento a tough game. Sacramento's last loss was to DIV semi finalist Modesto Christian and that loss appears to have awaken the Dragons. They won every game in their section playoffs by double digits and are looking for a return trip to ARCO.

This division features the top ranked girls team in the country. With two all americans St. Mary's appears to be an overwhelming favorite to make a return trip to the state finals. The last time they were tested was in a win over Berkeley at the Campolindo Shootout. Valley Christian is no slouch as they play in the tough WCAL in the CCS. Still they are the preverbial underdog here. The more intriguing game is between Bishop O'Dowd and Sacramento. The colision course would appear to be between O'Dowd and St. Mary's in one week, but the Dragons have been here before and will look to knock of the other Dragons. O'Dowd will be looking for revenge as they lost to Sacramento in the championship in Sacramento.

NCS vs. MC. The North Coast Section or should I say the BSAL sends three teams to the semi finals. Salesian is still smarting from an NCS loss to league foe St. Mary's who they had defeated three previous times this season. Salesian had been the top ranked team in Northern California all season and looks to regain their form. Modesto Christian dispatched a tough Arcata team in ovetime and looks to travel to the Pride and earn a trip to Folsom High School next Saturday.

St. Mary's looks to knock off St. Pat's for the second time in two weeks. The two played in the semi's of the North Coast Section Playoffs with St. Mary's winning. SP/SV has had to do some travelling to make their way to the semi finals and will wind up with nothing more than a really important "League" game at their rival. This should be a battle and if all things go according to seeding we could see a re-match of last years NorCal final as well as a re-match of the of the two NCS foes.

The same two teams from last years NorCal final are back. St. Mary's and Modesto Christian host games against North Coast Section opponents. St. Mary's already owns wins over Piedmont and McKinleyville and will have a tough go of it with the Highlanders. Piedmont has travelled from Santa Cruz to Argonaut and won each game by a wide margin. Playing at St. Mary's will probably feel like a home game.

Modesto Christian has put some serious mileage on this year to become battle tested. Their only losses are to NorCal and SoCal semi-finalists and all but one to teams in higher divisions (Berkeley, Clovis West, Sacramento & St. Mary's). They would seem like a clear cut favorite to make their way to Folsom, however McKinleyville Panthers might have something to say about that. The Panthers only losses are to St. Mary's Berkely in the first game of the season and at the NCS finals. They are experienced and look to stop the Crusaders from advancing.

I think this could be called the North Coast Section Semis based on the teams that are here. Branson the top seed and NCS Champion will host Head Royce. Branson has defeated all three of the other semi finalists during the year including a 12 point win over Head Royce earlier in the year, but St. Joseph ND has defeated them once. As usual the Bulls will be lead by a balanced attack and they will need that to defend against the Jayhawks height advantage.

The Pilots will take their experienc of playing in the BSAL against NorCal finalists St. Mary's and Salesian to go up against a SF University team that is balanced and very athletic. The Pilots will have the opportunity to avenge their first loss of the season at the NorCal TipOff classic to the Red Devils. Like the other teams St. Joseph's only losses this year have been to teams who qualified for NorCal's. University has wins over all but Branson and might get the opportunity to avenge their 41-40 loss in overtime in the NCS playoffs.

Branson gets a re-match with top seeded Pinewood. The Bulls and Panthers have met earlier in the season when Pinewood defeated Branson 53-49 at the St. Ignatius tournament. They also defeated St. Joseph's Notre Dame after losing to them earlier in the season. This might just be the same scenerio, however they must travel to Los Altos Hills.

The Pride of Bradshaw Christian have had their way with opponents while making thier way through the SJS and NorCal Playoffs. Their last loss was in the West Coast Jamboree to Vanden, however they did lose as well to Eastside College Prep who was considered a contender for NorCal's however the CCS only had two representatives in NorCal's. Head Royce's only losses are to NorCal qualifiers Pinewood, Branson and Castilleja and should be a great test and challenge to Bradshaw Christian.