SACRAMENTO—El Camino drained five first-quarter 3-pointers and went into the second quarter ahead 30-27 after forcing a breakneck pace with the visiting Weston Ranch High boys basketball team Friday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinals Friday.
“In between (the first and second) quarters, I happened to look over at El Camino’s coach (Justin Clymo) and he just had this big grin on his face,” Weston Ranch coach Bill Slikker said. “They wanted that pace. I don’t know if they knew it or not, but we wanted that pace as well.”
As the game went on, Clymo’s grin slowly turned into a grimace.
The seventh-seeded Cougars ran with No. 2 El Camino throughout.
By the end, Weston Ranch raced past the Eagles, 85-78, to advance to next week’s semifinals set for Wednesday at Galt High.
“I’d call it a mild upset,” Slikker said. “Anytime you knock off a 2 seed, especially if you’re on the road, I’d call it that.
“We didn’t play perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we played pretty darn good as a team. I thought we played three great quarters, and we’re still looking to put together four.”
Although Weston Ranch outscored El Camino (25-3) 18-16 in the second quarter, Slikker said that was his least favorite quarter of the four.
In the third, the Cougars turned up the defensive pressure and held El Camino to 10 points. In the fourth, it was back to the uptempo pace, as they poured in 27.
James Nunnally (four assists) and Walter Jackson (five blocks) finished with 17 points and eight rebounds apiece for Weston Ranch.
Brandon Silva added 16 points and three steals, while center Jerrell Walker had 13 points and seven boards.
Keith Arrington paced El Camino with 18 points.
After getting past No. 10 Rio Americano 81-75 in overtime Wednesday, Slikker said his team is focused more than ever.
“We didn’t have any of those lulls tonight. We were consistent and relentless and kept attacking the basket. That was the difference.”
Weston Ranch has just one more hurdle to clear before heading to Arco Arena — the site of the section championships.
The Cougars will take on third-seeded Natomas Wednesday after its 80-52 of No. 6 Foothill.
Staff reports of the
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles/2007/02/24/sports/sports3.txt
Weston Ranch one win away from Arco
Weston Ranch pulled off an upset in Sacramento and the Cougars are one win away from playing at Arco Arena.
Weston Ranch, the seventh seed, beat No. 2 El Camino 85-78 on Friday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III boys basketball quarterfinals.
The Cougars will play No. 3 Natomas in the semifinals on Wednesday at Galt High School.
If they win, it's on to Arco for the finals on March 2.
Weston Ranch (22-7) has never gone this deep into the playoffs in its three varsity seasons.
"We're very happy with the win. One of the goals from the beginning of season was to get to Arco, and we're a win from it," Weston Ranch coach Bill Slikker said. "So we're happy, but we haven't made our goal yet."
James Nunnally and Walter Jackson led the Cougars with 17 points each. Brandon Silva scored 16 points, and Jerrell Walker had 13.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/A_SPORTS09/702240333/-1/A_SPORTS
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Weston Ranch battles into Div. III semifinals
STAFF REPORTS,
Article Last Updated: 02/24/2007 02:31:58 AM PST
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SACRAMENTO — In Weston Ranch's first year, it didn't make the playoffs. In its second season, it reached the second round before being eliminated.
The third year might be the charm, as the Cougars downed host El Camino 85-78 in the second round of the Division III Sac-Joaquin Section boys basketball playoffs.
"We are headed for the third round, and hopefully counting," Weston Ranch coach Bill Slikker said. "We normally would like to have a big three, but tonight we had a big four."
James Nunnally and Walter Jackson (five blocked shots) led the Cougars with 17 points and eight rebounds. Brandon Silva scored 16 points and had three steals, and Jerrell Walker had 13 points and seven rebounds.
"This was truly a team effort, and that is what you want to win on the road," Slikker said.
Weston Ranch plays Natomas in the section semifinals at Galt on Wednesday.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/prepsports/ci_5296706
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