LIVE BLOG: El Cerrito vs Bishop O'Dowd, NorCal D-III Boys Basketball Championship

The El Cerrito High boys basketball team returns to the NorCal championship game for the first time since being led by coach Chris Huber and star Drew Gooden in 1999. That year, the Gauchos beat Acalanes 48-41 to advance to the state title game where they came up short.

This year's team is led by Jabri Jenkins' 14.3 points per game, whie Justin Johnson, Jamontee Condor and Eric Nelson also play key roles.

O'Dowd is led by super-recruit Brandon Ashley. A 6-foot-8 power foward with a soft touch and good footwork, Ashley commands a lot of attention on the low block. He'll likely get matched up with the 6-7 Nelson here at Power Balance Pavilion (formely Arco Arena) in Sacramento.

I'll be provided timely updates throughout the game, so be sure to keep checking in over the next two hours. It's a noon tip-off, so we should get going  here any minute.

-Kyle

——————————

Starting lineups:

El Cerrito

Eric Nelson, Bobby Syvanthong, Jabri Jenkins, Marcellus Pippins and Justin Johnson

O'Dowd

Kendall Jackson, Anders Haas, Brandon Ashley, Terrence King, Jr, Richard Longrus, Jr

6:09 — O'Dowd is already up 6-0. Ashley dunked to get the game started, a jumper followed and Jackson hit a pair of free throws.

4:45 — A missed alley-oop from King is followed by a steal and a dunk from Longrus as O'Dowd takes an 8-0 lead. ... Syvanthong gets to the line for EC. He missed the first and sinks the second to get the Gauchos on the board. BOD 8-1.

3:38 — Not the start caoch Micahel Booker was hoping for from his EC team. The Dragons are playing like a team that has been here before (last year, in fact). EC is struggling to adjust playing in the NBA arena. Justin Johnson knocked down a pair of free throw for the Gauchos. BOD 10-3

2:03 —  Jabri Jenkins hits the first goal for EC -- it answered a basket from O'Dowd's Terrence Daniel. Both teams have been slopping bring the ball up the court as they try to figure out what the pace of the game is going to be. 

1:30 — Johnson gets to the line, where he goes 1 of 2. BOD 14-6

Also of note, Ashley is sidelined after picking up two quick fouls.

0:35 — Crum adds two points for BOD and James Keith gets to the line for two shots for EC. He made 1. BOD 16-7

Kendal Jackson knocks down a three near the end of the quarter, but a violation gives the Dragons the ball underneath their hoop. A three from Haas at the buzzer is off the mark. 

END OF 1 — Bishop O'Dowd 19, El Cerrito 7

6:42 — Jabri Jenkins knocks down a jumper to open the 2nd quarter for EC, the Gauchos get a stop at the other end but don't take advantage. ... an O'Dowd miss follows and EC travels to give the ball back. BOD 19-9 

5:51 — Jamontee Condor gets his first points of the game with an inside bucket and an O'Dowd turnover is followed by two points from Johnson. EC looks like a different team just over two minutes into the second quarter. BOD 19-13

4:06 — Condor's jumper from the corner gave EC a 6-0 run to start the third, but O'Dowd has quickly answered with 2 quickies to push the lead back to 7. BOD 22-15

1:12 — O'Dowd is struggling form the free throw line, it could be a lot more lopsided, but now the Dragons' lead is at 12. BOD 27-15

HALFTIME — Bishop O'Dowd 27, El Cerrito 15.

Scoring leaders: BOD — King 2, Longrus 2, Ashley 4, Haas 4, Jackson 6, Crum 5, Belick 2, Daniel 2. EC — Syvanthong 1, Jenkins 4, Johnson5, Condor 4, Keith 1.

Five quick points, for EC starts the third. De Ja Vu? ... adding insult to injury, Ashley picks up his third foul 93 seconds into the half. BOD 27-20

5:00 — Syvanthong hit a free throw for EC, but Longrus gets to the rack for 2. Ashley in the game with three fouls, but not really playing defense. He's just kind of standing around trying not to foul. BOD 31-21

4:05 — Ashley picks up foul No. 4. A charge (his shot was also blocked on the play). He went down hard and was holding head, looks like he'll be ok. Needless to say, he's back to the bench. 

With just about a minute to play, O'Dowd coach Doug Vierra (or Douglas T. Vierra according to the CIF media guide) wants to talk things over. The Dragons respond with a miss, but they get a quick steal and Josh Crum finishes at the basket. BOD 37-25

END OF THIRD — Bishop O'Dowd 37, El Cerrito 25

6:32 — Brandon Ashley is back in for O'Dowd, but it's slow going here to start the 4th. BOD 38-27

5:00 — The clock isn't on the Gauchos' side at this point, but their deficit is at just eight following at three from Jenkins. Still, an 8-point deficit in such a low-scoring game will be tough to erase. Someone needs to get hot, Jenkins is the most likely candiate. BOD 40-32

3:41 — I hate to sound redundant with another comment about the clock, or pessimistic for EC fans, but things need to turn over right away if EC wants to return to Arco next week. BOD 41-32

1:54 — What a great season it has been for the El Cerrito boys basketball team. Has to go down as the second best team in school history behind the 1999 team. BOD 44-32

1:14 — O'Dowd players are now being taken out one at a time to loud ovations from their contingent of fans. BOD 47-32

Final Score

Bishop O'Dowd 50, El Cerrito 32.

Also get updates via twitter