This past week marked the start of the Califorinia Interscholastic Federation Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs and a host of Sacramento-area teams led the way as top seeds in different brackets.

Division I
The defending section champs and top-seeded Folsom Bulldogs boys team compiled a season record of 26-1, including a 10-0 march through the Delta River Conference under head coach Mike Wall. The Bulldogs ended last season with a 62-48 loss to Newark Memorial in the Nor-Cal playoffs, but hosted the winner of the Feb. 25 Armijo and Johansen game on Feb. 27 on their quest towards capturing a state title this year.

“We’re pleased to be sitting in the position we’re in,” Wall said in an interview on Feb. 22. “Our goal from the start was to get to the next level, which is hopefully further in the state playoffs.”

The blemish on Folsom’s record came on Dec. 6 to Monte Vista of Danville in the season-opening Russ Peterich Classic in Santa Rosa, but Folsom rattled off 24 consecutive wins to end the regular season.

The Bulldogs lean heavily on their starting guards for scoring in Tony Johnson (17.1 ppg), Kori Babineaux (14.2) and Patrick Akins (11.6). Wall admitted that his job has been made easier because the chemistry on the frontline and throughout the team is at such a high level.

“I have a bunch of kids that grew up together in the [same] neighborhood that have all been friends for about six or seven years and don’t look very impressive, but play some really good basketball,” Wall said. “I almost feel disconnected at times because they can just make things happen off of their chemistry… I have a lot of confidence in their ability to create and do things intelligently without me having to stop and plan things.”

As for the women’s side of the bracket, the Kennedy Cougars, the top-seeded and defending section champs, finished the regular season with a mark of 21-6 and a 12-0 record in the Delta Valley Conference. The Cougars rode an 11-game winning streak into their game on Feb. 26 when they hosted Grace Davis of Modesto.

Kennedy was tested early in the season, losing four of its first five games to Sacramento, Saint Mary’s of Stockton, Berkeley (who beat them in the Nor-Cal finals last season), and Oakland Tech. Later in the preseason, Archbishop Mitty of San Jose and Mater Dei of Chula Vista handed the Cougars defeats, but head coach Brandon Yung said the tough schedule was a necessary learning experience for his team.

“We wanted to get a good, realistic picture of ourselves against a good measuring stick to see where we were at,” Yung said. “We probably thought that our chemistry was going to be better early on. Playing such a tough schedule, it exposes you. But that’s what we wanted.”

About a month ago, the Cougars saw their two standout seniors go down with injuries they have since recovered from, to Yung’s relief. Melody Khlok, who was First Team All-City last season, went down with a torn ligament in her thumb, and Kristen Shimizu, Second Team All-City a season ago, suffered a sprained hip flexor.

“We’ve really tried to ignore the outside expectations,” Yung said. “We as a team know that if we play to our potential, live up to our own standards and measuring stick, I think the winning and losing part will take care of itself.”

Division II
In the boys bracket, top-seeded Rocklin faced the Valley Vikings on Feb. 25 after amassing a season record of 26-2. Led by UCLA-bound Brendan Lane, the Thunder rolled through the Sierra Foothill Conference with a 10-0 record and finished the regular season with a 15-game win streak.

Oak Ridge’s focal point and junior guard Sara James, who averaged 20.9 points per game in the regular season, helped the Trojans earn the No. 1 seed in the girls bracket with an overall record of 24-3, including a 13-0 record in the Sierra Valley Conference.

The Trojans hosted the Rocklin Thunder on Feb. 24 in their first playoff game.

“We feel that if we keep playing well and together, we have the potential to win a Nor-Cal and state title,” head coach Steve White said on Feb. 23. “The only fear we have is having an off-day on the wrong day.”

Division III
The top-seeded Sacramento High boys team hosted Weston Ranch of Stockton on Feb. 25, while the school’s No. 3-ranked girls team faced Oakdale in the same gym on Feb. 24. Both the Del Oro boys and girls teams qualified as the second seed and faced El Camino (Feb. 25) and Center High (Feb. 24), respectively.

For more on the playoffs, visit www.SacUnion.com/SportsBlog.