Miramonte Martin Luther King-John Lewis Memorial boys basketball showcase preview

One of Bay Area's top one-day boys basketball showcases features four NorCal Coast ranked teams and several others on the cusp

One of the Bay Area's top one-day showcases honoring the late Martin Lurther King and John Lewis takes place all day Jan. 13 at Miramonte High School in Orinda. 

Miramonte's third annual Martin Luther King-John Lewis Memorial boys basketball showcase starts at 12:30 p.m. with Northgate-Walnut Creek versus California-San Ramon and concludes with a big 8 p.m. clash between San Ramon Valley-Danville, ranked 15th in the state, against Sac-Joaquin Section power Inderkum-Sacramento. 

General admission for the all-day event is $10 with discounted rates for seniors ($7) and students ($5). A portion of proceeds will benefit the NAACP Legan Defense Fund. Doors open at noon. 

A quick glance at the schedule

Northgate vs. California

Tip-off: 12:30 p.m.

Records: Northgate (10-6), California (10-7)

Coaches: Brian McCoy (NG), Steve Ohlmeyer (Cal). 

Briefly: The Broncos enter on a three-game win streak with wins over Douglas (61-43), Berean Christian (77-33) and Las Lomas (84-76), the latter perhaps their best win of the season. Northgate went 2-2 at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, besides beating Douglas, a 70-45 win over Spanish Springs. Northgate has rebounded nicely from a 9-17 squad in 2022-23. McCoy, a first-year head coach for the Broncos, is led by Daniel Louie and Jake Andjus ... California is a rising program under Ohlmeyer, a former Cal standout in the late 1980s and longtime assistant. In his fourth season, the Grizzlies have steadily risen from an initial challenging 2-12 COVID spring season to 14-12 and 20-12 while playing in one of Northern California's toughest leagues. This season, five of their defeats have been by single digits including 66-64 in overtime to Miramonte, 48-47 to Mercer Island and 52-51 to Beckman. They have signature wins over Amador Valley (51-47), Heritage (66-52), Freedom (55-47) and Deer Valley (66-47). In 13 games, Dane Wallace,a 6-foot junior guard, led the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game while Arman Marin, a 6-1 senior guard, averaged 12.8. 

Granada vs. Menlo-Atherton 

Tip-off: 2 p.m.

Records: Granada (15-1), Menlo-Atherton (12-1)

Coaches: Quaran Johnson (G), Mike Molieri (M-A)

Briefly: Johnson has helped turn the Matadors into a legitimate Northern California power. After reaching the CIF State Division 1 finals last season behind 7-foot center Andrew McKeever (now at St. Mary's College) and 6-7 Tyler Harris (now at the University of Portland), the Matadors haven't dropped off a bit helped by 6-5, 230-pound Cortevlous Taylor, a transfer from Lincoln, and Vaughn Long. The team's only loss was 62-61 to Sacred Heart Prep at the Crusader Classic on Nov. 30. The Matadors have won 14 straight since, including impressive wins over Redwood (75-66), Capital Christian (78-70), Serra (75-69), Sheldon (57-52) and Dougherty Valley (60-44). ... Menlo-Atherton  started the season 11-0 with impressive wins over Los Gatos (53-47), Palma (64-40), Menlo School (66-52) and Valley Christian (61-58). They rebounded from a 61-54 loss to Half Moon Bay on Wednesday with a 44-40 win over Burlingame on Friday. Despite losing all five starters to graduation last season, Molieri has regrouped behind Jack Anderson, a 6-4 senior wing.

Lincoln-San Francisco vs. Sacred Heart Prep

Tip-off: 3:30 p.m.

