BUTTE VALLEY >> The Butte College women’s basketball team has won its third straight Golden Valley Conference title after finishing its regular season 24-3 and 9-1 in conference play, and begins its playoff journey Saturday in the California Community College Athletic Association’s Northern Regional Tournament.

The No. 1 seed Butte College will host No. 16 Merced College in round two of the tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday at Butte College, as the Roadrunners look to return to the Elite Eight for a second straight season.

Butte earned a bye in the first round of the tournament, while Merced defeated No. 17 Hartnell 80-55 to advance.Butte is unbeaten on its home court, so the No. 1 seed for the Roadrunners is key. To Butte head coach Tyler Newton, he feels the home court advantage is more pressure than it is key.

“One thing I love about this time of the year, the postseason, is in college basketball anybody can be anybody if you’re not ready to play,” Newton said. “We’re preparing like we’re playing the state championship on Saturday. It isn’t just oh ya we’re at home and we got the 16 seed, its win or go home so we’re preparing every game like it’s the state championship game to make sure we don’t waste the number 1 seed.”

The Roadrunners are led by Willows High School alumna Meghan Weinrich, who was recently named the Golden Valley Conference Player of the Year for a second straight season. Weinrich also made Butte College women’s basketball history by being named the NorCal Player of the Year for the first time in the program’s history, after finishing in second place for the award her freshman season.

Weinrich averaged 18.4 points per game on 40.5% shooting, 11.1 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game, 3.5 steals per game and one block per game.

“It’s just never about her. When she hears MVP she’s embarrassed and doesn’t want to hear it. She’s very humble, she’s a competitor, she works hard and she’s a very sweet and good kid,” Newton said about Weinrich. “Her teammates allowing her to flourish, but also her being a willing passer to where it’s not about her scoring points all the time is key. She takes what the defense gives her. If the right play is to pass it she makes it, if the right play is to score she does.”

Throughout the season Newton has also praised Weinrich’s teammates, pointing to freshman guards Jordan Arreola (12.2 PPG), Sarah Tait (13.1 PPG) and Madalynn Bassett (8.9 PPG). Corning High alumna Sanaya Shrader proves height for the Roadrunners at the center position, averaging 7.7 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. Pleasant Valley alumna Cassidy King runs the offense from the point guard position, averaging just 4.9 points per game but second to Weinrich in assists per game with 5, while averaging just 2.1 turnovers per game.

King, Arreola and Tait joined Weinrich receiving All-Golden Valley Conference First Team honors. Shrader earned All-GVC Honorable Mention, while Bassett earned All-GVC Freshman Team honors.

“You have to have kids who are all bought in including them into playing their role and our system. We’ve won games over the years with less talent, but because we’re bought into playing together and our style we’ve succeeded,” Newton said.

Newton believes a big part of this team’s success was building off of last year’s team and the experience and hard fought games the team played. One of the biggest things the coach preaches is sustained excellence. Any team can be good for one season and fall out of the top rankings the following season with a new team, but Newton’s goal is to have the Roadrunners in playoff contention each season.

Tip off Saturday is at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $8 for students with a valid ID, $8 for faculty and staff, $8 for senior citizens over the age of 60 and $8 for children 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://butte.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/99?es=4rjq1gr0lg43ngv44h5o422nuk&single=1.

The winner of Saturday’s game advances to face the winner of No. 8 Folsom Lake (22-6) and No. 9 Feather River (19-7) on March 4 at the higher seed’s home floor.