Basketball
St. Francis Basketball
Division III State Champions 1993
Division I State Runner-Up 2016
8-Time Sac-Joaquin Section Champions
1991,1992,1993,1994, 2002 DIV III / 2007, 2008 DIV II / 2011 DIV I
16-Time League Champions
1987, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018
Kaeser’s Basket Caps Comeback Win at Davis for JV Hoops
DAVIS, Calif. – Sophomore Morgan Kaeser hit the game-winning basket to cap off a furious comeback in the final three minutes as St. Francis defeated Davis 56-54 Thursday night.
“It is huge,” said Kaeser of the win. “It is probably one of our biggest competitions and is especially great before Holy Hoops.”
St. Francis (10-2) trailed 51-40 as the clock went under three minutes remaining in the game. But freshmen Nika Bagatelos keyed the rally for the Troubadours, hitting three consecutive three-pointers and Kaeser added a basket.
Basketball Opens League with Win at PG
ELK GROVE, Calif. – Junior Janae Fairbrook had a team-high 22 points to lead St. Francis to a 64-54 win over Pleasant Grove in the Delta League opener for both teams.
“”It was great and really important that we go the “W”,” said Fairbrook of the league win. “It shows how we have progressed in the preseason and are ready for the season.”
Holy Hoops Game to Be Televised by Access Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Access Sacramento will televise the St. Francis-Christian Brothers Holy Hoops matchup on Saturday, Jan. 9 for re-broadcast as part of the Hometown Sports Game of the Week. The actual re-broadcast dates will be announced.
Access Sacramento Game of the Week can be seen on Comcast and Consolidated Communications (SureWest) cable on Channel 17 and on AT&T U-Verse Channel 14 and 99. All broadcasts are streamed live on the internet on www.AccessSacramento.org (Push Watch TV Channel 17).
Basketball Loses West Coast Jamboree Final
PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – The St. Francis varsity basketball team lost in the final of the Ruby Bracket to Sheldon (Ore.) 67-63 at the West Coast Jamboree Wednesday.
Senior Lauren Craig led the team with 24 points, scoring 20 second-half points to lead a valiant comeback effort. St. Francis (9-2) fell behind in the first half after Autumn Baumgartner scored 32 points for the Irish.
Junior Janae Fairbrook tallied 14 points and senior Kyra Huffman added 13 in the loss.
Basketball Reaches West Coast Jamboree Championship
PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – St. Francis basketball advanced to the championship game of the Ruby bracket of the West Coast Jamboree with a 58-50 win over previously undefeated Acalanes. Seniors Kyra Huffman and Lauren Craig combined for 27 points as the Troubadours advanced to Wednesday’s final against Sheldon (Ore.) at 6 p.m.
Acalanes (10-1) was out-scored 22-12 in the final quarter as the Troubadours pulled ahead in the final quarter. Craig scored nine of her 13 points, while Huffman added four baskets as the senior duo put away the Dons.
Huffman Scores 23 in West Coast Jamboree Win
PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – Kyra Huffman had a career-high 23 points as St. Francis won its opening game in the Ruby Bracket of the West Coast Jamboree.
St. Francis (8-1) trailed at the half after an 8-point second quarter but rebounded in the second half. Huffman scored six points in the third and 14 in the fourth to lead the Troubadours. She hit 11 of 14 at the line, including 10 of 12 in the final period.
Senior Lauren Craig added 15 points in the win and sophomore Marlee Nicolos tied her career-high with 10 points.
Freshmen Basketball Finishes Third at DC Elite 8
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis freshmen team finished third at the Del Campo Elite 8 tournament with a 58-33 win over Antelope. The Troubies went 2-1 in the tournament with a win over Rio Americano and a loss to Del Campo.
Krysta Alvarez led four players in double figures with 14 points. She added four rebounds, four steals and three steals. Nikki Morissette added points and Lily McLoughlin contributed 11 points. Gabi Lopez had 10 points and six steals.
The team returns to tournament action on Dec. 28 at the Rocklin JV Tournament. They play El Camino at 9 a.m.
Basketball Finishes Third in Nike TOC Bracket
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Lauren Craig scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead St. Francis to a 72-59 win in the third-place game of the Gold Bracket at the 2015 Nike Tournament of Champions.
“It felt great,” said Craig after the game. “After the game yesterday, we all wanted to come out and play our best to redeem ourselves. It was a great way to end the tournament because we all played extremely hard.”
Basketball Loses Semifinal Game Against Fairmont Prep
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The St. Francis basketball teams lost for the first time this season in the semifinals of the Nike Tournament of Champions Gold Bracket, dropping a 67-42 decision to Fairmont Prep out of Anaheim.
St. Francis (6-1) fell behind 15-5 early and trailed by 11 after one quarter and the Troubadours would not get any closer. Fairmont led 41-20 at the break with junior Janae Fairbrook scoring 17 of the 20 points to give St. Francis a chance.
The Troubadours cut the deficit to 15 two times in the third quarter but never got any closer.
