How did the 2014s do it?

It was the juniors taking the Nor Cal Clash 131-128 over their elders last Sunday -- that is known but the question is did anyone see it coming?

On paper, it appeared the 2013s had too much offensive firepower to contain. But what also should have been noted was the absence of a force (offensively, defensively and on the boards) in the middle for the seniors.

Yet, many fans would have scoffed at a prediction like the actual outcome.

But both Cameron Oliver and Jalen Canty especially came through inside for the 2014s.

Was the outcome of any real consequence?

No.

But it's still a success worth noting and one indicating that 2014 class members will cast a shadow of their own come recruitment time.

2013 (Seniors):

Aaron Gordon 41
Jabari Bird 27
Darin Johnson 19
Noah Allen 10
Rae Jackson 10
Raymond Bowles 7
Kendall Smith 6
Dakarai Allen 6
D'Erryl Williams 2

2014 (Juniors):

Cameron Oliver 19
Elliott Smith 19
Murshid Randle 19
Jalen Canty 16
Derrick Clayton 15
Trevor Dunbar 12
Temidayo Yussuf 10
Shon Briggs 10
Joey Frenchwood 8
Joey Goodreault 3
Malik Pope 0

It's the 'youngsters' in the Nor Cal Clash

Direct from Gerry Freitas:

Juniors upset Seniors 131-128 in Nor Cal Clash

If there is such a thing as an upset in all star game, this one would be classified as such, as the class of 2014 edged the class of 2013 by a score of 131-128 Sunday afternoon in the fourth annual Nor Cal Clash at Contra Costa College in San Pablo.

Archbishop Mitty's all-everything star, senior Aaron Gordon, fresh off an MVP performance at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 in Southern California on Saturday, lead all scorers with 41 points (along with 14 rebounds) and was selected player of the game.

The juniors (2014) were behind 74-64 at halftime after being down by as much as 20 points in the first half after a scoring onslaught by Gordon (with 24) and Salesian's Jabari Bird (with 19). The seniors (2013) increased the lead to 105-91 by the end of the third quarter and things did not look good for the younger class who did not have the lead at all in the first three periods.

But the class of 2014 had a furious rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 40 points to the class of 2013's 23. Jalen Canty of St. Patrick-St. Vincent had 8 fourth-quarter points to lead the lead the way. St. Joseph-Notre Dame's Temidayo Yussuf scored on a short floater with 1:55 to give 2013 its' first lead of the game at 126-125 and they would never trail again. Murshid Randle of Central High in Fresno (who had 6 fourth quarter points) sealed the victory with 1 of 2 free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining.

The series is now tied at 2-2 all time.

Scoring Totals:

2014 (Juniors): 

Cameron Oliver 19
Elliott Smith 19
Murshid Randle 19
Jalen Canty 16
Derrick Clayton 15
Trevor Dunbar 12
Temidayo Yussuf 10
Shon Briggs 10
Joey Frenchwood 8
Joey Goodreault 3
Malik Pope 0

2013 (Seniors): 

Aaron Gordon 41
Jabari Bird 27
Darin Johnson 19
Noah Allen 10
Rae Jackson 10
Raymond Bowles 7
Kendall Smith 6
Dakarai Allen 6
D'Erryl Williams 2

Nor Cal Clash video highlights

Since the Nor Cal Clash is just about on us -- August 26, 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa College --  below are some video highights of previous action and competitors.

The upcoming Nor Cal Clash -- note the change in time

The fourth annual Nor Cal Clash is coming up on August 26 at 2:30 p.m. (DO NOTE THE TIME CHANGE) at Contra Costa College.

As usual, it's the youngsters versus their elders -- Northern California's 2014 elite matching up with those in the 2013 class.

It will also be Tim Kennedy of Division II state champion Archbishop Mitty matching wits with Lechet Phillips of Deer Valley High, whose team was a Division I Nor Cal quarter-finalist.

A game and player report on the event will be done by the Hoop Review scouting service in addition to websites NorCal Preps and California Preps as well as other other media outlets.

