De La Salle also can play basketball

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Concord De La Salle is known for its powerful football program, but the Spartans also can play basketball and have advanced to the state Division I boys’ championship game on Saturday against Santa Ana Mater Dei in Sacramento.

De La Salle is known for slowing the pace. The Spartans faced Mater Dei in a scrimmage earlier this season, so both schools should know what to expect.

Playing at the Power Balance Pavilion, former Arco Arena, will be a challenge. Mater Dei players have never shot well there, leaving Coach Gary McKnight to try all kinds of strategies. The best one would be to get the ball inside to the improving Stanley Johnson, a 6-foot-5 freshman whose inside play was the difference in Saturday’s win over Corona Centennial.

Here’s a story from the San Jose Mercury News on De La Salle.

-- Eric Sondheimer