Playoff victories over Ripon and Cosumnes Oaks last week helped propel the Colfax High boys basketball team into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section’s semi-final playoff round which was slated to be played last night at Tokay High in Lodi.

Whether the Falcons punched their ticket to Arco Arena for a 3 p.m. Saturday championship game against the winner of last night’s Modesto Christian-Calaveras game, rested with how No. 1 seed Colfax fared against No. 13 seed Capital Christian of Sacramento.

Check colfaxrecord.com for complete details of Wednesday’s game.

While the Falcons’ boys team has played at Arco Arena in CIF title games a total of six times since 1999, the Colfax boys faced a unique first time scenario this season.

Because of the CIF expanding its playoffs state-wide at the regional level, the Falcons by virtue of advancing to the Sac-Joaquin Section semi-final round, also cinched a berth in next week’s Div. IV Northern California Regional Tournament.

Twelve teams are expected to be entered in the Div. IV NorCal tournament which begins on Tuesday, March 9 and follows with second round games on March 11, semi-final contests on March 13 and a regional championship contest on Sat. March 20 at Folsom High School.

But first things first.

In Tuesday night’s game against Capital Christian, the Falcons played perhaps the section’s hottest team as the Cougars had posted impressive road wins over No. 4 seeded Amador and No. 5 seeded Central Catholic.

“They’re playing well right now,” said Colfax coach Mike O’Connell. “There is no way we are looking past them.”

In Friday’s second round game against Cosumnes Oaks, the Falcons weathered a 27-point fourth quarter surge by the visiting Wolfpack to take a hard fought 61-48 win.

Colfax had built a 19-point cushion over the visitors at the end of three quarters but had to weather full court pressure defensive tactics by the Wolf Pack to secure the win.

Colfax, now 25-4 on the season, followed Joey Jergo to help build a 26-14 lead at halftime. Jergo tallied six of Colfax’s last eight points of the half including a pretty mid-air follow that just beat the halftime buzzer to give the Falcons their 12-point lead at the break.

The Wolf Pack came out in the second half and picked up their defensive pressure but with Jergo, Justin Witt and Ryan Salmonson helped spark the offense to keep the Falcons in charge.

Jergo again was the man on the spot for the Falcons as he beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter, this time with a trey that left Colfax up, 40-21.

But with Clifford Redmon and Demetri Dartis leading the way, the pressing Wolf Pack mounted a mini-comeback that shaved Colfax’s lead down to 52-43 with 1:35 to play.

However, Colfax’s Chase Mosier then buried eight consecutive free throws — part of 11 of 13 by the Falcons in the fourth quarter — to seal the win.

Jergo’s 16 points, 15 from Witt and 12 by Salmonson paced Colfax. The Wolf Pack, which finish 16-13, was led by Lewis with 13 points.

Colfax 81 Ripon 53

It was business as usual last Wednesday for Colfax in the opening round of the playoffs.

Receiving 21 points and 10 rebounds from Salmonson and 18 more points from Witt, the Falcons built an early lead on visiting Ripon and steadily pulled away for an 81-53 win over the No. 16 seed Indians from the Trans Valley League.

Colfax led 21-10 after one quarter of play, stretched it to 38-23 by halftime and settled on a 58-40 margin at the end of three stanzas of action.

The Falcons received more spark from Jergo who added 14 points and nine rebounds, Mosier who came off the bench to score 12 points and Austin Oberg who added six.

Colfax’s defense, keyed by Kyle Greer and Mosier, did a fine job on Ripon scoring leader Matt Ratto who was held to just nine points.

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CIF Sac-Joaquin Championship Schedule

Where: Arco Arena, 1 Sports Parkway, Sacramento

When: Saturday

Admission: $17/$8

Parking: $12 autos, $30 RV

11:30 a.m. Div. IV Girls

1 p.m. Div. II Girls

3 p.m. Div. IV Boys

4:30 p.m. Div. II Boys

6:30 p.m. Div. I Girls

8:30 p.m. Div. I Boys