Here are the rosters:

Class of 2013 - Coach: Lechet Phillips (Deer Valley)

Dakarai Allen 6’4” Sheldon (Sacramento)
Noah Allen 6’6” Palma (Salinas)
Jabari Bird 6’5” Salesian (Richmond)
Raymond Bowles 6’5” Modesto Christian (Modesto)
Aaron Gordon 6’8” Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
Rae Jackson 6’3” El Cerrito
Darin Johnson 6’4” Sheldon (Sacramento)
Daiveon Leverett 6’7” Weston Ranch (Stockton)
Kendall Smith 6’2” Deer Valley (Antioch)
TJ Wallace 6’3” Modesto Christian (Modesto)
D’Erryl Williams 6’2” Sheldon (Sacramento)

Class of 2014 - Coach Tim Kennedy (Archbishop Mitty)

Shon Briggs 6’6” Heritage (Brentwood)
Jalen Canty 6’6” St. Patrick-St. Vincent (Vallejo)
Derrick Clayton 6’5” Castro Valley
Trevor Dunbar 5’8” St. Ignatius (San Francisco)
Joey Frenchwood 6’0” Newark Memorial (Newark)
Joey Goodreault 6’3” Miramonte (Orinda)
Cameron Oliver 6’8” Grant (Sacramento)
Malik Pope 6’7” Capital Christian (Sacramento)
Murshid Randle 6’3” Central (Fresno)
Elliott Smith 6’5” Freedom (Oakley)
Temidayo Yussuf 6’5” St. Joseph-Notre Dame (Alameda)

More on the Nor Cal Clash

Here's Bill Paterson on Gerry Freitas' upcoming Nor Cal Clash.

The upcoming Nor Cal Clash

The fourth annual Nor Cal Clash is coming up on August 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Contra Costa College.

As usual, it's the youngsters versus their elders -- Northern California's 2014 elite matching up with those in the 2013 class.

It will also be Tim Kennedy of Division II state champion Archbishop Mitty matching wits with Lechet Phillips of Deer Valley High, whose team was a Division I Nor Cal quarter-finalist.

A game and player report on the event will be done by the Hoop Review scouting service in addition to websites NorCal Preps and California Preps as well as other other media outlets.

The list of players participating in the event will be announced on August 5.

2012s win the Nor Cal Clash

The third annual Nor Cal Clash is in the books with the oldsters (the 2012s) topping their younger 2013 brethren 143-124 Sunday afternoon at Contra Costa College. It was 42-25 in favor of the eventual winners after the initial quarter, 76-60 at the half and 104-90 after three.

The player impressions:

Bryce Scott, 2012, Oakridge displayed catch-and-shoot ability with a trio of treys

Mike Bryson, 2012, Foothill was off with his shooting in the initial half but displayed long, longer and longest range in the second 20 minutes -- coming off his shooting hand, the ball seems to peacefully nestle into the net

Tajai Johnson, 2012, Vallejo offered the highlight play of the game with a left-handed dribble-drive jam despite his defender bodying him the entire play

Richard Longrus, 2012, Bishop O'Dowd displayed moments of dribble-drive ability but needs to finish with a better shot -- his college choice will be fascinating -- does he go to where he'll be a role player (rebounding, defense) or to where he has a chance to be say the second or third offensive option?

Langston Walker, 2012, Berkeley won player of the game honors with the impression of scoring more inside than out of the paint -- like Longrus, will his college choice be predicated on the best opportunity to be a star or a lesser option offensively?

Jabari Bird, 2013, Salesian was our choice for player of the game as he scored inside and out -- what a live body and just imagine what havoc he will create offensively once he adds 30 pounds of muscle -- he has two guard written all over him

Marcus Lee, 2013, Deer Valley had a rough first half as his faceup jumpers from distance weren't connecting but he went inside in the second 20 minutes and displayed nice footwork and an assortment of shots

The mid-range pullup jumper remains plastered on the milk cartons across America as missing in action. Nowadays, the intent is to move towards the basket until disappearing into a hoops version of a rugby scrum and flinging up a shot.

Unfortunately, dribbling the ball horizontally from hand to hand and then cranking up an errant jumper was also all too often on display.

Continuing our old skewl rant to make it a trifecta, why is attempting to dribble through two or three simultaneous opponents the preferred method of advancing the ball?

Just asking.

A big thank you goes out to Gerry Freitas for making this event happen.

Nor Cal Clash coming August 28

From Gerry Freitas/Hoop Review:

2011 NOR CAL CLASH ANNOUNCEMENT

The third annual Nor Cal Clash will be held Sunday August 28th at Contra Costa College in San Pablo at 1:00 pm. This one-game event will have elite players from Northern California in the class of 2012 playing against elite players in the class of 2013.

The purpose of the event is to help promote Nor Cal basketball and its elite prospects. A report on the event will be done by the Hoop Review scouting service in addition to websites norcalpreps.com and californiapreps.com and other media outlets.

Coaching in the game will be Don Lippi of Division V state champion St. Joseph’s-Notre Dame and Nick Jones of Castro Valley, whose team was the Division I Nor Cal runner up.

The list of players participating in the event will be announced on August 10.