The wear and tear of the regular season is all worth it once the
playoffs roll around, and for the GHS soccer and basketball teams,
successful campaigns were rewarded with Central Coast Section
playoff berths.
The wear and tear of the regular season is all worth it once the playoffs roll around, and for the GHS soccer and basketball teams, successful campaigns were rewarded with Central Coast Section playoff berths.
Both the girls and boys basketball teams have earned first and second-round byes in the Division I bracket after completing their respective Tri-County Athletic League seasons in second place.
The Lady Mustangs (18-6), who caught fire during the second half of league play, winning their last seven games, were given the No. 2 seed and will have to wait until Thursday night to find out their first opponent of the tournament.
“On paper I think we probably deserved that seed,” head coach Tim Jones said. “Knowing how tough the league is that we play in, I think the reps respect us.”
The winner of No. 15 Homestead and No. 10 Menlo Atherton will take on No. 7 Gunn and the victor of that contest will meet the Lady Mustangs on Saturday at Mission College in Santa Clara.
“Right now we are making sure our legs stay good,” Jones said. “We can always work on our press (defense) and hopefully by Thursday we will have a better idea of who we will be playing.”
TCAL champion North Salinas, whose only loss in league came against the Lady Mustangs on Feb. 11, earned the No. 1 seed. Two-time defending champion San Benito (20-5) drew the No. 5 seed and a first-round bye.
The boys basketball team (18-6) has a week to prepare for its quarterfinals game, which won’t be set until Thursday as well.
The winner of No. 13 Monta Vista and No. 12 San Benito advances to face No. 5 Carlmont, and whichever team survives will take on the Mustangs on Saturday at Independence High School in San Jose, the time yet to be solidified.
“I’m surprised we got it,” head coach Jeremy Dirks said of his team’s No. 4 position. “It validates our season. They got some respect for the work they put in.”
Serra (22-5) is tabbed the No. 1 seed with fellow West Catholic Athletic League member Bellarmine, the defending champ, sitting in the No. 2 spot.
“Both sides of the bracket have very tough teams,” Dirks said. “But it is fun to play those teams. Hopefully we get the chance to play them.”
The girls soccer team, who just wrapped up its fourth consecutive Tri-County Athletic League championship, notched a No. 4 seed and will enjoy a first-round bye.
“It’s a balanced bracket. Many of the teams in the top half of the bracket have a shot to win it all,” coach Jose Hernandez said.
The Mustangs will engage with either No. 15 Oak Grove or No. 5 Mountain View on Saturday. The time and location are yet to be determined.
“I know that in order to be in (the playoffs) they will be quality teams,” Hernandez said. “They will be well structured. We are preparing on our strengths and being individually resposible for our actions.”
Reigning Division I champ Monta Vista grabbed the No. 3 seed, while Woodside (17-0-3) is in the No. 1 slot.
The boys soccer team kicks off its playoff journey Wednesday night at home in a first-round showdown with No. 9 Woodside at 6 p.m.
The No. 8-seeded Mustangs (13-4-2) just missed out on a TCAL crown last week in a difficult 4-2 loss to Alisal, but bounced right back in a 1-0 win over San Benito on Thursday. If the Mustangs prevail Wednesday they must go head-to-head with No. 1 St. Ignatius (14-1-8).
The Mustangs TCAL rival and league champion Alisal was slotted as the No. 2 seed.
Bellarmine and Palo Alto shared the Division I title last season after the two teams played to a scoreless tie after regulation and two overtime periods.
GHS won the CCS championship in 2006-07.
