Retired HS basketball championship coach but still in the game | Broadcaster, heavy on Sacramento | SJUSD | Marathoner | Lived in St. Paul, LA, NYC, Orange
Story of the year so far is
@12BFootball
. 12B has yet to graduate its 1st senior class but with QB
@WhitKruse
and sensational RB
@nathan_crawford
leading the way, Coach Bean’s crew is 10-0 &
#1
seed in
@cifsjs
D5 playoffs. Raging Rhinos rapid rise to greatness is unprecedented.
Sacramento showed up and showed out today for the California International Marathon. CIM officials and the 4,000 volunteers did a great job for the 9,630 runners. Overall winner was CJ Albertson in 2:11.09. And this old, retired basketball coach is elated to have finished!
🔥ANATOMY OF AN UPSET
I’m picking
#9
Sac over
#1
Escalon in
@cifsjs
🏈 D4 quarters. Here’s why:
1. Escalon earned
#1
seed and pressure of expectations.
2. Dragons dominated Sierra.
3. Cougars haven’t seen a player like Lamar Radcliffe.
4. Sac’s tough schedule = playoff ready.
@SacBee_JoeD
Initial thoughts: Open Division looks fine. D2 section champ Vanden to D1 as
#15
so no home game is ridiculous. Should be
#1
in D2, which seems ok otherwise. Section winners D4 Venture & D5 Ripon Chr to D3 as low seeds so no home game is absurd. Otherwise D4 & D5 looks ok.
With all the chatter about
@cifstate
playoff brackets and “competitive equity” formula (or “competitive inequity” depending on how you view it), how about CIF leaders show transparency by holding a press conference and answer the tough questions about their “formula” & brackets.
Remembering my Dad on this Veterans Day. He served in the Navy during World War II fighting for our freedom in the Pacific. Greatest man I have ever known. We honor all those who served. Love you and miss you, Dad.
We’re about to begin 3rd quarter here
@ORHS_Football
. These amazing volunteers are getting food and drink to the masses. Since 2016, Mike & Amy Whiting have been running the Snack Shack. Mike is here tonight. Oak Ridge community gives a huge shout out to the Whitings!
@RocklinFootball
looked every bit the part of a championship team last night. Coach Adams and staff have Thunder peaking for playoffs. Rock solid defense and don’t sleep on
@SloneReeve
. Strong arm, accurate, great feet, terrific instincts, leader. Thunder will be a problem.
Has there been anybody better? M V P,
@nathan_crawford
! 1 regular season game to go, has 1,482 yards rushing, 28 TD’s for the 9-0 undefeated Rhinos varsity. Whomever lands this RB in college is getting a player & bellcow! Triple threat can run, catch & return. 🦏🟢⚫️💥
#SOUL
After looking at replay, AP steals ball, spins around and hits from about 8-10 feet inside midcourt at halftime buzzer. Here’s the great call from
@CoachTedmon
and Matthew Bessette of
@ABCJAMPro
On a cold, clear, perfect night in Lincoln for football, fans are getting settling in for the
@cifsjs
D5 quarterfinal clash between
@12BFootball
and Rosemont. If you can’t make it, Matthew Bessette’s
@ABCJAMPro
is broadcasting the game on
@NFHSNetwork
.
It seems like football just ended but
@cifsjs
basketball playoffs are barely 30 days away. Out bracket games are played on 2/12 with 1st round action on 2/14. See the complete playoff schedule below. Make plans now to get out to support your favorite school, team and players!
Based on performance to date heading into league play, considering all factors in putting a team together who’s your Sac area boys starting 5?
Here’s mine…
Caden Pinnick (Del Oro)
Jaylen Valdez (Capital)
Brandon Gibson (M Trail)
Kaleb Edwards (Oak Ridge)
Mark Lavrenov (Rocklin)
Thanks to Joe, Matthew & Nick for inviting me to be part of Picking the Preps crew. Shout out to all of you who followed us & hopefully enjoyed our banter. With picking done, I am now an unapologetic homer for Folsom, Grant & Woodland Christian. State titles, baby! Let’s go!
