Natomas High Boys Defeat Ripon, Host Round 2 on Friday

BUZZ PREP SPORTS STAFF
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

The Natomas High School boys basketball team opened up the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs with an 80-61 win over Ripon High School at home on Wednesday.

It is the first playoff win for head coach Brian Hamilton since taking over the program before the 2012-13 season.

“It feels good, really good,” Hamilton said. “The kids are excited and willing to work.”

The Nighthawks were led by freshman Mekhi Williams with 22 points. Phillip Morgan added 15 points, Jalen Manning had 16 points and Jemarrio Lollis had 10.

Natomas High hosts Mesa Verde High School for round two 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.

Fairfield 61, Inderkum 48

The Tigers were down by as many as 14 points in the second half, but Inderkum cut Fairfield High School’s lead to six with 90 seconds left in the game before falling in the first round of the D-III bracket. Fairfield won 61-48.

CJ Garmon scored 10 of his team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter and senior LD Dhaliwal added 10 for the Tigers.

The loss marks the end of 12 seniors’ preps basketball careers including Terrence White, the all-time leading scorer in school history. Co-captains Andrew Ignont and Nef Torres, White and Dhaliwal were starters on the Tigers team which won the school’s first Tri-County Conference championship last season.

“If you put it into perspective, these guys helped put Inderkum on the map,” Tigers coach Rodney Haymer said. “This is the first time Inderkum has made the playoffs in back to back years. Those guys were the foundation for that.”