St. Ignatius Edges Clayton Valley in Thrilling Season Opener

The opening day of the NorCal Tip Off Classic showcased thrilling performances, with No. 3 St. Ignatius narrowly defeating No. 9 Clayton Valley 55-53. The game featured a standout performance from Anthony D’Aquisto, who scored 18 points on an impressive 7-of-8 shooting from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.

In a matchup that highlighted two of the Bay Area’s top teams, St. Ignatius took control early, building a lead of as much as eight points with just under three minutes remaining. Despite a late rally from Clayton Valley, which included a series of missed free throws that proved costly, St. Ignatius secured a significant victory to start the season. Senior Raymond Whitley added 10 points, while sophomore Alex Moore contributed defensively with four blocks. Clayton Valley’s Vince Ellis and junior Zion Grissom each scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, the former having played just the night before against Clovis North.

Salesian Dominates Oakland Tech in Season Opener

In another notable game, No. 1 Salesian made an emphatic statement by defeating No. 7 Oakland Tech 77-54. Stanford commit Elias Obenyah led the team with a game-high 18 points. His teammates, Juelz Richo and Asante Johnson, each contributed 11 points, while Carlton Perrilliat Jr., excelling in both basketball and football, added 10 points. Oakland Tech was led by Xavier Williams, who scored 13 points, and Jasen Davis, who added 11 points.

Archbishop Riordan Triumphs Over La Mirada

No. 2 Archbishop Riordan also enjoyed a successful opener, defeating La Mirada 82-69. Andrew Hilman, a University of San Francisco commit, showcased his all-around skills with 26 points, six rebounds, and six assists. JP Pihtovs delivered a strong performance, finishing with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds, along with five blocks.

Other Highlights from the NorCal Tip Off Classic

No. 4 The King’s Academy narrowly defeated Branson 63-59, thanks to a standout performance from sophomore Boss Moon, who scored 15 points and secured seven rebounds. Freshman Scotty Beamish Jr. supported the effort with 14 points, making crucial contributions during the game’s closing moments.

In a surprising turn of events, No. 5 Amador Valley fell to Sunnyslope-Arizona 66-53, despite entering the final quarter tied at 46. The Vikings outscored Amador Valley 20-7 in the fourth quarter, with Rider Portella leading Sunnyslope with 19 points and five rebounds.

Bellarmine, ranked No. 14, secured a solid win against Lincoln-Stockton, overcoming last year’s CIF Division I state runner-up with a score of 63-55. Will Corbett, a Chico State commit, led the scoring with 28 points on efficient shooting, while Sofian Stringfellow and Justin Familetti added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Modesto Christian bested No. 15 Dublin 53-44. The young Dublin squad, featuring only three seniors, struggled with shooting accuracy, allowing Modesto Christian to maintain control throughout the game. Aiden Li led Dublin with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The NorCal Tip Off Classic delivered an exciting start to the basketball season, setting a competitive tone for upcoming games. Fans can anticipate more thrilling matchups as the season progresses.