Thank you to Matthew Bessette and
@NMPecoraro
for allowing me to join them on
@ABCJAMPro
coverage of games today at the Fortune Early College Basketball Showcase broadcast on the
@NFHSNetwork
. Matthew and Nick are pros and it’s a privilege to work with them.
Good to see our SacBee prep enthusiast game prediction crew as we dig into the
@cifsjs
playoffs with games near & far.
We don’t ponder, pick & project games by the same goal posts each week.
@ABCJAMPro
@CoachTedmon
@NMPecoraro
@natomashoops
takes care of business at home with an 82-52 win over West Campus.
@M4nno__
had 38 pts to lead
@NighthawksMBB
to a share of the Greater Sacramento League title with a chance to win it outright on Friday. Highlights to come soon on Premier Preps!
@CJacksonWCP
@ABCJAMPro
’s Matthew Bessette has done 4 games today and is only halfway through his play-by-play Ironman event also known as Sheldon’s Block Party. Matthew will gladly accept throat lozenges, honey tea and ibuprofen. Appreciate your tireless dedication, Matthew!
Sac Adventist Holiday Invitational begins Monday and concludes Wednesday with girls championship game at 6:30 and boys title tilt at 8 pm. Brackets are listed below.
@SacBee_JoeD
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro
Early Watch List - Girls Player of Year:
Nina Cain (McClatchy) Samaya Dillard (Grant) Aleyah Harmon (CB) Kamryn Mafua (Folsom) Ryan Nair (Woodcreek) Harper Peterson (Whitney) Bianca Slone (Rocklin) Ella Skrzyniarz (VDL) Haley Smith (Liberty Ranch) Liv Yergensen (Oak Ridge)
Rocklin is rolling as they head to Hawaii. Mark Lavrenov is a force. Kanyon Rice does it all. Thunder is a terrific team making a strong case for the area’s early season top ranking.
Rocklin with the 88-67 victory over Ponderosa. Thunder were led Mark Lavrenov (40), Isaiah Elston (13), and Josiah Andrews (12). Kanyon Rice with double-digit steals on defense. Thunder are now 9-0 on the season and head to Hawaii for a weekend tourney in the islands 🏖️
#BoltUp
🏀
Sac Adventist will always be near and dear to my heart. Thanks to AD and girls coach Kenny Johnston for everything.
@Kjohnston21
is the best. It’s always great to come home!
Thank you to
@NMPecoraro
@heykevinjohn
@ABCJAMPro
and our legendary retired
@CoachTedmon
for covering the girls and boys finals of our tournament last night. We hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you. We’d love to have you back. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love it! Setting goals at the highest level is how you get there. Humble and hungry. Go after it with everything you have. With
@WhitKruse
, POY candidate
@nathan_crawford
and O dominating teams, strong D, great coaches,
@12BFootball
is a force to be reckoned with in playoffs.
When I was doing my season previews, I asked
@12BFootball
quarterback
@WhitKruse
what the goal was for the season. I expected the answer to be a league title or playoff run, but Kruse had loftier goals in mind. He said “we want to be 15-0.” Well, the Rhinos are 10-0 at the end of
@BrandonGibsonJr
is a team-first guy who doesn’t chase points but delivers when it’s needed. SacBee Player of the Year? A lot of worthy candidates with playoffs looming. BG is the front runner at this point.
What an effort by
@BrandonGibsonJr
of
@MTHSMBB
as the super senior scores 52 points in a 98-50 win over River City in Metro League action.
It was competitive game at the half.
The 6-5 guard shot 16 of 18 from the floor and 6 of 8 from 3-point range.
SacBee Player of the Year?
I’ll be posting quarter updates, insights and observations during Thursday’s
@cifsjs
D5 quarterfinal matchup between Rosemont and
@12BFootball
.
@ABCJAMPro
is broadcasting the game on
@NFHSNetwork
.
@SacBee_JoeD
will be there bringing his incomparable coverage. Kickoff is 7 pm.
5th year of
@CIFState
🏀 competitive equity is done. Many ask “Is CE working?” I’ve compiled raw data from all CIF Open-D5 brackets for past 10 yrs. PreCE 5 yrs is 2013-17. CE 5 yrs is 2018, 2019, 2022-24. CE issues will be addressed using the raw data & findings published.
