Dixon Girls to Open Basketball Tourney on Road at East Union

The bad news is that Dixon High's girls basketball team won't open the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournament at home. The good news is that the Rams' late-season surge gives them high hopes.

The Rams were seeded 10th on Sunday and will being the section Division III tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 22 in Manteca against No. 7 seed East Union of the Valley Oak League.

The youthful Rams are confident that having won six of their last seven games puts them in position to be competitive -- even on the road.

"We've been watching film of some of the teams we thought we might play in the first round," said Dixon's sophomore post player Miranda Williams. "We feel like we can compete with the teams we've seen."

Sophomore point guard Maddie Dwelley agrees.

"We know if we go out and play hard and play our best in the first round, that we can win," she said. "We know we just have to play hard and play as a team."

Senior Marisa Vela is confident.

"We usually go to the playoffs, so just being here isn't important," she said. "We've gotten knocked out in the last few years in the first round. I think we can win this year."

East Union won the Valley Oak League title, surprising crosstown rival Manteca, 63-57, to claim the crown. Talented senior guard Briona Fontenot poured in 20 points.

Manteca was ranked No. 2 in the Modesto Bee big school girls basketball poll heading into the game, with East Union rated No. 6 in the newspaper rankings.

The winner of Dixon's game advances to play the winner of the game between second-seeded El Dorado and No. 15 sed Whitney, of Rocklin.

Other first-round Division III games have No. 1 seed Sacramento hosting Sierra. Weston Ranch (eighth seed) entertains No. 9 Galt. Manteca has the fifth seed and will host No. 12 Natomas. Christian Brothers, of Sacramento, is seeded fourth, and will host No. 13 Placer.

Dixon's longtime Solano County rival Vanden is seeded third. The Vikings will host Vista del Lago in Fairfield.

Second-round matchups will be at the home of the highest-seeded surviving team on Thursday, Feb. 24. The D-III semifinals will be played at Cosumnes River College Wednesday March 2 in Elk Grove. The title game will be Friday, March 4 at Arco Arena in Sacramento.