BOYS BASKETBALL: Santa Cruz Stays Hot

Santa Cruz 72, Colfax 42

With one double digit victory already in tow, the Santa Cruz High boys basketball team traveled to Colfax High Thursday night in search of another.

On the ball with pressure early and often, Santa Cruz played aggressive and loose in a CIF State Boys Basketball Division IV Second Round Playoff Game and was rewarded handsomely for it.

Santa Cruz stunned Colfax, the No. 4 seed in the D-IV state draw, on its home floor with a convincing 72-42 win in round two play.

“Early on our pressure got us going,” Santa Cruz head coach Bill Domhoff said. “I think getting a couple easy buckets relaxed everyone. Our pressure got to them just liked we hoped it would.”

The victory moves the Cardinals onto to Saturday’s regional semifinals where they will face their toughest task yet.

No. 1 seed Salesian, who dismantled Orland 68-20 Thursday night, will host Santa Cruz (23-7) at Contra Costa College in San Ramon.

Salesian (23-11) boasts a couple Division I prospects on its roster and is coached by Santa Cruz High alum Bill Mellis.

“We’re stepping into the home of the lion now,” Domhoff said. “We’re going to respect our opponent, but were not going to change the way we play. Coach Mellis is a Santa Cruz High alum. He’s probably one of the top coaches in the state of California.”

Offensive balance and relentless full court defense were the keys for the Cardinals in the playoff win over Colfax.

Walker Hansen, Zen Maki and Keith Williams all played big roles in the win.

Johann Schmidt and Ti Demeo also contributed nicely for the Cardinals.

Santa Cruz led 38-24 at the half and expanded on the advantage in the final 16 minutes of play.

“You never know who’s going to have the big night with us,” Domhoff said. “We had a bunch of guys play well again tonight. We’re in the final four now. It feels really good.”

Tip time is set for 7 pm Saturday night for the regional final.