By Russell Stiger Jr. | OBSERVER Correspondent

Sacramento High School head coach Matt Johnson gives his players instruction during a first half time out
Sacramento High School head coach Matt Johnson gives his players instruction during a first half time out in a home playoff game against California (San Ramon). Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER

Tuesday night marked the end of Sacramento HIgh School’s boys basketball season.

Sac High guard and captain Kendahl Hearne and sophomore center Shabol Barksdale walk off the court after losing a home playoff game to California 69-63.
Sac High guard and captain Kendahl Hearne and sophomore center Shabol Barksdale walk off the court after losing a home playoff game to California 69-63. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER

The Dragons fell 69-63 to California of San Ramon in front of a large home crowd in the first round of the Northern California Regional playoffs. But you still must call them champions. Sac High beat Vanden for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 title Saturday night at Golden 1 Center. And while the NorCal playoffs ended early, Sac High (25-8) reached 25 wins for the first time since 2015-16, when the Dragons finished 30-2.

The Dragons left it all on the floor Tuesday night and were in the game until the very end.  Sac High’s season might have ended bitterly, but first-year Coach Matt Johnson, a member of a section championship-winning team as a Dragons player, likely can look forward to future playoff runs.

Sac High guard Kendahl Hearne drives to the basket during the Dragons’ home playoff game against California.
Sac High guard Kendahl Hearne drives to the basket during the Dragons’ home playoff game against California. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER

A young roster that gained so much valuable experience returns its leading scorer, junior Kendahl Hearne (14 points per game). Also back are sophomores Sir Marius Jones (13.1 points per game) and Shabol Barksdale, the team’s leading rebounder with 11.2 per game to go with and 3.1 blocks.