Granada Boys Basketball Win Regional Championships; Head To States

LIVERMORE, CA — Three buses of students and another bus of staff are traveling to Sacramento Friday night to watch the Granada High School boys varsity basketball team play in the state championships against Notre Dame High School from Sherman Oaks.

On Tuesday, the Matadors won the 2023 Northern California Interscholastic Federation championship title after beating Salesian College Preparatory 60-47 at a packed gym at Contra Costa College. Tuesday’s game was the first time a Granada basketball team made it to a regional championship in 25 years, and the first time they won a national title, Granada Athletic Director David Moore told The Livermore Vine.

The Matadors were ahead for much of most of Tuesday’s game, gaining 15 points in the first quarter. Going into the final quarter, the game was nearly tied, but senior Kevin Grant hit a three-pointer, and the team won the game after a series of free throws.

“I’m extremely happy,” Matadors Coach Quaran Johnson told The Independent News. “I’m excited for the boys for this opportunity, I’m proud. I’ve got so many emotions flowing through my body, man, my heart is just jumping out of my chest for joy.”

The game will take place at 8 p.m. at the Golden 1 Center arena in Sacramento. The game can be streamed on nfhsnetwork.com.