The Nor Cal Wildcats working out in 2013

Below is video of some of the Nor Cal Wildcats workouts featuring Solomon Young, Marquese Chriss, Christian Terrell, Colin Slater Jr, Jonathan Galloway and more -- the spring and summer season is fast approaching:

Sad news

From Yuba College Men's Basketball:

Well normally, positive fun things are posted on this site but today is different. Former Yuba College basketball player Jhonte (Sacramento High) Simpson who played for the 49'ers in 2010-2011 had a devastating loss this week when his 2 1/2 month old little girl passed away in her sleep from SIDS. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. The YUBA family has you in our hearts at this incredibly tough time!!!

Chico St. turns back CSUMB

Chico State was in Seaside last night to face Cal State Monterey Bay and the Wildcats emerged with an 87-70 win. Rashad Parker led the victors with 25 points. boxscore

Luke Reid game reports.

UCSD over SF State

Down near the border, UC San Diego took down San Francisco State 76-51 last night. Will Overton led the Gators with 15 points while Bennie Rhodes finished with 15 points and seven boards. The score at halftime was 34-33 San Francisco State. boxscore

Gator athletics game reports.

San Berdoo over Sonoma State

Down south last night, Cal State San Bernardino beat Sonoma State 82-48. For the Seawolves, Justin Herold finished with 10 points, five boards and three steals in 22 minutes of court time. boxscore

SSU athletics game reports.

CS Stanislaus has no trouble with CS East Bay

Over in Hayward last night, Cal State Stanislaus defeated Cal State East Bay 92-61. For the Turlockians, Marcus Bell post a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double plus five blocked shots and Chris Read scored 16 points. Jarred Jourdan paced the Pioneers with 15. boxscore

Warrior athletics game reports as does Steve Connolly.

More on Josh Akognon

Joel Rush proposes that the Denver Nuggets sign Josh Akognon, now that the Chinese basketball season has concluded.

Lipscomb and Sankey prevail

Lipscomb University bested Northern Kentucky 70-66 last night and, in 24 minutes out of the backcourt, Khion Sankey produced 10 rebounds, seven points and two steals for the victors.

Cunningham back up

The Atlanta Hawks have recalled guard Jared Cunningham from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry. Cunningham, who was re-assigned to Bakersfield on February 4, has averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.1 minutes in 22 games (19 starts) over four stints with the Jam this season. He has appeared in five games with the Hawks this year.

The Top 10 prep pairings

Bay Preps previews it's Top 10 high school matchups of this weekend and offer interviews with six of the head coaches here.

Doolin to UNLV

Raphielle Johnson writes about former USF guard Cody Doolin joining the UNLV basketball program. A waiver request to play next season will be sent to the NCAA -- look for it to be approved. It looks like he will be a graduate (from USF) who moves on to another program for a graduate year/season.

More on Tyler Johnson

Utah State Coach Stew Morrill talking about Fresno State's Tyler Johnson:

It’s fairly common these days for a college team to find itself across the court from a prospect it once coveted. As Morrill reviewed film for the incoming Bulldogs, he knows he’ll be wishing he had gotten Tyler Johnson when the senior starts on Saturday.

 "Tyler Johnson is having as good a year as any guard in the conference," he said. "He’s a Fresno kid. We tried like heck to get him. We were right there, and he elected to stay home, which happens sometimes."

Johnson is quietly assembling his best year for Fresno State, leading the team with 16.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game while hitting nearly 43 percent of his 3-pointers. In conference play, those averages have been higher.

"He can pull up, he can shoot threes, really rebounds the ball — really impressive," Morrill said. "I love the guys that just keep getting better from their freshman year to their senior year, every year they just make jumps. That’s what he’s done."

Johnson play his prep ball at St. Francis in Mountain View. Does anyone know why Morrill is saying he's a Fresno kid? A mistake? Did Johnson live there earlier?

JC game scores from Thursday

 * College of the Redwoods 79 - Shasta College 69

From College of the Redwoods Athletics Facebook page:

In a back-and-forth battle the College of the Redwoods men’s basketball team managed to pull off the season sweep over Shasta in Redding on Thursday, beating the Knights 79-69 in its final game of the regular season.