Congratulations to everyone who made All-Metro! It is a list of amazingly talented players. It was a privilege to cover high school hoops this year. And to all the seniors, boys and girls, wishing the very best in the future.
Star talents on our SacBee All-Metro teams with players of the year at all levels.
Kudos to all.
Meet the 2023-24 Sacramento Bee Boys All-Metro Basketball Teams and Players of the Year
@ABCJAMPro
@PremierPrepsNMP
@CoachTedmon
There was a great one between Rio Americano and Laguna Creek at the Sheldon Block Party with LC prevailing 61-60. It’s the first of 9 games today and all can be watched on
@NFHSNetwork
brought to you by
@ABCJAMPro
. Sac and Del Oro is next!
Takeaways from Capital Chr/Clayton Valley game last night.
1) Danny Panda & Jephte Tambala added to an already quality athletic team,
@CoachLorente
’s Cougars are dangerous. Tambala is a game changer around the rim.
2)
@jaylen_valdez24
is a baller, leader & on my POY short list.
This play represents how I will always remember our team. Gritty, tough, relentless, overcoming challenges, working as a unit and playing for the guy next to you. I am heartbroken we came up short of our goal last Friday. I will always love you guys. Oak Ridge Trojans 2023
Mark Lob-re-nov is at or near the top of the Watch List for Player of the Year. Great player on a terrific Thunder team who has a legit chance to win it all this year.
Proud to announce that
@nathan_crawford
has been selected as the PVL offensive MVP & 1st team running back! With close to 1600 yds rushing, 1800 combined & 33 TD’s,
#14
has stampeded his way to the MVP! Best is yet to come as Nathan will be making his way to college next year.
Great first episode! Sweet highlights. Scores scrolling at bottom covering all divisions is nice. Biggest highlight was your terrific story on
@DavisBlueDevils
goalie
@AubreyMcLin
. What an amazing, talented & inspirational young lady. Thank you, Nick. Keep doing your thing!
TONIGHT!
❎The debut episode of "Premier Preps with Nick Pecoraro" on YouTube!
❎It's locked & loaded for 5pm🕔so go subscribe!
❎I'll have 3 game highlights,🏀⚽playoff updates & a feature story on
@AubreyMcLin
of
@DavisBlueDevils
!
❎Hope you tune in!
TONIGHT!
I'm on the🎙️with
@CoachTedmon
for
@ABCJAMPro
for a BANGER of a D2 semifinal between Capital Christian & Vanden!
2 Player of the Year candidates (Tyler Thompson & Jaylen Valdez) & their stellar supporting casts go head to head.
Don't miss it!
Brandon Gibson might be Sac Bee POY front runner but these players will have something to say: Cole Epperson, Mark Lavrenov, Kevin Haupt, Kendahl Hearne, Sir Marius Jones, Caden Pinnick, Aiden Rollins, Jaden Spears, Nate Sweet, Jaylen Valdez, Jaden Woodard.
And playoffs matter.
💥CoachT’s Quick Takes💥
@cifsjs
🏈 playoffs. D1: Folsom over Field. D2: DO is dangerous. 2nd rd v. Jesuit would be must see. D3: Grant rolls. D4: Chalk. D5: 12B/Casa collision looks likely. D6: Bradshaw could surprise. D7: WC over RC
@SacBee_JoeD
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro
@nathan_crawford
@CoachHogge72
@12BFootball
Congrats to the entire team on an unprecedented run. The seniors have set a standard of excellence that is the foundation of the program moving forward. 12B’s first graduating class is special and wish each of you the best in all your future endeavors.
@SacBee_JoeD
@MaxPreps
Not posting stats or taking down an NFHS stream doesn’t prevent coaches from preparing. Our staff got info we needed from various sources to advance scout and timely prepare, particularly for playoffs. It’s about the players and their efforts should be acknowledged, not hidden.
Can’t wait to cover the Optimist basketball games on Saturday. It is an honor to be a part of such a fantastic event. Here is the information you need if you wish to attend. I’ll be posting our links tomorrow. Thank you to
@SacBee_JoeD
for the mention.
