Burnel Pinkerton steps down

Woodcreek High had a great run this season and we salute Coach Pinkerton for all his work with his kids:

Bad knees force Pinkerton to retire; Hayes returns as Woodcreek coach
Bill Paterson
Sacramento Bee
April 12, 2010

Betrayed by two aching knees, Burnel Pinkerton stepped down as the boys basketball coach at Woodcreek High School today, less than a month after leading the Timberwolves to a momentous 28-6 season that included winning Sierra Foothill League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championships.

The coaching change is expected to be seamless. This past season's Bee Boys Coach of the Year will be replaced by former Woodcreek coach Paul Hayes, an on-campus teacher who has decided to jump back to the varsity after two years as the JV coach.

Pinkerton replaced Hayes in 2004...

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A local feature on the St. Francis win over Woodcreek

St. Francis reaches Division II state final in dramatic style
Dennis Knight
Mercury News
3/20/2010

SACRAMENTO — St. Francis senior Patrick Crowley watched the ball carom off the rim with time running out. Seeing the Lancers' season flash before his eyes, he grabbed the rebound, but Woodcreek's 6-foot-11 Mike Kurtz stood in his way.

Crowley's pump fake earned an open look, and he swished a 7-footer at the buzzer to give the Lancers a heart-stopping 48-47 victory in the Northern California Division II final at Arco Arena on Saturday.

St. Francis (30-3) will play in its first state final since 2002 when the Lancers face Lincoln-San Diego at 8 p.m. Friday at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield...

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St. Francis over Woodcreek 48-47

A last second shot did the trick:

St. Francis buzzer-beater beats Woodcreek in NorCal D-II title game
Bill Paterson
Sacramento Bee
March 20, 2010

The magical run of Woodcreek's "Cardiac Kids" came to an end today at Arco Arena.

Patrick Crowley's 7-footer at the buzzer lifted second-seeded St. Francis of Mountain View (30-3) to a 48-47 win over the fourth-seeded Timberwolves (28-6) in the CIF Northern Regional Division II boys championship game...

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Here are a series of Sac Bee game photos, including one just after the conclusion.

A feature on Woodcreek High hoops

He and his players have done a remarkable job this season so it's good to see some press come their way:

Woodcreek boys coach ready for heart-stopping game for D-II title
Bill Paterson
Sacramento Bee
March 20, 2010

Woodcreek High School boys basketball coach Burnel Pinkerton has started calling his guys the "Cardiac Kids."

"They're killing me," Pinkerton said. "I don't think I can take too many more blasts to the ticker..."

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Bay Area bias?

We will soon find out who is the best and settle all the speculation -- except that the 'home court advantage' factor will still be available for use.

Woodcreek boys feel seeding snub in NorCal playoffs
Bill Paterson
Sacramento Bee
March 13, 2010

Make no mistake: Woodcreek High School boys basketball coach Burnel Pinkerton is pleased that his team has reached tonight's California Interscholastic Federation Northern California Regional Division II semifinal.

But Pinkerton is puzzled why his fourth-seeded Timberwolves (27-5) aren't playing in Roseville. Instead, they'll be in San Jose facing an Archbishop Mitty team that has nine losses yet is seeded No. 1.

He has the backing of Rocklin coach Steve Taylor...

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Woodcreek tops Chico / Sacramento over Miramonte

Depth on bench helps Woodcreek overcome Chico
Bill Paterson
Sacramento Bee
March 12, 2010

There may be Academy Awards for supporting actors in film, but there are no Oscars for role players in high school boys basketball.

But if Woodcreek High School coach Burnel Pinkerton had any golden hardware to give out, he'd break it into at least 10 pieces.

Woodcreek's big three of seniors Nik Milani, Mike Kurtz and Ryan Milat – the Timberwolves' top three scorers – certainly would each get their piece...

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and

Sac High girls, boys win in NorCal playoffs
Joe Davidson
Sacramento Bee
March 10, 2010

Sacramento boys 87, Miramonte 84 – Not to be completely outdone by his cousin Brittany Shine, Josiah Turner keyed a fourth-quarter rally to hold off the Matadors of Orinda in a second-round game.

A nationally recruited 6-foot-3 junior guard, Turner scored seven of his 37 points in a fourth-quarter run that put the Dragons (25-6) ahead to stay. He had a steal and layup, a three-pointer and another steal and score to make it 85-78 as second-seeded Sac High withstood the play of forwards Chris Hatfield (28 points) and Ross Anderson (20)...

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Woodcreek over Oakmont

Woodcreek holds off rival Oakmont in spirited D-II title game at Arco Arena
Joe Davidson
Sacramento Bee
March 6, 2010

It's never easy to beat a rival once in a single season, or twice. Or three times, even.

How about four?

That was the daunting task at hand for second-seeded Woodcreek High School as it faced cross-town Roseville rival and No. 4 Oakmont tonight in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II title game at Arco Arena...

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Here is Bill Paterson's game report.

Woodcreek High gets a feature

Bill Paterson offers some words about Woodcreek High's solid season to date:

Woodcreek boys shows their depth
Bill Paterson
Sacramento Bee
January 19, 2010

Woodcreek High School boys basketball coach Burnel Pinkerton has a nice problem.

"I've got 14 guys, and every stinking kid can play," he said of his Timberwolves. "The hard part is trying to find minutes for these kids. Our bench production has been great."

It's been good enough to get Woodcreek (15-3, 3-0) through the first two weeks of Sierra Foothill League competition unscathed...

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