Sports
CIF State Basketball Championships Set for Exciting Weekend in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The CIF State Basketball Championships are set to unfold at the Golden 1 Center on March 14-15, with the first games beginning at 10:00 a.m. each day. Twenty-four teams from various divisions will compete for a total of 12 state titles.
Championship matchups include thrilling contests in both boys’ and girls’ divisions with teams jockeying for glory. Tickets to the event are available through Ticketmaster and at the Golden 1 Center box office, with prices starting at $16 for adults and $10 for seniors, children, and high school students holding a valid ASB card.
All games will be broadcast live on Spectrum Networks, including Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum News 1, with additional coverage on the NFHS Network for Northern California viewers.
The boys’ Open Division highlights a showdown between Roosevelt, Eastvale, and Archbishop Riordan, both eager to secure their first state championship in this category. Roosevelt enters the game with a record of 34-2, while Archbishop Riordan has a 29-1 record this season.
In the girls’ Open Division, Etiwanda aims for a three-peat against Archbishop Mitty. Etiwanda (27-5) has been dominant in this division, while Archbishop Mitty (27-3) seeks to claim their first Open Division title after previously winning a Division II title in 2015.
The afternoon of March 14 will also feature the Division III and I games, spotlighting competitive matchups such as Mater Dei Catholic versus Marin Catholic for the girls and Sierra Canyon facing Stockton Lincoln in the boys’ Division I.
On Saturday, March 15, the action continues with exciting matchups across several divisions, including Division IV and II games, culminating in the Open Division finals later that evening.
This year’s tournament sees eleven teams making their championship finals debut, adding to the excitement of the event. Notable first-timers include Diamond Ranch and Fresno Christian among the boys, and Half Moon Bay and International among the girls.
CIF officials expect a spirited atmosphere as fans come out to support their teams. “The championship weekend is a celebration of high school basketball,” said CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti. “We look forward to witnessing the culmination of a hard-fought season.”
For the complete schedule of events and further details, fans can check local listings and the CIF website.