Lippi, protege have plentyto discuss about postseason
Don Lippi, the ageless boys basketball treasure at St. Joseph Notre Dame, said he has coached and taught more than 6,000 student-athletes over his 37-year career.
Including a feisty three-year starting point guard at St. Patrick-St.
“Fearless,” Lippi said of current Berkeley boys coach Mark DeLuca.
[...] always loved the kid.
The two will have plenty to discuss Thursday, when each leads his respective surprising team to state title games at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.
Lippi, 68, with an 801-260 career record, leads the Pilots (25-9) to the program’s 11th final — and fifth in six years under him — in a noon Division V game against St. Bernard-Playa del Rey (19-16).
DeLuca guides the Yellowjackets (24-8) to their first title game of the modern era in an 8 p.m. Division I matchup with Crespi-Encino (32-4).
All 12 state title games can be seen on either CSNBA or CSNCA.
“I’ve received more texts and emails from people I don’t even know,” DeLuca said.
The Yellowjackets have won just one North Coast Section title — in 2005 with Metro Player of the Year Dior Lowhorn — and though DeLuca hasn’t grabbed another in his three seasons, he has done one better.
Without a player in the rotation taller than 6-foot-3 or offered a Division I scholarship, Berkeley, the sixth seed at NCS and seventh seed at regionals, has rolled one higher seed after another — all on the road — with speed, defense, shooting and balance.
Two senior guards, 5-10 Niles Malone (15 points, 7.1 rebounds per game) and 6-foot Bryan Morris (11.9, 5.1), lead the way.
[...] you can’t forget about 6-2 sophomore Ben Baker (10.7, 6.4), 6-1 senior Bryant Monroe (8.0, 9.1) or 6-3 junior Sean Spikes (8.1, 6.3).
“We’ve had seven different guys lead the team in scoring,” DeLuca said.
[...] all five starters are legitimate three-point threats.
St. Joseph’s road to Sleep Train has been unique, too.
Three key players quit the program before the season and 6-3 starting wing Cameron Ba broke his wrist late in the year.
The roster dwindled to seven before Lippi called up some JV players.
The team’s junior standouts — 6-3 Jade Smith and 6-foot Darne Duckett, each a three-year starter — have been even better than advertised, but role players such as seniors Kevin Harris, Avery Dueberry and Jack Keane “won the little battles each night that we needed,” Lippi said.
Lippi “is the reason why I wanted to become a high school basketball coach,” DeLuca said.
Sophomore guards leads each team in scoring: 5-7 Leslie Aguilar (14.4) for VC and ECP’s Kayla Tahaafe (15.2).
Great matchup between guards Adam Amanuel, the Southern Section 5A Co-Player of the Year (28 points in regional final) against SJ’s Jade Smith (27 points, 11 rebounds, six steals in regional final).
Sacred Heart Cathedral (20-9), 2 p.m. CSNCA:
The Irish, led by 6-1 junior Iimar’I Thomas (24.2 ppg, 12.8 rebounds), look for their fifth state title in eight attempts.
Lakeside, buoyed by two 6-footers, make its first state appearance.
Crespi, the defending D4 champ, is led by USC-bound 6-3 senior guard De’Anthony Melton (19.9 points, 9.1 rebounds pg) and 6-footer Brandon Williams (15.7 ppg), one of the nation’s top 100 sophomores.