By Joe Davidson
jdavidson@sacbee.com
Just over a week ago, Jesse Formaker watched Deer Valley as it competed in the Jesuit Father Kelly Tribute and nodded at the Antioch team's size, skill and depth.
Now Deer Valley is nodding.
Rallying from six down with just over three minutes to play, the Franklin Wildcats and their delighted coach Formaker toppled the Wolverines of the North Coast Section 54-51 in the Martin Luther King Showcase at Cal's Haas Pavilion.
Forward Theo Johnson had 16 points for the Wildcats of Elk Grove, who moved to 14-4 and have their eyes set on a fifth consecutive Delta Valley Conference title. Victory Rustin, another forward, had 15 points and provided superb defense in stretches on national recruit 6-foot-9 big man Marcus Lee, who had just four points.
Darin Johnson added 13 for Franklin and guard Arieas Toney was again solid and effective at guard. Kelton Newman, the team captain, was also strong, Formaker said.
"I was very pleased with how the boys played," Formaker said, walking the streets of Telegraph Hill. "Victor defended the heck out of Lee. Lee's long, tall, moves well, and at first our kids were intimidated by him a little because we don't get to see guys like that in our area."
Formaker enjoyed the experience personally, too. He is a Cal graduate, loved his time there and joked he may spend several more hours on Telegraph before heading home.
* Special thanks to Twitter updates from our reporter friends Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group and Harold Abend of Cal-Hi Sports. Follow Harold at HaroldAbend and Durkin at Jimmy_Durkin.
For more news and updates: sb_joedavidson


About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.