Morgan Hill
– If Tuesday night’s Central Coast Section playoff opener was a
chance for the Live Oak High boys’ basketball team to prove it
belonged in the postseason, the Acorns came through.
Morgan Hill – If Tuesday night’s Central Coast Section playoff opener was a chance for the Live Oak High boys’ basketball team to prove it belonged in the postseason, the Acorns came through.
In the lone Division I first-round boys’ playoff game, No. 16 Live Oak cruised past No. 17 Mount Pleasant 76-46 in Morgan Hill.
In a game reminiscent of the NCAA Tournament play-in games between also-rans, the Acorns took control early on and never let up against the overmatched visitors. Despite finishing fifth in the Tri-County Athletic League, the Acorns (13-12 overall) barely made the section playoffs on the strength of a solid non-league record that included a 69-44 victory in December over the Cardinals (10-14), who just managed to qualify for the playoffs by winning as many Blossom Valley Athletic League games as they lost.
After leading by just 12-8 after one quarter, Live Oak lengthened its lead to 35-20 on the strength of a 14-4 run midway through the second quarter. The Acorns scored the first eight points of the second half, and 11 of the first 13 to up their lead to 46-22 early in the third quarter, then blew the game out in the fourth quarter as Coach Brett Paolucci emptied his bench.
For Live Oak, the contest was an unexpected home playoff game heading into its real postseason opener, at top-seeded Woodside (25-5) on Thursday at 7pm.
“I wasn’t expecting a home game but it was good for the seniors to get another chance (to play at home),” Paolucci said.
The Acorns were led
by seniors Doug Porras, who scored 16 points, Matt van Keulen, who had 13, and Kevin Toombs, who added 12.
