How Can Jesuit Basketball Beat Sheldon?

Coming off , the Jesuit Marauders basketball team is back at Power Balance Pavilion on Saturday playing for the Northern California championship.

Their opponents are the pesky Sheldon Huskies, who have won seven straight games against the Big Red, including . Would it be any other way?

Streaks were made to be broken, however. , Sheldon has beaten Jesuit by a combined six points in their last two matchups. And the Marauders seniors must be riding high following their emotional come-from-behind win, the biggest of their careers- so far.

It's the first time in CIF Nor Cal history that two Sacramento-area teams have met for a spot in the state championship game on March 24.

"It was a good win," Jesuit's Akachi Okugo said about De La Salle in an interview with News 10 this morning. "It's a big accomplishment for both teams (Jesuit and Sheldon), especially being from the same league (Delta River)."

"We're going to come out hard and play our best because we know a lot is at stake to get to the state championship," Okugo said.

When asked by a News 10 anchor about the Marauders' chances against the one team they have not been able to beat in two season, Jesuit's Parker Uu was clear.

"Since it's our senior year, we're trying to go as far as we can," Uu said. "Anything is possible; we know we can (beat Sheldon)."

Will the Marauders shake things up?

"We've been on the short end of the stick," coach Greg Harcos said Wednesday. "Hopefully, this (De La Salle win) gets us going."

How far the Marauders go will depend on their five seniors- Uu, Okugo, Bryce Pressley, Brian Glodowski and Kurt Parker.

"We need to stop the drive, protect the basket," Uu told News 10. "We know how good and how quick they are."

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