Mitch Stephens

Joined: Jun 19, 2024

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

Brandon McCoy Jr. rises for a one-handed dunk against JSerra at Pauley Pavilion. McCoy leads Sierra Canyon in a CIF Open Division title game versus Salesian at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

California

Ontario Christian's Kaleena Smith is the No. 1 recruit in the 2027 class. She leads Knights to second straight Open Division championship. She had 24 points in a 56-49 win over Mitty.

Damien boys basketball team celebrates 58-55 win over Folsom to take the CIF Division 1 boys championship March 13 at Golden 1 Center.

California

Cornerstone Christian Benjamin Lukacs with two of his game-high 26 points lifting the Cougars to a 74-64 CIF State Division 3 title win over Birmingham at Golden 1 Center on March 13, 2026

California

Ontario Christian's Kaleena Smith drives to the hoop against a Sierra Canyon defender in the CIF Southern Section Open Division final on Feb. 28, 2026. She leads her team into the state finals 6 p.m. Saturday against Mitty with a possible mythical national championship on the line.

California

Sierra Canyon, Ontario Christian, Mitty play for national titles; Central Section takes center stage; Kaleen Smith makes debut; Jelani McCoy, McKenna Woliczko offer swan songs

Elias Obenyah lifted Salesian over the top with 16 of his game-high 20 points after the third quarter in a 59-54 overtime win at Riordan in the NorCal Open championship on March 10, 2026

California

Rested Salesian stifles St. Ignatius, plays dominating Riordan for Open championship; Mitty girls roll, Clovis West edges St. Mary's

Carlton Perrilliat Jr. puts the finishing touches in the middle of the fourth quarter on Salesian's 61-41 win over St. Ignatius for the CIF Northern California Open Division semifinal victory at Contra Costa College on March 7, 2026

California

Rested Salesian stifles St. Ignatius, plays dominating Riordan for Open championship; Mitty girls roll, Clovis West edges St. Mary's

Riordan's Emmanuel Ahamefule ready to lead the Crusaders into Saturday's home semifinal against the Crusaders of Modesto Christian

California

St. Ignatius-Riordan, Modesto Christian-Riordan boys, San Ramon Valley-Mitty, St. Mary's-Clovis West girls are the Open Division semifinal pairings on Saturday

Rashod Cotton, shown here in the Santa Barbara TOC in December, had 22 points Thursday to lead Dougherty Valley to a 59-55 win at Clayton Valley Charter.

California

After losing in North Coast Section Open semifinals, visiting Wildcats ride fast, fearless start to down the Eagles in coaching matchup of sons famous high school coaches

San Ramon Valley High School's girls basketball team finally celebrate in the final 10 seconds of their 51-44 win at Carondelet March 4 in the CIF Northern California Open Division first-round game just four days after being beat by the same Cougars for the North Coast Section Open championship.

California

Freshman post Presley Uchikura gives career performance, now going to face national power Mitty and McDonald's All-American McKenna Woliczko

Salesian senior Elias Obenyah goes up for two of his game-high 26 points during a 74-62 win over Modesto Christian in the 28th MLK Classic at De La Salle on Jan. 19, 2026. Salesian plays Clayton Valley Feb. 28 in a North Coast Section Open Division title game at San Leandro High School.

California

From San Leandro High School, Open Division boys and Division 1 boys and D2 girls meet for championships

Mitty wins fifth straight Central Coast Section Open Division title, this one after 90-31 win over Riordan at USF

California

SAN FRANCISCO — They honored Mitty’s girls basketball team even before winning a 34th Central Coast Section championship and 11th at the Open Division title wit

Salesian's Carlton Perrilliat (21), shown here in a game last season vs. St. Joseph-Santa Maria, scored eight straight key points in the second quarter to help the Pride upend De La Salle Wednesday in North Coast Section Open Division semifinal action at Albany High School.

Mitch Stephens

Joined: Jun 19, 2024

Brandon McCoy leads Sierra Canyon to CIF State Open Division Boys Basketball Championship: Live Update summary

Short-handed Ontario Christian stuns No. 4 Mitty: Live update summary

CIF State Basketball — Division 1 roundup: Centennial girls, Damien boys win thrillers

CIF State Basketball D5, D3 roundup: San Marin, Cornerstone boys, Woodland Christian, El Dorado girls triumph

California

California State Basketball Championships: Game-by-game previews, How to Watch, top players, primer

California

CIF State Basketball Tournament: NorCal finals roundup; Salesian tops Riordan; State title schedule (3-10-26)

California

CIF State Basketball Tournament: NorCal scores, highlights, brackets, semifinal roundup, finals schedule (3-7-26)

California

CIF State Basketball Tournament: NorCal scores, highlights, brackets, roundup heading into semifinals (3-6-26)

California

CIF NorCal boys basketball: Dougherty Valley turns tables, takes down family, No. 2 Clayton Valley Charter

California

San Ramon Valley Girls Get Mad, Get Revenge in CIF NorCal Open Playoff Opener Over Carondelet

California

NCS thrillers!! Live update roundup: Salesian, Bishop O'Dowd boys pull out NCS title wins late

California

Iowa-signee McKenna Woliczko, 5th-ranked Mitty roll to fifth straight, 34th Central Coast Section title

Salesian gets gritty with it, grinds out NCS Open semifinal win over De La Salle

California (CIF) North Coast Section high school girls basketball playoff brackets, scores, matchups (2/25/2026)

California (CIF) North Coast Section high school boys basketball playoff brackets, scores, matchups (2/25/2026)

De La Salle, Ibrahim Monawar keep faith, overcome Moreau Catholic, prep version of Jalen Brunson