Central Valley High School's student body stormed the court following Friday night's 56-48 upset of crosstown rival and visiting Ceres High in varsity boys basketball.
The Hawks eliminated the Bulldogs from playoff contention on the final day of the season.
"Our coaches kept reminding us 41 points," Central Valley senior Yama Noorzai said. "That's how bad they killed us last time. It wasn't even a game. We just had a fire in us today."
Noorzai buried four 3-pointers and scored 17 points for the Hawks (10-18 overall, 4-10 Valley Oak League). Sophomore Brian Blunt had 13 points, including three treys. Sean McLeod tallied 10 points. Trevor Mew and Tony Marques contributed eight points each.
Brett Sayad made three 3-pointers and scored 18 points for the Bulldogs (14-13 overall, 7-7 VOL), who dropped from No. 14 to 17 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III power ratings. The top 16 teams received postseason bids. Martino Bertolotti (10 points), Justin Canatsy (six), Marcus Hilgen (six), Lance Hunter (four), Thomas Vanderlaan (three) and Tony Bradford (one) also broke into the scoring column. Bertolotti and Canatsy drained two 3-pointers.
"We don't really deserve to go to the playoffs because of the way we played against Central Valley," Sayad said. "We just didn't come out ready. And they did. It sucks to lose your last game."
The Hawks hit five 3-pointers on their way to building a 30-10 lead in the first half.
"They weren't doing anything special," Ceres coach Jason Martin said. "It was just a matter of us not making shots and standing around. It's very disappointing."
"We frustrated them," Noorzai said. "You could see it."
"The kids really played hard," Central Valley assistant coach Tim Garcia said. "They got loose balls. They got rebounds. They got hustle points. They executed the game plan."
Ceres High made the game interesting in the fourth quarter thanks to a 17-4 surge that pulled the Bulldogs within four with 2:03 to play. Sayad, Canatsy and Hilgen had 12, three and two points, respectively.
"I play better in hostile crowds," said Brett, who was showered with chants of overrated practically every time he touched the ball.
Central Valley squashed Ceres High's comeback bid with a 7-3 run in the final minute. McLeod had three points, Marques tallied two, and Noorzai and Mew both chipped in one.
"We knocked them out of playoffs just like baseball did," Sean said. We also beat them in football. It feels good. It adds to the rivalry. I would have still supported them if they made the playoffs. It's not like I hate them. When we're not playing, we can all hang out and be friends."
The Hawks eliminated the Bulldogs from playoff contention on the final day of the season.
"Our coaches kept reminding us 41 points," Central Valley senior Yama Noorzai said. "That's how bad they killed us last time. It wasn't even a game. We just had a fire in us today."
Noorzai buried four 3-pointers and scored 17 points for the Hawks (10-18 overall, 4-10 Valley Oak League). Sophomore Brian Blunt had 13 points, including three treys. Sean McLeod tallied 10 points. Trevor Mew and Tony Marques contributed eight points each.
Brett Sayad made three 3-pointers and scored 18 points for the Bulldogs (14-13 overall, 7-7 VOL), who dropped from No. 14 to 17 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III power ratings. The top 16 teams received postseason bids. Martino Bertolotti (10 points), Justin Canatsy (six), Marcus Hilgen (six), Lance Hunter (four), Thomas Vanderlaan (three) and Tony Bradford (one) also broke into the scoring column. Bertolotti and Canatsy drained two 3-pointers.
"We don't really deserve to go to the playoffs because of the way we played against Central Valley," Sayad said. "We just didn't come out ready. And they did. It sucks to lose your last game."
The Hawks hit five 3-pointers on their way to building a 30-10 lead in the first half.
"They weren't doing anything special," Ceres coach Jason Martin said. "It was just a matter of us not making shots and standing around. It's very disappointing."
"We frustrated them," Noorzai said. "You could see it."
"The kids really played hard," Central Valley assistant coach Tim Garcia said. "They got loose balls. They got rebounds. They got hustle points. They executed the game plan."
Ceres High made the game interesting in the fourth quarter thanks to a 17-4 surge that pulled the Bulldogs within four with 2:03 to play. Sayad, Canatsy and Hilgen had 12, three and two points, respectively.
"I play better in hostile crowds," said Brett, who was showered with chants of overrated practically every time he touched the ball.
Central Valley squashed Ceres High's comeback bid with a 7-3 run in the final minute. McLeod had three points, Marques tallied two, and Noorzai and Mew both chipped in one.
"We knocked them out of playoffs just like baseball did," Sean said. We also beat them in football. It feels good. It adds to the rivalry. I would have still supported them if they made the playoffs. It's not like I hate them. When we're not playing, we can all hang out and be friends."
