SACRAMENTO—The Modesto Christian Crusaders sequestered behind a large white locker room door for at least 20 minutes Friday night as they no doubt processed a chance missed.
That shut door was more than just a metaphor Friday night for the Sac-Joaquin Section’s most decorated basketball program. The Crusaders, who've made championship celebrations their calling card, were rejected this time by Folsom 62-52 in the Division I title game at Golden 1 Center.
MC (24-8) was denied a fourth straight section title and also did not add to its section-record 22 blue banners. When it ended, Folsom (28-3) bounced up and down at midcourt like preschoolers at recess while MC trudged silently to its bench.
The numbers, the body language and every fan in the house reflected the same message: The Bulldogs, on this night, were better.
“Everyone is pretty upset in there,” MC coach Brice Fantazia summarized after that extended sitdown. “When we come to Golden 1, we expect to win and that’s what we do most of the time.”
Instead, Modesto Christian was outshot, outtripled and outdefended by a Folsom team which accomplished its No. 1 priority—containing the Crusaders’ conspicuous points machine Gavin Sykes.
Sykes, bound for Long Beach State, averages 22.4 points per game. Including a monstrous 45 points during the hard-fought semifinal win over Lincoln of Stockton earlier this week. The Bulldogs responded by hounding Sykes with a rotating conga line of stubborn defenders, anchored by the physical quarterback of the Folsom football powerhouse Ryder Lyons.
When Sykes spun into the lane, he was greeted by two, or even three redshirts. The result was only 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting. None of his points came easily.
“They played like a team and made it really hard on me,” Sykes said. “They definitely watched the film of that [the Lincoln semifinal].”
But going into the fourth quarter, MC trailed only 46-44. The normal Crusader response is frenetic offense, clutch defense and, eventually, a victory. This time, the Crusaders managed only a paltry eight points, a shock to the system for a team that averages 71 a night.
The final eight minutes began when Sykes, in full flight at half-court, kicked the ball forward for one of MC’s 16 costly turnovers. Folsom star Chase Rawlins (25 points) converted for a layup, and the Bulldogs slowly pulled away.
Rawlins, 6-foot-5 and built like a fence post, netted three of Folsom’s eight 3-pointers and ran the floor nonstop. Contrary to Sykes, his 25 points topped his average by 10 points.
Incredibly, the Folsom bench outscored the MC subs 23-0. One of the Bulldog reserves, 6-9 Siyahe Siaisiai, connected on five of seven from the floor for 12 points.
“We’ve been playing some really good basketball. Tonight just wasn’t Modesto Christian basketball,” Fantazia said. “Gavin has been amazing all year. Our team was waiting for Superman to save them. It just didn’t happen tonight.”
Folsom, coached by the veteran Mike Wall, signaled its arrival in December when it throttled Mater Dei by 40 points. The Bulldogs arrived at the home of the Sacramento Kings with more than a little momentum after putting down 12 triples Tuesday night to hand No. 2 seed Inderkum its second loss.
That momentum was sustained when it shook off Modesto Christian’s early seven-point lead. An 11-point run in the second quarter, featuring eight points by Rawlins, put Folsom ahead to stay.
Modesto Christian stayed close, thanks mostly to 6-7 Summerville transfer Ry Atkins with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Trevor Dickson, a sophomore, netted four from the arc for 12 points.
“Folsom is a great program,” Fantazia praised as the Bulldogs collected their fifth section title. “I knew he (Wall) would have a plan, to wear Gavin and Myles [Myles Jones] out. We were going to ride our guys who’ve been in this moment.”
Fantazia feared his young roster (12 underclassmen) might catch up to the Crusaders at some point. In fact, Fantazia himself felt the pace. He coached both Modesto Christian and the Big 8 Conference champion Modesto Junior College Pirates this season as his personal transition takes shape.
Fantazia’s Pirates will be at home Saturday night for the first round of the Northern California Regionals. Then he'll again flip-flop to Modesto Christian for the start of the CIF Regionals on Tuesday night.
Chris Teeven, Fantazia’s assistant coach, will take over at Modesto Christian next season while Fantazia moves fulltime to MJC. His post-game words touched on the upcoming end to his successful nine-year run on Sisk Road.
“This might have been the golden era of Modesto Christian basketball these past few years,” he said. “This year has been gratifying. I’ve been exhausted this year. You can’t say I didn’t give ‘em everything I had. It’s been a grind.”
So that shut locker room door symbolized both beginnings and endings.
Folsom 62, Modesto Christian 52
Folsom 11-19-16-16—62
Modesto Christian 15-13-16-8—52
Folsom (28-3)—Chase Rawlins 25, Slyahe Siaisiai 12, Joven Dulay 9, Jack Shull 8, Alec Day 3, Scott Nardinelli 3, Ryder Lyons 2. Totals 24 6-15 62
Modesto Christian (24-8)—Ry Atkins 16, Gavin Sykes 15, Trevor Dickson 12, Myles Jones 9. Totals 15-41 15-16 52
3-Pt Goals—Folsom 8 (Rawlins 3, Siaisiai 2, Nardinelli, Dulay, Day), MC 7 (Dickson 4, Jones, Sykes, Atkins). FG %--Folsom 24-51 (47%), MC 15-41—37%. Rebounds—Folsom 25 (Rawlins 8), MC 35 (Atkins 15). Turnovers—Folsom 6, MC 15. Team Fouls—Folsom 14, MC 17. Fouled Out—No one
