SACRAMENTO — Alemany’s boys basketball team placed seventh in arguably the toughest league in Southern California. The Warriors were 11th in their final division rankings entering the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Then their mentality changed. Their confidence soared. And they couldn’t be beat.
The Warriors rode their new perspective all the way to a state title Friday, defeating Santa Cruz 63-53 in a spirited Division III final at Golden 1 Center.
Before two dueling student sections, Alemany (25-15) won its 11th consecutive game to claim its second state championship. The Warriors also won Division III in 2012.
In a wild postgame celebration, Alemany’s players rushed coach Mike DuLaney at center court and jumped with the trophy while cheering.
The Warriors then credited their postseason run, in part, to playing in the Mission League, home to powerhouses such as Harvard-Westlake, Sierra Canyon and Notre Dame. Harvard-Westlake will attempt to win the Open Division title for the second year in a row Saturday night against Salesian College Prep.
“We played a crazy-hard league, so as soon as postseason hits our mentality changes,” said Alemany senior guard Michael Lindsay, who scored a game-high 25 points. “We feel like we’re the predators now. We’re just looking to win and we won 11 straight. It was amazing.”
DuLaney also credited the stiff competition of the Mission League, which produced section champions in Harvard-Westlake and Notre Dame.
“The Mission League preps you in so many different ways, emotionally, physically,” said DuLaney, whose team claimed the CIF-SS Division 3A title in triple overtime against Bosco Tech. “And for us, we competed this year in the Mission League. … We got hot at the right time.”
Alemany, which never trailed, excelled attacking the basket and playing strong defense against Santa Cruz (27-7).
The Warriors shot 47 percent from the floor in dominated points in the paint, 40-16.
Lindsay led…
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