From the Sacramento Bee

By Bill Paterson

Jesuit and Pleasant Grove looked impressive while Sheldon struggled offensively yet still won in their NorCal Tip-Off Classic boys basketball games Saturday in Newark.

Defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champion Sheldon shot 39.5 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from the foul line in holding off McClymonds of Oakland 45-43 in the nightcap of the seven-game event at Newark Memorial High School.

Huskies junior guard Armani Hampton, who finished with 13 points, was selected the Player of the Game. Junior center-forward Ryan Manning added nine points and six rebounds. He is the son of former Center star and NBA player Rich Manning.

Junior standouts D’Erryl Williams and Dakarai Allen both struggled with their shooting touches from the floor and the foul line in combining for six points, but they and the Huskies held McClymonds to 30 percent shooting from the floor in what was a physical battle.

Jesuit, a rival of Sheldon in the Delta River League, looked more polished offensively in its 82-74 win over Dublin as Bryce Pressley earned Player of the Game honors with 24 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. He is the son of former Villanova star and Kings player Harold Pressley.

Kurt Parker added 22 points and Parker Uu 20 for the Marauders.

Matt Hayes, a 6-foot junior guard, earned Player of the Game honors with a game-high 20 points in leading Pleasant Grove past St. Patrick’s-St. Vincent’s of Vallejo 62-49.

Junior guard Malik Thames added 15 points and five assists. He is the younger brother of former Eagles star Xavier Thames, now at San Diego State.
Point guard Caleb Jackson, a 6-foot senior, grabbed nine rebounds and junior forward Colfax Nordquist had nine points, five assists and four steals for Pleasant Grove.

The win was even more impressive because the Eagles played without football standouts Cody Demps, Arik Armstead and D.J. Dunn.

Pleasant Grove is playing Granite Bay in Saturday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game at Sacramento State.