Mariposa Grizzlies get time to say ‘Thanks’

Bob Jaekle was grateful for the three extra days off.

One of the best parts of the Mariposa boys basketball team’s first-round bye in the NorCal playoffs was an opportunity to truly celebrate the first Sac-Joaquin Section title in the program’s history.

Jaekle’s players have been busy taking advantage of it, particularly in showing the team’s appreciation for the community that supported it. Just like with Chowchilla’s run to the state title game in football, the entirety of Mariposa County has embraced the Grizzlies and made an effort to contribute to their cause.

Having the largest fan contingent of any program on that Friday night at Sleep Train Arena was not lost on the players. And in the days since Mariposa won the Division V title, Jaekle’s team has done its best to say thanks. The blue banner has made its way around town as the players have visited a number of businesses that offered support. Included in the stops have been the River Rock Cafe, which provided breakfast on the day of the championship game, and a crashing of the superintendent’s meeting to show appreciation for organizing the transportation for the Mariposa fan base to Sleep Train Arena.

“The best thing about earning that first-round bye has been allowing the kids almost a full week to bask in what they’ve accomplished and what it means to the community,” Jaekle said. “I think the neatest thing we’ve done to say ‘Thank you’ was we dropped by a second-grade class (at Woodland Elementary). They’d written us letters wishing us luck before the game.

“So we went at lunch to surprise them and say thank you. You should have seen these kids’ faces. It was like a group of celebrities had entered their classroom. We took pictures with the banner and I think a few guys signed some autographs.”

Mariposa might have even more thanks to offer up if it makes a run in the NorCal Tournament with an even bigger contingent of fans expected to turn out to Don Reid Court for tonight’s quarterfinal showdown with Stuart Hall of San Francisco. Tip is set for 6 p.m.

While it’s true there are few home-court advantages like the cozy confines of the Grizzlies’ home gym, the players have made peace with the home-away-from-home game and even have some familiarity with the Merced College gym.

“As soon as we had qualified for the NorCal Tournament, they told us we wouldn’t be able to host beyond the first round,” senior Noah Rockwood said. “There’s nothing quite like the way the fans are right up on the court at our gym and the bodies pile in and line the walls, but I think we only seat something like 420. We had 800 to 1,000 come to watch us in Sacramento.

“As the buzz for this game has grown, it sounds like that number is going to be even bigger, and who knows what Stuart Hall is going to bring. The good news is a lot of us have played at Merced College before. One year our travel team had a ton of games there, and so it’s not something completely new.”

There was a time not that long ago that Don Reid Court was the place to be on a Saturday night.

Many in the local sports community remember fondly the gym filling up to its 1,600-person capacity and being entertained by top-level basketball. Tonight might provide a throwback to that era, with a massive crowd and a fast-paced, high-scoring contest expected.

Stuart Hall (20-11) reached the quarterfinals with a 96-80 victory over Elliot Christian in the first round. The Knights are led by 6-foot-5 center Zeke Crawford (17.6 points, 10.5 rebounds per game) and guards Axavier Byrd (12.5 ppg) and Darna Stewart (11.3 ppg).

On paper the team looks similar to the Brookside Christian team the Grizzlies beat in the section title game – long and athletic. Stuart Hall might have a little more balanced outside game, however, averaging five three-pointers a game and draining 12 of them in the win over Elliot Christian.

“A couple of my coaching friends that I’ve talked to say they are the real deal,” Jaekle said. “They play in one of the best conferences in the state, so it’s no surprise.

“We know we’ve got our work cut out for us and we’re just looking forward to another exciting game.”

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Mariposa Grizzlies get time to say ‘Thanks’."