Checking in on Tim Harris

Tim Harris was a star West Catholic Athletic League player at Valley Christian High two years ago for Coach Steve Cotton and then headed up to Randy Bennett's St. Mary's program after graduation.

As a Gael, Harris has been bitten by the injury bug for two straight seasons.

In his freshman go-around, a right hamstring injury sidelined him and he was granted a redshirt exemption.

In 2010-11, it was a left wrist ligament injury that put him in drydock for the first half of the schedule and then a late-season appendectomy closed out his court prospects for the year.

So what does this coming season offer for Harris?

Hopefully, robust health for one. Point Mickey McConnell has graduated probably to be replaced by 5-foot-11 SMU transfer Paul McCoy. 6-foot-4 Matthew Dellavedova returns as a starter as does sophomore-to-be Stephen Holt, also at 6-foot-4. Prep Mckenzie Moore is a possibility, contingent on passing his SAT.

So that leaves a playing time opening for the high-jumping and very quick Harris as his physical assets and skills set isn't duplicated by any other backcourter on the roster.

An update on Rick Croy

Just came across this on former Northgate High (Walnut Creek) and San Francisco State basketballer Rick Croy (who has headed the Citrus College men's basketball program for the last six seasons):

"...Owls' Head Coach Rick Croy, who built the Citrus program from an afterthought to a dynasty, has left to join the staff of St. Mary's..."

Here's Croy's biography from the Citrus College site. CC won the state championship in 2008 and went 29-3 this past season, losing to the eventual winner of the state championship by one point in the semifinals.

St. Mary's breaks the streak -- takes down Salesian

St. Mary's boys basketball team upsets Salesian
Chace Bryson
Oakland Tribune
3/06/2010

In a different situation, St. Mary's High boys basketball coach Manny Nodar may have used his last timeout to design a way to get a different player the ball. But on Saturday, it was Justin Pollard. It had to be.

With the rest of the Panthers combining to go just 5-for-19 at the foul line, Pollard made seven of nine fourth-quarter free throws to help St. Mary's upset rival Salesian 52-49 in the North Coast Section Division IV championship game at Saint Mary's College...

Go here for the remainder.

St. Mary's gets by Cloverdale

Robby Rowland and Company almost pulled it off. Here are a couple of game reports:

Rowland's ride comes to an end
Record-setting forward has 26 points, 14 rebounds, but third-seeded St. Mary's edges No. 6 Eagles
Eric Branch
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
February 27, 2010

CLOVERDALE – The Cloverdale boys' basketball team's memorable season and the historic career of Robby Rowland ended here Saturday night thanks to an opponent that in the end was quicker, fresher and two baskets better.

The sixth-seeded Eagles, the smallest public school among the North Coast Section's 24 Division IV teams, fell to No. 3 St. Mary's, 64-60, in the NCS quarterfinals. Cloverdale led 30-27 at halftime and was tied at 56 with three minutes left, but the Eagles (27-3) missed five of their final six shots and their upset bid fell short. The Panthers (21-9), winners of two NCS titles in the past three years, escaped despite making just 7 of 18 second-half free throws. St. Mary's helped offset their free-throw woes by corralling four missed foul shots...

Go here for the remainder.

and

St. Mary's Rebounds To End Cloverdale's Season
Joe Pasquini
YSN365.com
Sunday, 28 February 2010

Cloverdale met a team that was quicker, bigger and stronger in a game that was called to that teams advantage. But in the end, one of the most basic things in basketball, getting a rebound when the other team is shooting free throws, cost them a epic upset as St. Mary's pulled out a 64-60 win.

The loss not only ended Cloverdale's hope for the school's first Nor Cal berth since the mid 80's, but ended the great high school career of Robby Rowland. Rowland scored a game high 26 points, so his Sonoma County scoring career scoring record target will sit at 2,548 points, which unofficially is 26th All-Time in the State...

Go here for the remainder.

Rob Jones to St. Mary's

Let's go for an oxymoron: in the world's worst kept secret, former Riordan High star Rob Jones is transferring to St. Mary's, per Jeff Goodman. It's a good fit but, more importantly, he will certainly be much closer to his ailing father. Jones will have to sit out this season.