Greyhounds boys to open section hoop playoffs at Marin Catholic

Healdsburg High's boys face a challenge when they open the North Coast Section Division IV basketball playoffs.

The 11th-seeded Greyhounds will take on Marin County Athletic League power Marin Catholic on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Kentfield to open the section playoffs.

Marin Catholic is 18-10 overall after finishing second in the MCAL during the regular season at 10-4. The Wildcats finished behind powerful San Marin (15-1) during league play, before San Marin also rolled to the MCAL postseason tournament championship.

The winner of Tuesday's game in Kentfield will advance to play the winner of the game between third-seeded Cardinal Newman (23-5) and No. 14 Lick-Wilmerding on Saturday at 7 p.m. The second-round game will be held at the home of the highest-seeded surviving team.

Marin Catholic features a balanced attack. Guard David Ahern leads the Wildcats in scoring with 13.7 points per game. Patrick Conroy is a 6-foot-2 sophomore averaging 8 points per game. Dominic Stazulo, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, is scoring 7.1 points per game for the team that averages 52.6 points per contest.

Junior Jordan Roggenbuck is the leading rebounder. The 6-foot-4 center averages 4.7 rebounds per game for the Wildcats. Six-foot-6 Mike Padovese stars for the Wildcats, grabbing 4 boards per contest. Jared Goff had 4 rebounds per game, too.

The Greyhounds and Wildcats do have common opponents.

Marin Catholic defeated Sonoma Valley to open the Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament in Healdsburg, 50-41, on Dec. 8. The Wildcats were 66-59 losers to Ukiah on Dec. 11 in the REIBT third-place game.

Healdsburg split two Sonoma County League games against Sonoma Valley -- losing 36-32 in January, then beating the Dragons Feb. 9, 57-55. Ukiah defeated Healdsburg, 54-50, in the REIBT in December.

Other NCS Division IV first-round games include No. 1 seed Salesian (16-8) hosting 16th-seed Cloverdale (16-8). No. 9 seed John Swett (14-13) travels to play eighth-seeded McKinleyville (13-13). St Patrick/St. Vincent (fourth seed, 22-7) will host No. 13 St. Helena (20-6).

No. 5 seed Arcata (20-6) travels to play at 12th seed Middletown (18-9). St. Mary's, the No. 2 seed, is 18-9 and hosts 15th seed Fort Bragg (16-10). Seventh-seeded Justin-Siena (15-12) will host No. 10 Berean Christian in Napa.

All first-round games are on Tuesday. Second-round action is set for Saturday. The semifinals are slated for Wednesday, March 2. The Division IV championship game will be on either Friday, March 4 or Saturday, March 5.

Rio Lindo Adventist girls seeded eighth

The Rio Lindo Adventist girls advance to the NCS Division VI tournament. They carry a 17-8 mark into the first round, seeded eighth, against No. 9 seed Point Arena (14-12). Tip-off time at Rio Lindo Adventist is 7 p.m.

The winner of that first-round game will play top-seeded Tomales, at Tomales, on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tomales is 16-8 entering the section tournament.

Seraphie Allen leads Rio Lindo into the postseason. She averages 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Lisa Marxmiller averages 9.1 points. Keila Creed averages 5.1 points and 7.4 rebounds.