Jesuit Runs Past Pacers in Playoff Opener

The Marauders overcame a physical Grant Pacers squad on Wednesday to win their CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff opener at home by a final score of 70-56.

Jesuit junior forward Parker Uu again led the Marauders with 16 points, while junior guard Akachi Okugo and junior forward Bryce Pressley each scored 14. Grant junior guard Eddie Sparks led all scorers with 18 points.

It was certainly a playoff atmosphere, with a strong turnout of Grant fans and the school's band, cheerleaders and dance team rooting for the Pacers.

Grant seemed to have an early advantage on the defensive end, getting blocks but, throughout the game, Jesuit showed it was the more disciplined team on offense.

"We wanted to be patient on offense and get on the offensive glass," Okugo said after the game.

Indeed, the game started out as a low-scoring affair as Jesuit led 18-12 after one quarter and 38-26 at halftime. Grant made the score tighter in the third quarter but Jesuit started to pull away and led 49-38 going into the fourth.

"Tonight, our focus... and turnovers were the difference," Jesuit head coach Greg Harcos said.

The Marauders hardly have much time to enjoy Wednesday's victory as the quarterfinals take place Friday with no. 3 seed Jesuit hosting no. 6 Burbank, which beat Grace Davis 80-57. The game begins at 7 p.m. at Barry Gymnasium with the winner playing March 1 in the semifinals at Power Balance Pavilion (formerly known as Arco Arena).

Jesuit and Burbank met Dec. 11 in the Gridley Invitational, with the Marauders winning by a score of 75-58. Jesuit now has a 20-8 record on the season while the Titans come in with a 23-4-1 record (13-1 in Metro League play).

"We're expecting a physical game," Pressley said. "They'll be better than they were last time but so will we."