By Larry Hicks | Special to The Observer
Christian Brothers entered the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 boys basketball championship game Feb. 28 at Golden 1 Center, arguably missing the most important member of the team.
Falcons head coach Jermaine Brown was hospitalized after suffering a stroke a couple of days earlier, stunning the team. Brown, 41, had led his team to its second consecutive title game and was looking to change the ending from a year ago when the Falcons lost. His illness and absence certainly unsettled the team as it faced El Capitan of Merced, but it did not sink it. Instead, with assistant coach Shawn Underwood taking the lead chair, the inspired and determined Falcons defeated El Capitan 59-56 to hoist the championship banner. Seniors Daniel Powers and Stephan Hewitt led the Falcons in scoring with 25 and 19 points, respectively. Sophomore Andre Rabb-Patterson and senior Cameron Nero also contributed with key buckets, rebounds and defense. After the game the team went to Kaiser Hospital to celebrate victory with coach Brown, who tracked the game online from his hospital bed.
Meanwhile, the No.3 seed McClatchy Lions girls team entered the D1 champion game Friday as the underdog against No. 1 Folsom Bulldogs. But it was the Lions hoisting the championship banner after a solid 64-53 victory. Senior Nina Cain, headed to the University of Washington on scholarship, led the Lions with 22 points and 12 rebounds. She received solid backup from Breyana Kimmons (21 points) and Norret Lewis (12 points, five rebounds)
Christian Brothers boys, McClatchy girls and a host of other local teams will advance to the Northern California regional championship tournament beginning March 4.