Basketball Advances to Semifinals at Nike TOC
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Sophomore Marlee Nicolos had a career-high 10 points and four players scored in doubles figures as St. Francis advanced to the semifinals of the Gold Division at the Nike Tournament of Champions Saturday.
“It felt really good,” said Nicolos. “I think this was the first game I have had where the entire time I was not tired and I was ready to go. I was so ready for that game.”
Basketball Opens Nike TOC with a Big Win
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Senior Angie Ortiz scored eight points as St. Francis opened the 2015 Nike Tournament of Champions with a 63-24 win over Wilson (Ore.) High School at the Salvation Army KROC Center.
St. Francis (5-0) used an 18-2 run to start the second half to pull away from the Trojans after leading by 10 at the half. Junior Janae Fairbrook hit four second-half three-pointers as part of her team-high 15 points to go with five assists, three steals and two blocks.
UPDATE: Basketball Travels to Arizona for Nike Tournament of Champions
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The St. Francis basketball team will open the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix against Wilson (Ore.) HIgh School at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec 18 at the Ray Kroc Center.
“It is always a great event to travel out of state with the team and play some competition we otherwise would not see,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “We get to stay in a first-class resort and build the team chemistry. I expect that we will be very competitive this year and I have high hopes.”
Freshmen Fall to Flames in Bella Vista Final
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis freshmen basketball team lost to Lodi 35-31 in the finals of the Bronco Bill JV Tournament at Bella Vista. The Troubadours (5-1) beat two JV teams (Sacramento, Nevada Union) en route to the finals.
“It is really exciting,” said Gabi Lopez of the team’s performance in the JV Tournament. “It shows that we are really improving and we will do better when we are older.”
January Madness Basketball
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The first week of the second semester will tip off with a pair of fun game for the Troubadours and the Zoo. St. Francis will play back-to-back games Friday, January 8 and Saturday January 9 including a key Delta League game against Davis at Sleep Train Arena and the Holy Hoops games versus Christian Brothers.
The Troubies will play Davis Friday, January 8 at Sleep Train Arena at 6 p.m. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the Jesuit- Davis boys game tipping off at 7:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity Hoops Wins Kennedy Tournament
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Nika Bagatelos scored 17 points behind five three-pointers as the St. Francis junior varsity team posted a 53-49 win over Del Oro to win the Robby Nakamura Holiday Classic at Kennedy High School.
“I am really excited (to win the tournament),” said Bagatelos, who averaged 12.3 points per game in the three-game tournament.. “Last week we played a really good team and a really good game but we lost. We got it back today against a really good team.”
Basketball Teams Advance to Tournament Championships
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis junior varsity and freshman teams both won on Friday to advance to their respective tournament championships on Saturday. Sophomore Morgan Kaeser scored 12 points to lead the JV team to a 65-18 win over West Campus, while Brynne Burrows tallied nine points to aid a 32-30 win over Nevada Union.
JV Basketball Opens Kennedy Tournament with Win
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Jorie Keitges hit four three-pointers in a big first quarter as the Troubadours won their opener 84-37 in the Robby Nakamura Holiday Classic JV Tournament at Kennedy High School.
“It felt good,” said Keitges. “I was really feeling the game today. The team had great energy. (We had) good defense, rhythm and shooting.”
St. Francis (4-1) posted a 30-point quarter led by the 12 points of Keirges and six from Nicole Frank while holding the Inderkum to just four points. Keitges finished with a game-high 17 points in the game.
JV Hoops Falls to Sacramento in Tourney Final
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis junior varsity basketball team placed second in the Battle on the Bridge Tournament on Saturday, dropping a 66-51 decision to Sacramento in the championship game.
“I think we did great,” said Ally Gage. “We passed the ball and played like a team.”
Nika Bagatelus led the team with 13 points in the loss, while Nicole Frank scored nine points for the Troubadours.
St. Francis (2-1) had two players earn all-tournament honors, including freshmen Jorie Keitges and Ally Gage.
Basketball Wins Folsom-Vista Tip-Off
FOLSOM, Calif. – Senior Kyra Huffman recorded a double-double and junior Janae Fairbrook scored a career-high 22 points to lead St. Francis to a 73-41 victory over fifth-ranked Folsom in claim the Folsom-Vista Tip-Off title Friday night.
“Before the game we talked about earning carrots, what Coach Vic (Pitton) likes to call them,” said Huffman, who scored 18 points and had 15 rebounds. “This is a stepping stone into our season and I think it was great to put that energy out there.”
Basketball Advances to Tip-Off Finals with Big Win
FOLSOM, Calif. – Four players scored in double figures and St. Francis opened the game with a 23-0 run to cruise into the finals of the Vista-Folsom Tip-Off with a 76-14 win over Vista del Lago.
“We put good pressure on the ball and rotated well into the passing lanes and got a lot of deflections and steals and then we were off to the races,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “We were really running the floor well looking to share it. We finished most of them tonight.”