Antelope boys basketball coach Rob Richards offered up high fives to Capital Athletic League coaching rival Tony Phulps of El Camino for his team's surprising postseason run.
As a No. 18 seed, El Camino beat No. 15 Roseville 91-83 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II outbracket game in Roseville, then topped No. 2 St. Mary's at Stockton 62-61 on a buzzer beater before falling at No. 7 Rocklin 77-65 on Friday.
"Tony deserves a shout out," said Richards, whose defending D-II section champion Titans play Rocklin 7:30 p.m. in Wednesday's semifinals at Sleep Train Arena.
Richards was pleased because the CAL doesn't get much respect in boys basketball.
The league ranked 10th overall in the section's strength ratings.
Coupled with No. 12 Rio Americano's 66-60 upset at No. 5 Lincoln in the D-III opener and No. 20 Cordova's 58-48 win at No. 13 Johansen of Modesto followed by a close 59-55 loss at No. 4 Grant in D-II, Richards thought his league fared well and should have some ammunition for a higher ranking next season.
Roseville (Sierra Foothill League) and Lincoln (Pioneer Valley League) came from leagues with higher strength ratings.
"We have some unsung teams," Richards said. "I think our league deserves a little more respect."


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.