March has arrived and that means state championship basketball is here.
Dozens of Bay Area teams have withered the long basketball season and are now vying to end their season by hosting a state championship trophy at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Every game from here on out is do-or-die. No more third-place games or at-large bids.
As always, the high school crew of Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao and Darren Sabedra are back to make picks for which teams they believe will make it out of the NorCal regionals and play for a state title.
The guys didn’t have much agreement on the majority of the divisions, but were unanimous with a few teams in the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area.
The guys all went with the Mission San Jose boys to win Division V. The bracket will run through the Fremont school as it is the top seed.
Canilao made it clear that he believes MSJ has all the tools to win more than a NorCal regional.
“I think they’re going to win state too,” Canilao said.
On the girls side, there’s no doubt who everyone picked to win the NorCal Open Division.
Top-seeded Archbishop Mitty has blown past all its NorCal opponents in the regular season and will be the heavy favorites to meet the SoCal victor.
“Do we have to think about it?” Sabedra asked when the crew put in their picks for the girls NorCal Open Division.
Be sure to check out the video below.
Now, onto the picks …
Boys
Open Division
Babcock: Archbishop Riordan
Canilao: Salesian
Sabedra: Archbishop Riordan
Division I
Babcock: Clayton Valley
Canilao: Clayton Valley
Sabedra: Clayton Valley
Division II
Babcock: Granada
Canilao: Granada
Sabedra: Granada
Division III
Babcock: Willow Glen
Canilao: Cornerstone Christian
Sabedra: Cornerstone Christian
Division IV
Babcock: Chico
Canilao: Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sabedra: Chico
Division V
Babcock: Mission San Jose
Canilao: Mission San Jose
Sabedra: Mission San Jose
NorCal Division VI
Babcock: Redding Christian
Canilao: Biggs
Sabedra: Redding Christian
Girls
Open Division
Babcock: Archbishop Mitty
Canilao: Archbishop Mitty
Sabedra: Archbishop Mitty
Division I
Babcock: Piedmont
Canilao: Archbishop Riordan
Sabedra: Piedmont
Division II
Babcock: McClatchy
Canilao: Salesian
Sabedra: Oakland Tech
Division III
Babcock: Placer
Canilao: Valley Christian
Sabedra: Placer
Division IV
Babcock: Faith Christian
Canilao: Mills
Sabedra: Faith Christian
Division V
Babcock: Modoc
Canilao: Oakland
Sabedra: Modoc
NorCal Division VI
Babcock: Cornerstone Christian
Canilao: Cornerstone Christian
Sabedra: Cornerstone Christian
Related Articles
Vote now: Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week CIF official addresses questions about 2026 state basketball tournament CIF NorCal basketball 2026: The matchups are set. Here’s what to know CIF NorCal basketball regionals 2026: Opening-round schedule Destiny: For first time in 57 years, Willow Glen boys win CCS basketball titleFeb. 27 Results
Friday
Archbishop Riordan (26-1) vs. St. Ignatius (24-3) at USF, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Riordan (W)
Canilao: Riordan (W)
Sabedra: Riordan (W)
Saturday
Milpitas (25-1) vs. Los Gatos (21-5), TBD
Babcock: Milpitas (W)
Canilao: Los Gatos (L)
Sabedra: Milpitas (W)
Bishop O’Dowd (22-7) vs. Granada (21-7) at San Leandro High, 5 p.m.
Babcock: O’Dowd (W)
Canilao: Granada (L)
Sabedra: O’Dowd (W)
Clayton Valley (26-3) vs. Salesian (26-3) at San Leandro High, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Salesian (W)
Canilao: Salesian (W)
Sabedra: Salesian (W)
GIRLS
Friday
Miramonte (17-13) vs. Benicia (20-9) at Alhambra High, 7 p.m.
Babcock: Miramonte (W)
Canilao: Miramonte (W)
Sabedra: Benicia (L)
Saturday
Los Gatos (20-6) vs. Menlo-Atherton (20-5), TBD
Babcock: Menlo-Atherton (W)
Canilao: Menlo-Atherton (W)
Sabedra: Menlo-Atherton (W)
Santa Cruz (18-9) vs. Mills (13-13), TBD
Babcock: Mills (W)
Canilao: Mills (W)
Sabedra: Mills (W)
Carondelet (24-5) vs. San Ramon Valley (25-3) at Dublin High, 7 p.m.
Babcock: SRV (L)
Canilao: SRV (L)
Sabedra: SRV (L)
Feb. 27 standings
Babcock: 7-1
Canilao: 5-3
Sabedra: 6-2
Season standings
Sabedra: 27-18
Babcock: 27-18
Canilao: 25-20
Hence then, the article about bay area news group high school basketball predictions march 3 2026 was published today ( ) and is available on mercury news ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Bay Area News Group high school basketball predictions: March 3, 2026 )
Also on site :
- Trump dismisses criticism from Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson over Iran attacks: ‘MAGA loves what I’m doing’
- OSRS Leagues 6: Demonic Pacts release date, rewards and what to expect
- IPL 2026 postponed? BCCI issues official statement on schedule announcement delay