It’s Sutter-Marysville again.
For the first time in over two years.
Two great friends going at it again – with a state berth on the line.
“Our programs have been playing against each other for years, so it will be a great game; a great environment; and it’s good for the area to have two local teams playing with a chance to go to the semifinals and state tournament,” Marysville head coach Stan Easter said Wednesday night after the three-seed Indians’ 80-44 win over Dixon in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV boys basketball playoffs.
The over-the-bridge rivalry resumes tonight (Friday) at Marysville High in one of four D-IV quarterfinals. The winner moves onto the semis and a step closer to Golden 1 Center and the SJS finals. For Marysville, it won the section in 2023 with current assistant Kayden Ellyson as its senior point guard and has been to the NorCal playoffs competing for state titles.
For Sutter, coached by Nabeel Bhatti, it hasn’t yet tasted the section semifinals as a member of the Sac-Joaquin Section or Northern Section. In 2023, the Huskies got to the D-IV quarterfinals but were bounced by Natomas, 83-50.
Easter said Friday night will come down to the team that better executes its game plan.
“They’re well-coached and have a lot of size, so it will be size against speed,” he said.
Marysville’s point guard this year is a pass-first sophomore named Davi Perez. Perez broke out offensively Wednesday with a season-high 20 points in the 80-44 win over Dixon. Perez was aided by 16 from senior Jordan Witt; 13 off the hand of Zackary Granger; and Steven Martin’s 13. Karter Ellyson, an up and coming junior and younger sibling of Kayden, scored six for the Indians.
“We got off to a great start; shared the ball; and Davi is a big key for us,” Easter said. “He cares about assists more than anything, but he’s a really good offensive guy and he showed that tonight.”
Much of Marysville’s offense can come courtesy of its back-court zone press that is spearheaded by Martin and his length. Marysville forced multiple turnovers early against Dixon to grab the 10-0 lead in the first quarter; 43-23 advantage at the break; and 67-32 late in the third.
“All season we have been relying on that,” Perez said. “Being in that press helps every single one of us, knowing if get the ball we’re scoring.”
Perez said he’s more excited than nervous about the renewal of the Sutter rivalry, adding that the outcome on Friday will come down to preparation.
“Something our coach says, it is the three Ps, ‘Proper preparation prevents poor performance,’” Perez said. “During the summer and preseason he had me prepared and changed my whole mindset having me play varsity my freshman year. Being around the older guys helped me grow … and now in my second year playing I feel like I have adapted.”
Sutter comes in Friday 22-7 ranked No. 5 in MaxPreps’ latest D-IV poll. Individually, junior Izzy Bhatti and sophomore Preston Palmer lead the team offensively, each averaging a near double-double in points and rebounds.