Looking at the teams in this week’s sixth annual Bulldog Chase, some might find it hard to believe Sobrato coach Lee Washington put it together at the last minute. The three-day boys basketball tournament tips off with four games Tuesday, starting at 3 p.m. at Sobrato High School. Each one will feature at least one team that reached the Central Coast Section playoffs last year.
Among them, Santa Teresa (1-4) won the Division I championship; Menlo-Atherton (5-4) and Gilroy (4-5) reached the second round in the same tournament; and Sobrato (2-4) and Hillsdale (2-5) nearly advanced through the first round in Division II and Division III, respectively.
The rest of the field includes Union Mine–El Dorado (9-3) and Mesa Verde-Citrus Heights (3-3) of the Sac-Joaquin Section, and Damonte Ranch–Reno, Nev. (8-1). Mesa Verde, which plays Hillsdale in the tournament opener at 3 p.m., also made sectionals in 2010-11.
“We had some really good teams with some good playoff experience that were able to step up,” said Washington. “It’s going to be great having them here.”
• The Gilroy High girls basketball team opens play ay the four-day Seaside Sweet 16 on Monday.
The Mustangs, who are the defending champions, will be without starting guard Katlana Mah for the week – at least. Mah was injured in Gilroy’s loss to Christopher On Dec. 19. She has been in a walking boot since and awaiting test results.
• The Christopher High girls basketball team kicks off its second appearance in the Del Mar Dons Tournament on Tuesday night against San Mateo in San Jose. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
The Cougars have won five in a row. If they make it six, they will play the winner of Overfelt-Del Mar on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. If the Cougars lose, they will play at 4:30 p.m.
• The GHS boys soccer team will spend the week playing in the Golden State Invitational, hosted by Bellarmine. Game time is noon.
The Mustangs play Watsonville on Tuesday at Bellarmine and Richmond on Wednesday at the same location.
