The flight out of John Wayne got into Sacramento at about 9:45 this morning.
My picture on the blog, the one with the film reel, basketball and Double-Double coming out of my sawed off skull?
Well, I had one of those items, with a side of fries and medium Diet Coke, at 10:30 on the way to ARCO Arena.
9:59
The Warriors came out and played at the Dominguez expense.
McClymonds dominated things almost from the mid-point of the first quarter on and never let up en route to a 73-54 victory.
At 32-0, it's hard to argue against any McClymonds' claim to being the best team in California this season.
9:29
After three it's . . . McClymonds 49, Dominguez 43.
The Dons trailed by as many as 10 points a couple of times. If not for six turnovers by the Warriors in the quarter, the team from Oakland might be leading by 12 to 14 points.
9:17
TV timeout, 3:55 to go in the third quarter . . . and the Warriors continue to dominate things, in large part because of they're playing harder at both ends of the floor. McClymonds, 45-37. And Cartwright is on the bench after picking up his fourth foul early in the quarter.
8:48
It's halftime . . . and McClymonds is up, 35-31. The Warriors are playing a lot harder than the Dons.
And Dominguez point guard Bryce Cartwright has three fouls. Not good for the Dons.
8:41
TV timeout, second quarter: Dominguez 29-25.
The Dons are playing much better defense now as the Warriors just committed their ninth turnover. Hamilton has hit three deep, deep 3s and the Dons have gotten 10 points from reserves.
8:30
End of first quarter: It's tied at 18
McClymonds is aggressive as heck and is attacking and penetrating the Dominguez man-to-man. The Warriors were up five but a Kalea King 3 and Jordan Hamilton driving jumper tied the score for the Dons. This is going to be a battle . . .
8:11
Dominguez and McClymonds . . . about to tip off.
7:40
THREE-PEAT!
It's three state D-I titles in a row for Coach Carl Buggs' Poly Jackrabbits. Berkeley had its own "three-peat", become a three-time victim to the Jackrabbits in the final, 55-31.
Narbonne was much than Berkeley . . . at least it appeared that was when I saw the Gauchos lead most of way in the second half a week ago before losing to Poly in the Southern Regional final in the L.A. Sports Arena.
6:43
Halftime: Poly 35-17.
Early in the game I thought Berkeley looked better than San Francisco Sacred Heart while winning the D-III title. The Jackrabbits are too good for the Yellow Jackets. It's really as simple as that.
Expert analysis!
5:58
Poly and Berkeley girls, about to tip off in a minute or so, for the third year in a row . . .Fox Sports Prime Ticket is broadcasting the game. Check it out!
4:37
Game over, man! Santa Margarita 72-55.
Klay Thompson (a Best in the West choice and Mychal Thompson's son, as I've now written about 47 times) finished with 37 points, knocking in a state championship-record seven 3's.
Chase Tapley finished with 35 points. But the Dragons played right into the Eagles' hands by forcing an open-court, up-tempo pace.
So the Southern Region boys' teams are 3-1, with Dominguez wrapping up things vs. Oakland McClymonds in a few hours.
4:15
Santa Margarita 55-42 after three quarters . . .
Tapley is as good an open-floor scorer as there is in the California Class of 2009. I thought I would lay that on you . . . deep jumpers, mid-range game, and the ability to take it to the rim . . . he's got it all.
But Santa Margarita shouldn't lose this game . . .Tapley 32 points, Thompson 29.
3:50
Wow! That was quite a frenetic half of hoops . . . Santa Margarita 40, Sacramento 29.
Thompson has 21 points and Tapley has all but six of the local favorite's points. I'm not sure he has passed yet but Tapley is a phenomenal scorer. He's an elite-level shooting guard on the NCAA Div. I level. He's much improved from last summer.
But unless the Eagles rattle against the Dragons' pressure or key guys get into foul trouble, Santa Margarita will join Mater Dei as a state champion out of the Trinity League.
3:32
End of first quarter: Santa Margarita 21, Sacramento 14.
The Eagles were up 15-3 but a very good junior, Chase Tapley (10 points) is keeping his team relatively close. Klay Thompson scored 15 points for Santa Margarita. Just a reminder: He's very good.
2:59
Sacred Heart 48, Magnolia 33: Game over, man.
Sacred Heart looked better after intermission. But No. 1 in the country? Wow. I guess I just don't have a feel for the girls' game.
Santa Margarita and Sacramento warming up for the boys D-II game. This game was supposed to tip off at 2:45 . . . yikes. I can't imagine that the Poly girls (6 o'clock) and Dominguez boys (8) are going to be tipping off on time.
2:05
Halftime of the girls Div. III game: San Francisco Sacred Heart 23, Anaheim Magnolia 18.
Sacred Heart is ranked No. 1 nationally and beat the Poly Jackrabbits in a December tournament. The Jackrabbits sure appear to have more talent that does Sacred Heart.
12:45 p.m.
Branson 40, Renaissance Academy 33 . . . in the Boys V final.
Branson is from the Marin County and just bagged its third consecutive state title. My guess is that the parents and administrators will be pounding the chardonnay tonight.
Renaissance Academy has a highly touted junior, 6-9 Anthony Stover. Several college coaches were here to watch him. He didn't get involved much and scored just six points. He's physically gifted but has to play with a lot more passion and involvement.
There's my five-cent analysis.
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