What a year 2024 was for Bay Area high school sports.
It started with Archbishop Mitty’s girls basketball program having one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory, while the Salesian Pride embodied the true meaning of team basketball on the boys’ side. Mitty’s Monarchs also dominated prep soccer, with its boys and girls winning regional championships at the highest level.
In the spring, Granada’s clutch baseball team had a season to remember en route to its first NorCal title. Amador Valley, as No. 8 seed, capped one of the most improbable postseason runs in state history with an epic extra-innings NorCal softball championship victory.
This autumn, Sacred Heart Prep’s boys and girls water polo teams each captured regional championships, and Alameda took home the first-ever North Coast Section girls flag football title. De La Salle returned to national prominence as the Bay Area’s best football team, and Pittsburg’s incredible season saw the Pirates complete an epic comeback against Folsom to win a NorCal championship. But it was Moreau Catholic that went to Southern California and returned as the lone Bay Area team to finish the football season as a state champion.
— Joseph Dycus
De La Salle’s Bubba Vargas (44) runs onto the field with the U.S. flag before their game against San Ramon Valley at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) De La Salle’s Derrick Blanche (22) is tackled by Mater Dei’s defense in the first quarter of their CIF open division state football championship game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Arch Bishop Mitty’s Prince Babalola-Buchango stretches to cross the finish line in first place while competing in the Boys 110 Meter Hurdles during the CCS track and field championships at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, Calif., on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Monte Vista’s Sophia Carbone (42) and San Ramon Valley’s KK Lonegran (13) battle for the ball in the second half of an East Bay Athletic League game at Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Los Gatos’ Scarlett Roberts (0) attempts for a goal against Los Altos’ Gabriella Zuraek (41) in third quarter at Los Altos High School in Los Altos, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) While under pressure from Santa Teresa High’s Jalen Karriem (7), Hillsdale High’s Rohan Singh (7) bobbles a pass, allowing Santa Teresa High’s Robert Estrada (0) to make an interception in the first quarter of their football game in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) Khaliq Muhammad clears the bar at 14’ 8’ to win the boy’s pole vault at the NCS track and field championships at Dublin High School, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dublin, Calif. Muhammad continued to jump clearing the bar at 16 feet. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Campolindo’s Emilia Barck competes and wins the 100-yard butterfly final heat during the swim and dive North Coast Section Championships at Concord Community Pool in Concord, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) St. Ignatius’ Lauren Nip (3) dives for the ball against St. Francis at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Piedmont’s Diego Delventhal (1) makes a catch for an out against Bishop O’Dd High in the fourth inning at Piedmont High School in Piedmont, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Students watch from the outfield fence during San Ramon Valley’s game against De La Salle at San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Granada’s A.J. Hattaway #3 greets teammates after his final pitch of a 6-4 victory over St. Mary’s-Stockton in the NorCal Division I championship game at Granada High School in Livermore, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Sacred Heart Prep’s Nelson Harris (8) scores the go-ahead goal as De La Salle’s Tyce di Pretoro (20) tries to block the shot during their CIF NorCal Water Polo Championship in Atherton, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) De La Salle’s Alec Blair (33) makes a shot against Modesto Christia’s Jeremiah Bernard (1) in the first half of a NorCal Open basketball playoff game at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Liberty High’s Kaiahe Monteilh (10) is pressured by a Freedom defender during their flag football game at Liberty High School in Brentwood, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Liberty won the game 33-7. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Christopher High Head Coach Adam Hazel leads the team in thanking the fans after they won their football game against Santa Teresa High 31-14 in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) Menlo School, including Menlo School’s Ryan Schnell (8) and Menlo School’s Yasin Abdulkariem (14) celebrate their 3-1 win over Lincoln for their 2024 CIF Central Coast Section Baseball Tournament Division VI at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Amador Valley High’s Sarah Candland (55) is safe at the plate as California High catcher Shayla Santolucito (24) takes the throw during their NCS semifinal game against California High at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Tuesday, May 22, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) James Logan’s Yash Gupta (10) and closer Jesus Vazquez (3) celebrate their 5-3 win against Monte Vista High after the last out of their playoff game at James Logan High baseball field in Union City, Calif., on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s girls basketball team listens to Coach Sue Phillips talk after winning a game against Archbishop Riordan 86-28 at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Campolindo’s Luke Bonardi (5) jumps to make a shot against Dublin in the fourth quarter of their NCS Division I quarterfinals game at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Manuel Portillo scores in the 45th minute against St. Francis in the CIF NorCal Division I championship, Saturday, March. 2, 2024, at Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Alameda’s Elsa Chin (11) runs for yardage against Alhambra in the second half of their North Coast Section flag football championship at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Alameda defeated Alhambra 26-20 in overtime to win the first place title. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Los Gatos’ Timothy Murabito, right, wrestles Fremont’s Jameson Moore during the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championships at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Bishop O’ Dowd’s Samuel Chavarin (5) shoots over Los Gatos’ Nolan G. Koch (11) and Scotty Brennan (10) during their NorCal high school basketball playoff game at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Willow Glen’s Katelynn Dilbeck (25) celebrates her walk-off double which scored Willow Glen’s Lea Crawford (35) to beat Tracy 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning for their 2024 CIF NorCal Division II semifinal game at Willow Glen High School in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Clayton Valley Charter’s James Moore (2), Ygnacio Valley High’s Loyal Morris (11), and Clayton Valley Charter’s Chase Robertson (4) battle for a loose ball of their Championship basketball game in Concord, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) Leigh’s Aiden Sarin (7) celebrates with students after their 25-23, 25-21, 13-25, 25-18 win over Branham at Leigh High School for their CCS boys volleyball semifinal game in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) From the left, Callum Todd (4), Archbishop Mitty’s Daniel Mendoza (4), and Jaden Peercy (8) jump for a header during their California Interscholastic Federation Central Coach Section Division 1 boy soccer championship game at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) Los Gatos’ Leaya Cleary (8) fights for the ball against St. Ignatius’ Meaghan Manning (11) in the first quarter of their field hockey match at Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Mt. Eden High School softball players throw their wristbands to head coach Derrick Blue as they celebrate their win against San Leandro High School on Thursday, March 28, 2024, in San Leandro, Calif. Mt. Eden won the game 8-3. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) A Hunter Supermoon illuminates the night sky as San Ramon Valley quarterback Rhett Thompson (7) throws a pass against De La Salle during the second quarter of their game at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ray Chavez
Doug Duran
Jose Carlos Fajardo
Shae Hammond
Karl Mondon
Nhat V. Meyer
Dai Sugano
Jane Tyska
