Gilroy
– How does an all-TCAL semifinal bracket at the CCS boys’
basketball playoffs sound?
True, the bracketology stars would have to align perfectly, but
thus far the Tri-County Athletic League has done its part, sending
five out of six teams to the Division I playoffs which kick off
Tuesday at Live Oak.
Gilroy – How does an all-TCAL semifinal bracket at the CCS boys’ basketball playoffs sound?
True, the bracketology stars would have to align perfectly, but thus far the Tri-County Athletic League has done its part, sending five out of six teams to the Division I playoffs which kick off Tuesday at Live Oak.
The No. 16 Acorns (12-12) face a team they’ve already beaten this season, No. 17 Mt. Pleasant (10-13), for the right to enter the playoffs proper on Thursday. That’s when four more TCAL teams kick off their own CCS runs – one pair with a far easier road through the playoffs than the other.
No. 13 Gilroy (16-12) and No. 14 Salinas (15-11) hit the road for opening-round games. No. 6 Hollister (22-5) and league champion North Salinas (16-9), the fifth seed, get to start things off at home.
Hollister head coach David Kaplansky thinks it’s about time the TCAL got its due. “We’ve got a very strong league. Our team finished very strong. Gilroy is a tough team. Live Oak’s got something good going on up there.”
The Mustangs take on No. 4 Piedmont Hills (23-3), the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton champion led by guard Aaron Buckner’s 20.4 points per game. The 6-foot-2 senior also paces the Pirates with 8.0 rebounds an outing to go with 4.6 assists and 3.5 steals.
