MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 2 preview: Folsom vs. Oakwood-North Hollywood, How to Watch

Sac-Joaquin Section perennial power Folsom to battle Southern Section foe for the first time

One of California's top one-day Martin Luther King Jr. boys basketball showcases enters its 26th season on Monday, Jan. 15.

That's when the MLK Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive and sponsored by Acrisure takes place, featuring eight games starting with the 8:45 a.m. matchup between Moreau Catholic vs. Redwood-Larkspur. TICKETS HERE

2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive, six days away

“We are proud of this event as it has become a staple in Bay Area basketball over the years,” said De La Salle coach Marcus Schroeder, the former Associate Head Coach at St. Mary’s College. “Of all the great lineups of teams this event has seen in the past quarter-century, the 26th edition of the MLK Classic will not disappoint — the best of the best in Northern California will all participate this year along with great programs from Southern California and Arizona.”

Here is the second of eight previews. 

Folsom vs. Oakwood

Time: 10:15 a.m.

Head coaches: Mike Wall (Folsom), Steve Smith (Oakwood)

2023-24 records (as of Jan. 10): Folsom (11-7), Oakwood (9-12)

Points per game (allowed): Folsom 66.7 (56.4), Oakwood 58.5 (63.1)

Terrific trios: Folsom — Chase Rawlins, Joven Dulay, Bradley Bridges. Oakwood — Oliver Ford, Nikita Kochnev, Peyton Slaughter.

Live stream: NFHS Network link

Briefly: Folsom is a young squad finding its footing. After a 74-61 season-opening win over Grant, the Bulldogs lost three of four, dropping a tough 75-72 overtime game to Capital Christian. They closed 2023 winning four of five, then won two straight in 2024 over Granite Bay (65-63) and Bakersfield Christian (77-67) before dropping a tough 59-52 game to a strong team from Del Oro (15-4). ... Wall, in his 13th season, has led one of the Sac-Joaquin Section's top programs to at least 22 wins (besides COVID-shortened season) nine straight campaigns including a 87-13 stretch from 2013-14 to 2015-16. ... With only one senior, this Bulldog squad might struggle to get to 22 wins, but they have plenty of young talented, led by junior 6-5 wing Chase Rawlins (21 points per game) and sophomore Joven Dulay, also 6-5, who averages 15 ppg. ... One of the team's key contributors is 6-3 forward Ryder Lyons, named this week California's Sophomore Football Player of the Year by CalHiSports for leading the Bulldogs to a fifth state championship as team's playmaking quarterback. ... Oakwood hit a couple rough spells, opening on a five-game losing streak, including 69-45 to open the season against Crespi, and then losing five of six to start season 2-10. ... But it closed 2023 winning five of six, including two wins over Yeshiva University of Los Angeles. ... Ford, a 6-6, 200-pound senior, has been a beast of late with 23 points and 15 rebounds in a 66-57 win over Pacifica Christian-Santa Monica on Jan. 4 and with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 55-38 win over JW North on Dec. 28.  

2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at De La Salle, presented by SBLive, six days away

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MLK Classic at De La Salle Game 1 preview: Moreau Catholic vs. Redwood-Larkspur