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SJS basketball playoffs begin tonight
EU girls, RC boys earn No. 3 seeds; 1st-time qualifier River Islands hosts
SJS basketball ADV
East Union’s Ava Barrera looks to score with a layup against Sierra defender’s Tessa Zalunardo (20) and Emalina Latu. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

 Ripon Christian’s 13-time Sac-Joaquin Section champion boys basketball team has been elevated to Division IV for the playoffs after claiming the last two Division V titles.

Meanwhile, River Islands’ first-year varsity boys squad will make its postseason debut at home, and the East Union girls are set up to make a third NorCal appearance in four years.

The SJS released brackets during its annual selection show Saturday on the NFHS Network. First-round girls games are tonight, while the boys begin Wednesday. All games are set for 7 o’clock tip-offs in

SJS basketball ADV
Ripon Christian center Walker Postma is challenged at the rim by Ripon’s Gavin Garner.
rounds 1-3. The section finals are on Feb. 27-28 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. All semifinalists in Divisions I-V advance to the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regionals.

Coming off its fifth straight Trans-Valley League championship run, Ripon Christian (22-5) joins rival Ripon (17-11) in the Division IV boys bracket, and they can potentially meet in the semifinals. Both will have to knock off some tough opponents along the way.

Ripon Christian is seeded third and starts with No. 14 Sutter (16-12), the fourth-place team out of the Golden Empire League. Seventh-seeded Ripon (17-11) has been paired with Sierra Valley Conference titlist Union Mine (15-13). GEL co-champions Natomas (21-7) and Casa Roble (24-4) are the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively.

River Islands (16-12) takes on a familiar foe in its Division V opener. The seventh-seeded Riptide will look to avenge an early-season defeat to No. 10 Big Valley Christian (15-9), the Mother Lode League fourth-place finisher. The Lions squeaked out the 69-67 win back on Nov. 25. River Islands went on to place third in the Central California Athletic Alliance for an automatic berth.

SJS basketball ADV
Darius Radoc-Factoran scores on the fastbreak for River Islands in a non-league game with Trinity Christian at EPIC Academy.

East Union is one of three area schools to have both of its boys and girls basketball teams represented in the SJS playoffs.

The boys are back in the postseason after going winless in the Valley Oak League last year. The Lancers (15-12) got a tough draw in Division III, as they’re seeded 13th and headed to Lincoln to meet No. 4 Twelve Bridges (21-7). The Raging Rhinos took third in the competitive Foothill Valley League, which includes No. 2 seed Placer (25-3) and No. 3 Roseville (18-10). Christian Brothers (21-7) is the top seed.

East Union’s VOL co-champion girls are the No. 3 seed in Division III for a fourth consecutive year. Last season, the Lancers (21-6) were upset by Wood in the second round, and the early exit prevented them for qualifying to a third straight NorCal tournament. Their road to redemption tips off tonight with No. 14 Pioneer (13-12), the Monticello Empire League runner-up.

Joining East Union in Division III is cross-town rival Sierra (9-14). The No. 13 Timberwolves dropped seven of their last eight VOL contests and are matched with FVL champion and fourth-seeded Placer (21-5).

Pioneer Valley League champ Colfax (22-6) and battle-tested Ponderosa (24-4) are seeded first and second, respectively.

Ripon claimed its first TVL girls title in five years but are on the road for its Division IV opener. The Indians (18-10) travel to Golden Empire League runner-up Sutter (18-10) in the Nos. 8-9 match-up. The winner likely gets top-seeded Liberty Ranch (25-2).

Ripon Christian (9-12) was awarded a first-round home game in Division V. The sixth-seeded Knights welcome No. 11 Rio Vista (14-14).