Marin Catholic boys eliminate Healdsburg in section basketball playoffs

KENTFIELD -- The Greyhounds just couldn't keep up with Marin Catholic on Wednesday as lost 70-55 in the first round of the North Coast Section Division IV boys basketball playoffs.

Peter Nelson paced Healdsburg with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Marin Catholic simply had too much firepower for Healdsburg.

Patrick Conroy scored a game-high 19 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Wildcats. David Ahern added 13 points for Marin Catholic and Dom Strazulo had 12. Mike Padovese powered his way to a 10-point night.

No. 11 Healdsburg (11-14) matched Marin Catholic shot for shot in the first quarter through a 14-14 stretch. The Wildcats took the Greyhounds' sharpshooters out of the game in the second quarter as Marin Catholic started to pull away to end the first half with a 37-28 lead.

"We just kept pressing and they started making turnovers," Marin Catholic head coach Mike Saia said.

Marin Catholic solidified the victory with a 16-0 run to close out the third quarter with a 25-point lead. The Wildcats turned up the heat and Healdsburg wilted as the No. 11 Greyhounds just couldn't hang on to the ball.

"They sped us up. I thought we could handle it. I thought we did OK, but then we started turning the ball over," Healdsburg coach Travis Taylor said. "We couldn't get close in the second half."

The No. 6 Wildcats (19-10) advance to the quarterfinals and a showdown with No. 3 Cardinal Newman (24-5) on the road Saturday at 7 p.m.

Taylor was disappointed his seniors won't get a chance to win the NCS title, but was impressed with the team's effort this season.

"I have no regrets about this season. We had a good time," Taylor said.