Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now.
SACRAMENTO — The Valencia boys basketball team won just five games last season, which were buried under 20 losses.
“These guys were tired of losing,” Vikings coach Bill Bedgood said. “I don’t think we’re here, to be honest, if we hadn’t experienced (the losing) with our key guys. They learned a hard lesson.”
The team grew and got a lot better this season, and the payoff was an 89-59 victory over Half Moon Bay in the CIF State Division IV final at the Golden 1 Center Saturday afternoon.
Junior Bryce Bedgood grew to be 6-foot-9 and became a dominant post player. Senior Kai Davis got stronger and reliable as a point guard. Seniors Jayden Ares and Maurice Pitts Jr. evolved into instrumental starters.
All were part of last year’s team.
Then came 6-foot-5 guard Mikah Ballew, a senior transfer from Alemany.
“He’s a four-level scorer,” Bill Bedgood said. “He can score from the 3-point line, mid-range, he can get to the basket and get over the rim, and he shoots a high percentage from the foul line.”
Valencia this season won its first section title, its first regional crown and then lifted its first CIF State trophy Saturday.
Ballew led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-22 shooting, including three 3-pointers, with four rebounds, five assists and three steals. Davis notched 17 points and eight assists.
“On top of leading us in scoring, (Ballew) also provides us a level of confidence” Bill Bedgood said. “His cool nature, he’s never too high or low. He’s poised and confident.”
After the game, Bedgood announced he’d coached his final game after 24 years. He wants to enjoy his son’s senior season from the stands, not the bench.
“A lot people assumed I’d finish coaching him through his high school career, but what’s become more important to me is being a dad,” said Bedgood, whose coaching stops included Alemany, Notre Dame and…
Read the full article here
