SAN PABLO – An unheralded reserve jumping off the bench to provide a spark.
A switch-heavy defense where all five players interchanged and forced stops in synchronized perfection.
Meticulous but not rigid offense that got the ball pinging from one side to the other, players turning down merely-good looks for wide-open shots.
Salesian ended a decade-long run of Open Division futility by playing the game like only Richmond school could.
An unselfish brand of basketball on both ends of the court that resulted in the Pride defeating Modesto Christian 64-52 on Saturday night and punching their ticket to a championship matchup with Archbishop Riordan.
It was coach Bill Mellis’ first win in the Open Division in six trips to the state’s highest playoff bracket.
“We didn’t feel the pressure,” Mellis said. “Getting the monkey off our back, that’s for other people to talk about and whatever, and if they can stop talking about it now, cool. It wasn’t a big deal to us other than if we lose, we wouldn’t be able to continue on with our season.”
Salesian head coach Bill Mellis flashes a smile as his team defeats Modesto Christian during their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Salesian defeated Modesto Christian 64-52. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Modesto Christian led 19-14 midway through the second, thanks to Modesto Christian shooters taking advantage of wide-open 3-pointers surrendered by an overhelping Salesian defense.
But once the Pride settled into their switch-everything strategy, Modesto never recovered. Elias Obenyah started the run with a putback, and then another layup off an Aaron Hunkin-Claytor steal.
The senior guard made it back-to-back steals on the next possession, and the former Pop Warner quarterback showed off his passing chops by hitting wing D’Undrae Perteete for a layup to give Salesian a 20-19 lead.
“We’ve had some really awesome point guards, and he’s right up there with them,” Mellis said about Hunkin-Claytor.
Modesto Christian never led again.
“I will say that they’re one of the more ‘together’ teams that I’ve seen in my coaching career,“ Modesto coach Brice Fantazia said. “You can tell there’s no egos and no ulterior motives.”
They just want to win.”
Salesian’s Amani Johnson (12) blocks a shot by Modesto Christian’s Ry Atkins (10) in the second quarter of their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian led 32-27 at halftime and 46-35 after three quarters as the Pride got into a groove. Forward Carlton Perrilliat came off the bench to score an unexpected team-high 12 points on drives, midrange jumpers and even a 3-pointer.
And of course, he did his part on defense, checking everyone from guards Gavin Sykes (15 points) and Myles Jones (13 points) to big man Armon Naweed.
“Everybody can guard anybody,” Perrilliat said.
After not hitting a single 3-pointer in the first quarter, the Pride made four in the next two quarters to space the floor, including two by Amani Johnson. As its done all season, Salesian constantly rotated quality players in and out to keep players fresh.
“Guys are stepping up every game,” Obenyah said. “Someone may not play well, but someone else is gonna step up.”
With tears in his eyes, Modesto Christian’s Marcus Washington (12) is consoled by Salesian’s De’Undrae Perteete (0) after their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Salesian defeated Modesto Christian 64-52. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
By the final buzzer, Salesian was firing on every cylinder, and the Pride will try to keep that momentum going in its NorCal title game matchup with San Francisco powerhouse Archbishop Riordan on Tuesday.
Salesian defeated Riordan 61-48 on MLK day after spotting Riordan a 10-0 advantage in the first quarter, but the Pride expect a much closer game this time around.
“It’s gonna be fun,” Obenyah said.
The showdown at Contra Costa College was a duel between two programs with opposite reputations in NorCal.
On one hand, Modesto Christian was the model of consistency in a topsy-turvy sport, reaching the semifinals in each of its nine appearances in NorCal. It has advanced to the final in each of the past three seasons, reaching the state title game in 2022. The Crusaders beat De La Salle 51-49 at the buzzer on thursday.
Salesian’s postseason story had not been so rosy, a tale that included the Crusaders.
Modesto Christian stunned top-seeded Salesian 56-55 in 2019, sending the then-undefeated Pride packing in the semifinals. It wasn’t the first time Salesian had fallen far short of expectations, as the Richmond program lost as the top seed in 2013 and 2018 too.
Mellis didn’t make much of Saturday’s breakthrough victory, but his players did.
“Man, I’m happy for him,” Perteete said. “Even when I transferred here (from Skyline), I would hear about that and hear a lot of guys giving him crap. I’m glad we could get this win for him and help him make history.”
The Pride, now 30-1 and winners of 18 in a row, weren’t celebrating too hard after the semifinal victory though.
They want region and state titles.
“I think that’s what everyone thought it would be, us and Riordan,” Mellis said. “So let’s just have a good game on Tuesday.”
Modesto Christian head coach Brice Fantazia speaks to an official about a play during their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Salesian defeated Modesto Christian 64-52. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian’s Elias Obenyah (2) goes up for a basket past Modesto Christian’s Marcus Washington (12) in the second quarter of their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian’s Isaiah Davis (5) and Alvin Loving (1) guard Modesto Christian’s Gavin Sykes (11) in the second quarter of their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Salesian’s Isaiah Davis (5) falls to the floor while playing Modesto Christian in the third quarter of their NorCal Open Division semifinals game at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Salesian defeated Modesto Christian 64-52. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)