No regrets for Monte Vista and quarterback Jake Haener
No regrets for Monte Vista and quarterback Jake Haener
In the fourth quarter of Saturday’s North Coast Section Division I title game against Antioch, a Monte Vista-Danville wide receiver was knocked out of the game with an injury and replaced by senior Zach Swenson, whose season stats showed one catch for 4 yards.
[...] the coaches called a play designed for Swenson, a scout-team standout.
“I told him not to be nervous, just do what you do, and he did it,” said Monte Vista senior quarterback Jake Haener.
The Washington-bound quarterback hit Swenson on a 10-yard out, and the Monte Vista sideline erupted.
Monte Vista senior running back Shane Perry stole the spotlight from Antioch’s Najee Harris by rushing for 254 yards and three scores.
The celebrations were big for Monte Vista and Haener, who afterward had an in-home visit from Washington head coach Chris Petersen and assistant Jonathan Smith.
[...] a day later, the Mustangs were left off the pairings for the CIF State Football Bowl Championships, which they all knew going in.
The addition of the new NCS Open Division meant the Division I bracket was dead.
No team would advance.
“We feel we’re the second-best team in Northern California and probably should be playing,” Haener said.
[...] hey, I know my body could use a break.
There’s no regret.
Crusader Classic:
Playing without 2015-16 AAA Player of the Year Niamey Harris (shoulder injury), Mission’s boys basketball team claimed its first championship of the 58th annual Crusader Classic on Saturday with a 52-34 win over San Ramon Valley-Danville in the final of the tournament at Riordan.
Jayden Fosten had 22 points, and tournament MVP Jamion Wright added 16 points and four steals as the Bears (3-0) forced 26 turnovers while holding San Ramon Valley (2-1) to 22 points through three quarters.
The Wolvers were led by 10 points and seven rebounds from Parker Landolf.
Wright had 50 points, 13 rebounds and 10 steals in the tournament.
Fosten (43 points) and Tyrese Johnson (26 points) also earned all-tourney for Mission.
Other all-tourney selections included Eric Norton (Menlo-Atherton), James Chun (Riordan) and Grant Pisenti and Joe Sullivan (San Ramon Valley).
Roaring start:
Defending Division III girls basketball state champion Sacred Heart Cathedral opened the season with a championship in the 14th annual La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 Invitational in San Diego County on Saturday.
Listed fifth in The Chronicle’s preseason rankings and No. 9 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, the Irish (4-0) were carried by tournament MVP IImari’I Thomas, who had 30 points and 13 rebounds in the final, a 78-75 overtime win over Mission Hills-San Marcos.
The 6-foot-1 Cincinnati-signee averaged 25.5 points and 17.3 rebounds per games in the four-game event.
Edina del Rosario earned all-tournament honors for the Irish.
Historic title:
St. Ignatius won its first CIF Northern California girls tennis championship last week with a 4-3 win over Monte Vista at Blackhawk Country Club.
The Wildcats finished 25-2 overall and were WCAL co-champions and runners-up at CCS.
Seeded second at NorCals, the Wildcats beat Red Bluff (7-0) and Amador Valley-Pleasanton (4-3) before defeating top-seeded Monte Vista.
The team was led by four-time WCAL Player of the Year Katya Tabachnik, freshmen India Houghton (WCAL champion) and Gabrielle Perich, and Lilly Jack-Schimmel.
The No. 1 doubles team of Anna Roy and Tiffany Boudagian went undefeated.
The team was coached by Craig Law, who led St. Ignatius to a first NorCal boys title in the spring.
Mitch Stephens covers high school for The San Francisco Chronicle.
Chronicle top 25 football
School
De La Salle
Monte Vista
Freedom
Cardinal Newman
Antioch
Marin Catholic
Rancho Cotate
NR
Heritage
NR
NR