CR, which already had 20-point and 29-point wins over Shasta this season, trailed by five late in the second half but rallied behind a strong offensive performance from James Slade, who scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half.

“We have nothing but respect for their program and their coaching staff and they came out ready to play and we were sluggish,” said CR head coach Justin Mora. “James did a lot of our scoring but our defense was great and we had 10 different players score at least 3 points so it was a total team effort.”

CR’s Justin Heidrick finished the game with 13 points and Mitchell Hash had 10.

With CR’s win, and Lassen losing to Siskiyous on Thursday, CR, Lassen and Siskiyous all finish at 6-4 in the GVC to tie for second place, which means the Corsairs still have a shot at gaining an at-large bid into the postseason.

“We’re hoping two teams from our league can get in and there’s a three-way tie for second so there’s a still a chance we can make it,” Mora said. “But even if we don’t it’s been a real pleasure coaching these kids. It was a little emotional for me after the game because I’ve coached some of these guys for so long and this could be it. But, character wise, this is the best group of players I’ve ever coached. They’re great basketball players and even better people and it’s just been a lot of fun.”

The Corsairs stand at 16-10 overall and the seedings meeting will take place Sunday in Redding.

Redwoods 79, Shasta 69

CR - 37 42- 79
SH - 39 30- 69

Scoring - (CR) Slade 24, Heidrick 13,  Hash 10, Losa 6, Shelton 6, Sullivan 5, Enos 5, Rose 4, Rogers 3, Cloud 3, 

3-pointers- (CR)- Hash, Rogers, Cloud

Here are game photos.

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* Butte College 78 - Feather River College 64

Joseph Shufelberger game reports. It's no 14 straight Ws for Butte.

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* College of the Siskiyous 108 - Lassen College 84

High School Roundup

* Joe Cortez reports that Riverbank High's Rolaun Dunham is expected to be ready to play next Wednesday, plus more.

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* Keanon Williams banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to boost Santa Cruz to a 54-53 win over Soquel High. Here's the video.

SC sophomore guard Kaijae Yee-Stephens led all scorers with 20 points and backcourt teammate Kiree Hutchings was right behind with 18.

Aptos High got past Harbor High 63-55 in the opening game. Guard Trey Whitley was the best performer in this one and he finished with 21 points.

Santa Cruz and Aptos will now meet to determine the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League tournament champion.

Andrew Matheson reports on both games.

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* Ed Yevelev game reports on San Marin High's win over Drake. 

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Danny Penza game reports the Fortuna High victory over St. Bernard's, making it 14 in a row for the Huskies. Nate Ambrosini led with 21 points.

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* Salesian 60, El Cerrito 59

SH - Marquel Johnson 7 1-1 18, Bernard Ward 5 8-8 18

EC - Tyrell Alcorn 5 4-7 15

From the Salesian High Facebook page: 

The Salesian Boys' Basketball team just beat El Cerrito (25-2 record) 60-59 with a 3 point shot at the buzzer by freshmen Markel Johnson. Congrats to the Pride on advancing to the TCAL playoff championship game on Saturday!!!

Mitch Stephens game reports.

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* St. Joseph Notre Dame 62, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 54

SJND - Temidayo Yussuf 7 9-10 23 (plus 18 rebounds)

SPSV - Jose Flores 17

JC games for Friday

* Chabot College - Foothill College            
    
* Cañada College - Skyline College            
   
* Gavilan College - Cabrillo College             
    
* Hartnell College - Monterey Peninsula College           

* Ohlone  College - City College of San Francisco        
   
* College of Marin - College of Alameda             
    
* Sierra College - Sacramento City College       
    
* Contra Costa College - Solano College         
   
* Modesto Junior College - Diablo Valley College        
    
* Los Medanos College - Napa Valley College        
   
* Yuba College - Merritt College        
   
* San Joaquin Delta College - American River College            

* Cosumnes River College - Santa Rosa Junior College