Antelope's boys basketball team has come so far in such a short time that even coach Rob Richards admits to being a little dazzled.
"Never as a coach do you expect to be in the third week of February with only one loss," Richards said.
No. 4 Antelope is on a monster roll: 24 consecutive wins and an average margin of victory of more than 20 points in Capital Athletic League play.
The latest to fall was visiting Rio Americano, 72-53 tonight in front of Antelope's boisterous Red Zone student rooting section on Senior Night. It also was Richards 200th coaching victory, which fans celebrated by waving "Mr. 200" signs after the game.
Antelope, which led by as many as 27 points early in the fourth quarter, was led by its dynamic junior duo of 6-foot-5 Gabe Bealer, who scored a game-high 17 points and 6-6 Isaiah Ellis, who had 15 points and six blocks. Seniors Jarvis Watkins and Caleb King combined for an additional 24 points.
Mason Pigman's 13 points led Rio Americano (11-14, 6-3), which entered the game still in contention for a co-championship.
With the win, Antelope (25-1, 9-0) secured the outright CAL title. Last year, the Titans' first with a senior class, they shared the title banner with Cordova en route to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II final and CIF Northern California Regional semifinals.
In other games involving Bee Top 20 boys teams:
• Darin Johnson and Theo Johnson combined for 44 points as No. 8 Franklin defeated Davis 79-69 in a Delta Valley Conference game.
• Trey Belton had 16 points to lead No. 14 Capital Christian to a 63-28 Golden Empire League win over West Campus.
• Jordan Broyles topped No. 15 Del Oro with 14 points as the Golden Eagles defeated Roseville 76-53 in the Sierra Foothill League.
• Scott Romuk's 14 points helped No. 16 Granite Bay over Rocklin 58-48 in SFL play.
• Manny Trillo's 14 points led No. 17 and Sierra Valley Conference front-running Cosumnes Oaks to a 60-45 win over Liberty Ranch.
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