Records: Lincoln (8-9), Sacred Heart Prep (9-4)

Coaches: Carl Jacobs (L), Tony Martinelli (SHP)

Briefly: The Gators have been one of the strongest Peninsula teams over the last few years, and 2023 is no different with the guard trio of JP Kerrigan, TJ O’Brien and Drew Wagner. SHP has made the CCS Open Division in three of the last four seasons, and the one year the Gators missed out, they won the Division IV title. Lincoln, winners of three straight AAA titles, has been one of the Bay Area’s most mercurial teams, with final scores ranging from 33-29 to 93-81. Since gaining transfers DaMarco Reed Jr. and Dwayne Gaines, the Mustangs have found their form; presuming they handle business against O’Connell on Friday, they’ll enter Saturday’s event on a five-game winning streak, including a consolation championship at the Bambauer Classic. Junior sharpshooter Sommari Tanner was named to the Bambauer All-Tournament Team, with a 38-point game against Arcata and a 28-point showing against Central Catholic that included a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Miramonte vs. Archie Williams

Tip-off: 5 p.m.

Records: Miramonte (13-3), Archie Williams (8-8)

Coaches: Chris Lavdiotis (M), Russell Bauer (AW)

Briefly: The host Matadors have been one of the feel-good stories in the Bay Area this year after enduring an injury-filled 2022-23 season with an inexperienced roster. After limping to a 5-22 record last year, they’ve already more than doubled their win total halfway through the season, led by point guard Marcus Robinson, a 3-year starter. They’ll welcome in a Falcons squad that rosters seven sophomores, including 6-foot-3 forward Brian Wright, a walking double-double. In Tuesday’s eight-point loss to Branson, who’s already an NCS Open Division lock, Wright had 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Marin Catholic vs. Monte Vista 

Tip-off: 6:30 p.m.

Records: Marin Catholic (7-11), Monte Vista (15-3)

Coaches: Mike Saia (MC), Nick Jones (MV)

Briefly: Between graduation and transfers, Monte Vista returns just one starter. What was supposed to be a lean year for Nick Jones’ Mustangs has thus far been nothing of the sort, as his team has been one of the best in the entire Bay Area. Led by Daniel Cojocaru, their resume includes a win over Bellarmine and three tournament titles, with triumphs at West Park, Acalanes’ Chris Huber Classic and in the Governor’s Division of the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic on a buzzer-beater by Ryan Lee. They lost Tuesday’s EBAL opener at national powerhouse De La Salle by just 11, and will head into Saturday’s game after a tough home tilt with Dublin on Friday night. Marin Catholic’s early struggles came while the Wildcats’ football players were on a state title run. Since welcoming back Wyoming defensive back commit Charles Williams and his teammates, the Wildcats have found their footing, including a remarkable win over Redwood last Saturday. In a win over King two weeks ago, Williams scored 37.

San Ramon Valley vs. Inderkum

Tip-off: 8 p.m.

Records: San Ramon Valley (15-3), Inderkum (11-5)

Coaches: Brian Botteen (SRV), Fred Wilson (I)

Briefly: The nightcap at the 3rd Martin Luther King Jr.-John Lewis Memorial might be the best matchup of all, with top teams from the SJS and NCS squaring off. Inderkum has just two losses to NorCal opponents and reached the championship of the Clovis West Nike Invitational, while the Wolves, who graduated just one starter from last year’s 26-win squad, enter Friday night’s league showdown with California on a 10-game winning streak. The Tigers are led by Taylen Goodman and Jeremiah Butler, while SRV is led by junior Luke Isaak and senior Seamus Deely, a rugby star who plays point forward. The Wolves haven’t lost since a disappointing seventh-place finish at the Gridley Invitational, as they’ve adjusted to life without 6-foot-7 forward Will Ambidge, who’s battled a series of ankle injuries. They won their second straight Gold Division championship at The Classic at Damien on Isaak’s bank three.

Ethan Kassel is one of Northern California's most prolific and insightful prep sports journalists. Kassel's prose have appeared regularly over the last decade in the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Standard, San Mateo Daily Journal, Napa Valley Register, Los Altos Town Crier and American Canyon Eagle.. His latest episodes of Bay Preps Insider can be heard on Apple Podcasts. Read his writings on Substack and follow him on Twitter/X @KasselMedia