Based on performance to date heading into league play, considering all factors in putting a team together who’s your Sac area girls starting 5?
Here’s mine…
Aleyah Harmon (Chr Bros)
Haley Smith (L Ranch)
Nina Cain (McClatchy)
Kamryn Mafua (Folsom)
Harper Peterson (Whitney)
Congrats to my son
@ColtonHogge75
on a successful season! True Sophomore
@12BFootball
in Sacramento, 2nd year on varsity as a starter & contributor on OL/DL, first league championship team in school history. Most prolific offense in the league, 12-1 record. This is only his 3rd
My lil bro showed out tonight man. Had me hyped to see his growth and development since he was 11 years old. It has been rewarding seeing him flourish.
@jodeedrews
Woodland Christian dominates Orland on the road and takes home the
@CIFState
NorCal 5-A title 28- 0. Cardinals (14-0) head to Southern California next Saturday for the State Bowl Championship game. Congrats WC and go get that State title!
@CadenPinnick
is not only talented but is a leader, competitor & delivers when it matters. He showed it on the gridiron and he’s doing it on the hardwood. Pinnick is the best combo All-Metro QB and All-Metro basketball player I’ve seen in our region since Del Campo’s Kris King.
Matthew Bessette and I are looking forward to calling the girls and boys championship games. If you can’t get there, link in and enjoy the title games with us!
We are super excited to announce we will be covering the
@SAA_Capitals
Holiday Invitational Championship games tomorrow. First up is the girls as
@LRHS_Athletics_
takes on the host Sac Adventist. Join us live at 6:30 pm if you can’t make it out.
Incredibly excited to announce that tomorrow night we are headed back to the hardwood to cover the Unified Basketball Game between
@RocklinSports
and
@WhitneyCats
. This event will not require a subscription to watch. Join us in supporting these athletes.
In Sac Adventist girls quarterfinal win over Lodi Academy, 5’10” junior star Victoria Fowler had 14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals & 3 blocks. Capitals coach Kenny Johnston said “She just makes winning plays.” SAA hosts Foresthill on Tuesday at 7 pm in the D6 semis.
My updates Friday night will be from the snack bar as
@ORHS_Football
hosts Turlock. Unsung folks at any big-time 🏈 program run the snack bar. Unsung no more as their hustlin’ behind the scenes work is featured. Can’t wait for the nachos!
@SacBee_JoeD
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro
Congrats to everyone selected All-Metro. Shout out to JoeD for the massive amount of work he put into his thorough selection process and the terrific article. It was a tremendous 2023 season for the Sacramento area.
Our SacBee All-Metro Teams include:
Player of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year
Large School Player of Year
Small School Player of Year
Smallest School Player of Year
Coach of the Year
* Playoff team/individual success matters a ton
Congrats Thunder! Rocklin is one of the top teams in the area and Steve Taylor is one of the best coaches around. Mark Lavrenov is legit and Kanyon Rice plays both ends. Thunder will make some noise this season.
The Thunder wins the Rocklin Tip-off Tournament with an 88-49 win over Lodi. Rocklin’s Mark Lavrenov was named tourney MVP. Rocklin’s Kanyon Rice and Josiah Andrews and Lodi’s Sean Taits and Noah Rivera named to the all tourney team.
#Boltup
🏀
Coaches! Get your nominations, stats, results, leadership, all-league honors in ASAP. Speaking from personal experience, it matters. As for Folsom, Grant and Woodland Christian, there’s more work to be done. We’ll all be watching and cheering. Go get those State Titles!
Capital Christian extends win streak to 8 games with win tonight over Tamalpais 60-56. Cougars (17-7, 7-1) have a monster CAL matchup at home against Sacramento (19-5, 7-1) Tuesday at 7:30 pm. If you can’t get there,
@ABCJAMPro
will bring you all the action on
@NFHSNetwork
.
With champions being crowned, we need to acknowledge & appreciate every student/athlete who played sports this fall, and the coaches, administrators, parents who make it possible. The ring is a thing, not the thing. Life lessons learned and friendships forged mean so much more.
