Both men’s and women’s teams won their first NorCal regional playoff game Feb. 25.
Redwood Empire prep schools feed players into the program to play for coaches with elite credentials. Men’s coach Craig McMillan, the 2011-12 Big 8 conference Coach of the Year, was a starting guard at the University of Arizona and played in the NCAA Final Four.
Women’s coach Lacey Campbell played four years for Sonoma State University in addition to being a Redwood Empire prep player with a lifetime record of 91-13. Campbell was named Big 8 Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season and has a good chance of winning CCCAA Northern California Coach of the Year for the third season in a row.
The leadership from both coaches and their staffs has produced winning teams with proven success; that could not be more evident in 2012.
McMillan, along with coaching staff comprised of SRJC alumni Maurice Thompson and Troy Stevenson, commanded his team to an overall record of 24-5, a 13-1 conference record, a No. 3 seed and first-round bye in the CCCAA Northern California Regional Playoffs.
Campbell and coaches Tosha Wilson, SRJC alumnae Natalie Wisdom and Lisa Hirshfield, guided the women’s team this season to an overall record of 22-6, a conference record of 13-1, a No. 5 seed and first found bye in the CCCAA Northern California Regional Playoffs.
Both teams’ tremendous seasons are due to the fantastic group of athletes that stand among the leaders in the state.
During Jen Tsurumoto’s freshman season in 2010-2011, she helped the women’s basketball team win the state title and earned third team All-State Team, All-State Tournament Team and Big 8 All-Conference Team honors. She did it all while playing out of her natural position of point guard because sophomore Mia Greco occupied the spot.
In the 2011-2012 season Tsurumoto was back in her natural point guard position, averaging 13.9 points per game. Tsurumoto has been named the Big 8 Conference MVP and as MVP, Tsurumoto is automatically placed on the Northern California first team All-State Team.
Versatile sophomore forward Ashley Morgan was named first team Big 8 All-Conference for the second consecutive year. Morgan has been a team leader all season, scoring when needed and leading the team in rebounds.
Former Montgomery High School forward and 2010 North Bay League MVP, Anandi Jiminez, made a huge impact as forward in her freshman season. On offense as well as defense, Jiminez has made big plays and big stops when needed and has been named Big 8 All-Conference.
On the men’s team, star point guard Sama Taku has been named the Big 8 Conference MVP, also putting him on the Northern California All-Conference Team. Putting up another dynamite season at the guard position, Taku averaged 17.6 points per game, shot 86 percent from the free throw line, averaged 5.1 rebounds a game and shot 65 percent from 3-point range.
Sophomore shooting guard Kevin Aronis was named Big 8 All-Conference and was remarkable from 3-point range all season. The All-State Team hasn’t been announced yet, but Aronis may have a shot based on his phenomenal 3-point shooting this season. Aronis nearly led the state in 3-pointers made, making 95, shooting 41 percent. The state leader made 97, shooting 45 percent.
The first team Northern California All-State Team is comprised of the six conference MVP players and six additional players who are voted in. “Kevin is on the ballot. If he gets voted in that’s great. I think he’s deserving of that award,” McMillan said.
Sophomore post player Jordan Salley has been a dominate presence inside and was named Big 8 All-Conference. Salley scored 4.7 points per game, grabbed 3.34 rebounds per game and blocked 1.13 shots per game.
Freshmen guards Max Fujii and Bobby Sharp were named Big 8 Conference Honorable Mention. Fujii averaged 11.8 points per game and made 82 of 92 shots from the foul line. Sharp averaged 8.6 points per game and made 57 shots from 3-point range.
The men’s team will host Cosumnes River College at 7 p.m. on Feb. 29 at HaehL Pavilion. The Women travel to Fremont to face Ohlone College on Feb. 29 at 7 p.m.
