The CIF State Basketball Championships will continue for three more seasons at Power Balance Pavilion, where the event has been held for 16 of the past 21 years.

What happens when the new downtown arena opens in 2015 is anybody's guess.

CIF executive director Marie Ishida, who will soon retire and won't be part of the negotiations down the road, raved about the years of smooth dealings with arena management and the Maloof family, which owns the Kings.

The city of Sacramento, not the Maloofs, will own the new arena. But because the Anschutz Entertainment Group will manage the arena under a lease from the city, the CIF likely will have to negotiate with AEG.

Under the new arena term sheet, the city can host 12 events rent-free each year while keeping all profits. It's unknown if the tournament would fall into this category, and a call to the mayor's office for clarification was not returned.

In other words, the next contract talks with Sacramento won't be as easy as a phone call to the Maloofs.

"We don't know what will happen," Ishida said. "The Maloofs have been very good to us."

In previous contract years, the CIF investigated options at other venues -- including Oracle Arena in Oakland, where the Warriors play. The other sites either wanted too much money or one-year contracts -- not in the CIF's best interest.

Ishida and the CIF always returned to the Maloofs and Power Balance Pavilion.

Southern California section officials and coaches have lobbied to have the state tournament held in their regions, or at least on a yearly rotating basis. Ishida said the CIF prefers multiyear contracts.

"I'd rather play those games down south, but the players love to travel, and it is an experience," said Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight, whose Division I boys team beat Sheldon on Saturday night for a record ninth state championship.

Power Balance over the weekend won yet another bid over venues in San Diego, Bakersfield and Anaheim.

Open for debate

In May, the CIF's federated council -- 64 high school administrators and athletic directors -- will vote on whether to introduce an Open Division for the Northern and Southern Regional basketball playoffs, including the state finals.

With private schools dominating each division for years, including winning all 10 boys and girls state championships this past weekend, the Open Division would offer a semblance of competitive balance.

An Open Division for NorCal boys this season likely would have included Sheldon, Jesuit, Modesto Christian, De La Salle-Concord, Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, Salesian-Richmond and Bishop O'Dowd-Oakland.

Around the region

-- With Ishida stepping down from her CIF post after 11 years, who takes over?

CIF assistant director Roger Blake, who has worked with Ishida and faced every challenge of prep sports in California, should be considered.

How about Sac-Joaquin Section Commissioner Pete Saco? He's a terrific visionary who was vital in the launch of the football bowl concept, and he has a no-nonsense stance on athletically motivated transfers. He's also a stickler for sportsmanship.

By design, Ishida said she will not be involved in the selection process.

-- Mater Dei captain Eli Stalzer said he insisted his teammates embrace guard Elijah Brown upon his transfer to the Santa Ana school last summer.

Brown is the son of first-year Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown, a frequent visitor to Mater Dei practices.

Said Stalzer, "I told the guys, 'Be nice to the Browns -- we want Lakers tickets!' "

Coach Brown flew to Sacramento after Saturday's Lakers practice to watch stepdaughter Nirra Fields, a national college recruit, lead the Mater Dei girls to a D-I rout of Berkeley, and soak up the boys' triumph over Sheldon.

-- No surprise that D'Erryl Williams of Sheldon won the Pursuing Victory with Honor Sportsmanship award Saturday. Williams is a 4.0 student and a team leader who played hurt and never lost his cool on a frustrating night.

-- It will be an interesting debate as to who will be the boys state basketball Player of the Year.

The candidates include UNLV-bound guard Katin Reinhardt of Mater Dei. The senior guard scored 30 points against Sheldon, including a D-I state-final record six three-pointers despite a broken thumb on his shooting hand.

Also to be considered is Aaron Gordon, a 6-foot-8 junior forward from Archbishop Mitty. He had 33 points and 20 rebounds in the D-II title win over La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad.

Follow Joe Davidson on Twitter: @sb_joedavidson.

(c)2012 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)

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