Cougars convinced me of things y’all already knew. Escalon 34, Acalanes 28 and headed to another State Bowl.
Hughson showed incredible heart in comeback against Bradshaw Christian. Huskies are at home. It’s another W and State Bowl for the 209. Hughson 28, Palma 24.
It is a joy and privilege to work with the terrific people associated with
@ABCJAMPro
where the mission statement and broadcast focus is all about the amazing student athletes. Thank you Matthew for inviting me into the family. The best is yet to come!
Basketball season is winding down and I couldn’t be more proud of our crew as we’ve covered over 140 basketball games. After the first 2 nights of the
@CIFState
basketball tournament, it feels like we are just getting stronger.
Great get for Coach Corn and Yuba College. Kanyon is on my short list of the hardest working, talented players I covered this season. He affected the game on both ends of the floor and never took a possession off. Best to Kanyon and the 49ers!
First I want to thank God for blessing me everyday, I want to thank my family for supporting me and my friends for pushing me. With that being said I would like to announce my commitment to Yuba college, Go 49er's ⛏️
@12BFootball
defeats Rosemont 67-25. Raging Rhinos (11-0) head to
@cifsjs
D5 semis to host winner of tomorrow night’s contest between Center and Los Banos. Having yet to graduate it’s first senior class, what 12B is doing is unprecedented.
@SacBee_JoeD
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro
Big win for
@GoCCSAthletics
.
@CoachLorente
’s Cougars will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Can’t wait for the rematch against Sac with the CAL title likely on the line.
MLK Day at De La Salle Game 8 Final score: Capital Christian 66, Bishop O’Dowd 60. O.T
Leading scorers:
Capital Christian: CJ Willenborg 6’3 2024 SG, 17pts, Miles Wiggins 6’5 2026 F, 17pts.
Bishop O’Dowd: Joshua Green 6’1 2025 SG, 18pts, 4-3’s.
Terrific coverage as usual by
@J_Georgeson26
. Western Sierra is legit. Coach Andre Jones does a great job. Wolves are the favorite to take
@sacmetroal
title and will be a factor in the
@cifsjs
D5 playoffs.
PICK THE PREPS POLL‼️
In wake of Del Oro’s 3-OT thriller over Jesuit, vote here on greatest playoff game ever involving Sac-area team. The poll only allows 4 games to be listed. If you feel another game is deserving, fire away with a reply.
@SacBee_JoeD
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro
Heading to Kansas City today for the Triple Crown NIT 🏐 Excited to play against the best teams in the country with my Rage VBC 16-1 squad ❤️🖤
NCVA Power League Qualifiers Highlights ⬇️ Went 6-0 & took
#3
seed in NorCal Gold Division!
@TCVolleyball
@PrepDigCA
@CoachMikeDZ
We are fortunate to have Nick dedicate his expertise, creativity & talents to cover our region’s high school athletes, coaches & programs. “Premier Preps” brings highlights, human interest stories & more. Coverage of Sac area high school sports is expanding. Count me in, Nick!
🚨ANNOUNCEMENT!🚨
INTRODUCING
"PREMIER PREPS w/NICK PECORARO"
If you haven't already heard, I'm building my own local prep sports highlight show, which YOU can help me grow! I have BIG plans for this!
DM me for more info and please subscribe on YouTube!⬇️
Congrats to MT. I saw them against Sac and the Mustangs are a talented, impressive, well coached team. Brandon Gibson is a problem and will be on the Player of the Year Watch List all season.
Mustangs improve to 4-0 with a 62-40 victory over Campolindo in the final of the Russ Peterich Viking tip off classic in Santa Rosa.
Tournament MVP
@BrandonGibsonJr
All Tournament- A. Franklin &
@DWhite2025
PICK THE PREPS POLL‼️
With the high school football playoffs kicking off soon, which Sacramento-area running back has the best breakaway speed?
@SacBee_JoeD
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro
Breaking down the
@cifsjs
FB playoffs by the numbers - most wins, title appearances, banners, stat marvels and more
Facts, stats and leaders as CIF Sac-Joaquin Section high school football playoffs begin
@ABCJAMPro
@NMPecoraro