Fresno Christian rallies to top Ramona in state basketball playoffs, plus other CIF scores
Down by double digits in the state playoffs? No problem for the top-seeded Fresno Christian boys basketball team.
Devin Gaines’ basket gave the Eagles a 63-61 lead over Ramona and it held up for the win in Round 2 of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern California Division IV playoffs on Thursday night. Gaines’ bucket marked his 1,000th career point.
“We believed in ourselves,” Fresno Christian coach Jon Penberthy said. “We haven’t been behind since we played Memorial. So it’s new territory for us. But we believed.”
The Eagles made their run in the fourth quarter after trailing by double digits in the third. Three-pointers by Chance Hertel and Aden Milwee helped Fresno Christian’s run. Then there was Noah Coulton, who made key baskets when Fresno Christian needed it. Penberthy credited Jeremiah Mason for strong defense.
Next up is No. 5 Grant-Van Nuys in Saturday’s regional semifinals.
CIF state playoffs
Boys basketball
Division I
NorCal
Thursday
Round 2
No. 10 St. Ignatius College 55, No. 2 Buchanan 52
Division II
NorCal
Round 2
Thursday
No. 7 Clovis East 73, No. 2 Milipitas 45
Saturday’s regional semifinals
No. 7 Clovis East at No. 3 Jesuit
Division IV
SoCal
Round 2
Thursday
No. 1 Fresno Christian 63, No. 9 Ramona 61
Saturday’s regional semifinals
No. 5 Grant-Van Nuys at No. 1 Fresno Christian
Division V
Round 2
Thursday
SoCal
No. 1 Wilson 61, No. 8 Strathmore 57
Girls basketball
Open Division
Saturday
No. 3 San Ramon Valley at No. 2 Clovis West
Division I
NorCal
Round 2
Thursday
No. 7 Cardinal Newman 62, No. 2 Clovis 61
No. 9 Piedmont 62, No. 16 San Joaquin Memorial 60
Division II
NorCal
Thursday
Round 2
NorCal
No. 1 Caruthers 66, No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral 64
No. 2 Sierra Pacific 74, No. 7 Atwater 63
Saturday’s regional semifinals
No. 5 California at No. 1 Caruthers
No. 6 Salesian College Prep at No. 2 Sierra Pacific
SoCal
No. 1 Monache 45, No. 8 Palos Verdes 36
Saturday’s regional semifinals
No. 5 Portola at No. 1 Monache
Division III
NorCal
Thursday
Round 2
No. 1 Immanuel 68, No. 8 Chico 37
Saturday’s regional semifinals
No. 4 Justin-Siena at No. 1 Immanuel
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 10:48 PM.
