SUTTER, BUTTE, and COLUSA COUNTIES, CA (YSBC) – The CIF Northern Section released their boys and girls basketball postseason brackets on Saturday, February 14.
Here are the matchups and some input on the first-round matchups.
Boys Basketball
Wednesday, February 18 at 7 p.m.
Division IV
No. 9 Colusa at No. 8 Lassen – Colusa ended the year with a five game winning streak and redeemed an early Sacramento Valley League loss to Winters.
The RedHawks held on for a tight win on Friday night against the Warriors.
Colusa has multiple weapons along the perimeter that include freshman Cooper Ayala and senior Kaleb Castanon.
The RedHawks have a heavy inside presence with seniors Cade Smith and Gaven Recendez.
No. 12 Pierce at No. 5 West Valley – Pierce ended the regular season with a 2-3 record, but were in all of their final five games at some point.
The Bears and West Valley had a few common opponents this season, but Paradise was the most comparable team to base off of due to Pierce being swept, played relatively two decent games against Paradise and suffered two defeats.
No. 14 Live Oak at No. 3 Gridley – The Bulldogs and the Lions will meet for the third time this season and the first two matchups weren’t even close as Gridley ran away easily.
Live Oak failed to win a league game for the third consecutive season and lost by double digits every league game this year.
Gridley dominated everyone in the league except Oroville as those were the two Westside League losses the season.
The Bulldogs are looking to return to the section finals for a third-straight season.
Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m.
Division VI
No. 7 Plumas Charter at No. 2 Biggs – Biggs is poised and has the talent to return for a third-straight appearance in a section final.
As the Wolverines owned the Mid-Valley League this year, they had a lot of close matchups during league play.
On top of the gritty defense in the Biggs program, the Wolverines have an offense that is a nightmare for opponents to defend.
All five starters in the Biggs lineup are averaging double-digit points per game. The Wolverines share the ball extensively up and down the floor and are one of the most fun teams in the area to watch.
Girls Basketball
Tuesday, February 17 at 7 p.m.
Division IV
No. 9 Pierce at No. 8 Lassen – Pierce has a lot of momentum moving into the postseason as they won four of their final five games of the regular season. The Bears picked up a huge win in the regular season finale as they beat East Nicolaus at home in a nail biter.
Pierce sophomore Rylie Delepierre is the leading scorer for the Bears with 13.4 points per game and senior Destany Martinez is averaging 9.4 ppg.
No. 12 Live Oak at No. 5 Winters – Live Oak is an improved roster and hasn’t tasted victory since the first week of December.
Despite the distant time between a win, the Lions are a lot more competitive and heading into the right direction for the future of the program.
Winters had a strong run in the Sacramento Valley League where they finished in second place of a competitive league.
No. 13 Central Valley at No. 4 Gridley – Gridley got a favorable draw in this bracket and was expected to take this first-round matchup with ease.
The Bulldogs couldn’t have asked for a better final week of the regular season as they had impressive victories over Orland and Oroville.
Gridley’s big three that consists of senior Aubree Weaver and sophomores Iris Counihan and Madi Carey. The trio paved the way for the win over Oroville as they combined for 42 points.
Counihan had a monstrous game against the Trojans where she erupted for 31 points.
Central Valley headed into the matchup on Tuesday without being victorious in their previous 10.
If Gridley held onto the win on Tuesday, they would play the winner of Live Oak and Winters.
No. 11 Colusa at No. 6 Yreka – Colusa finished the year with winning one of their final five games, but they were competitive and kept games within single digits.
RedHawks junior Peyton Miller is the leader of the Colusa squad as she averaged more than 16 points and almost 10 rebounds per game throughout the regular season.
The RedHawks will bring back this entire roster back next season and the experience they gain in this postseason will give some of the newer players on the roster the playoff experience.
Division V
No. 5 Mt. Shasta at No. 4 East Nicolaus – East Nicolaus had a strong finish to the regular season as they finished with a 4-1 record.
The Spartans were led by senior Makinze Massey, who averaged a double-double with 18 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game on the season.
Mt. Shasta failed to win a league game during the Shasta Cascade League contests.
Division VI
Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
No. 5 Biggs at No. 4 Loyalton – The Division VI bracket in the Northern Section could be the deepest bracket of the tournament as the top five teams all won their leagues.
Biggs rolled through the second half of their schedule as they won by double digits in each league game since Jan. 27.
The Wolverines are composed as a team and they share the ball unselfishly.
