Mission Trail  2001-2002 Boy's Basketball Preview

With one of the most talented peninsula teams in recent memory, the 2000-2001 MTAL season was all about one team - the Seaside Spartans. Seaside posted nine straight wins in MTAL league play, including 61-49 win over Pacific Grove in the first of two games between the two squads. The Breakers returned the favor in their last league game of the year, upsetting Seaside 54-49 and claiming a regular season co-championship with the Spartans. The loss to Pacific Grove seemed to ignite the Spartans, as they proceeded to dismantle all challengers to claim the MTAL postseason tournament title. Five different Seaside players received All-MTAL and/or All-County recognition.

Having sent three teams to the state championship game in the last nine years (winning once in 1993) , the MTAL has historically been one of the most successful small-school basketball leagues in Northern California. But the 2000-2001 campaign would see the end of an impressive streak of three straight MTAL postseasons appearances in the CCS boy's basketball finals. Seaside had the misfortune of playing in perhaps the toughest playoff division in Northern California, falling to state ranked Santa Cruz 70-52 in the CCS D3 semifinals. Pacific Grove fell 74-53 in the CCS D4 semifinals to eventual section champion Monte Vista Christian. Stevenson and Soledad both lost their playoff openers in CCS D4, with Soledad losing 71-56 to San Jose, and Stevenson losing a 57-54 nail biter to Menlo. 

Early Favorites
Pacific Grove and Stevenson have the bulk of the league's returning talent, making them the early favorites for the title. King City has the top big man in the league, and may be capable of challenging if the other pieces of the team puzzle come together. An extremely young but athletic Seaside team will be a force for year's to come, and a hot shooting Soledad team is capable of another playoff run.

MTAL Returning Marquee Players

Players To Watch

Profile and Last Season's Order of Finish

Seaside

It is not often that a team is faced with daunting task of replacing five All-League and/or All-County starting basketball players, but that is exactly the predicament the Spartans are in. Helping soften the blow will be the return of 6-2 Tony Jackson, who averaged 8.2 points per game last season, and 6-3 Leonard Johnson. Sophomore Jermain Johnson has shown tremendous potential, leading the Spartans in scoring in the preseason. Look for Daniel Eoff and Lawrence Walker to also make significant contributions. 

Pacific Grove

Graduated: All-MTAL and All-Monterey County and selection Martin Lopez; All-MTAL selection Chris Cabanilla

Pacific Grove continues to crank out quality basketball teams. All-MTAL guard Phil Shin, an All-State football selection at receiver/punt returner, spearheads the Breaker attack. Shin was named the Hilmar Tournament Most Valuable Player, and named to the Coach Wilson Memorial All-Tournament team. Three sport standout Jon Grant was named to the Hilmar All-Tournament team, and 6-5 center Nick Canning was named to the Hilmar All-Tournament team and to the Coach Wilson Memorial All-Tournament team. Ricky Alvarado is among the top 5 Breaker scoring leaders. Seniors Phil Cota and Andrew Engles round out  a strong back court rotation. Sophomore 3-point specialist Drew Leehong and junior Andrew Marchese provide the Breakers with a strong bench. 

Stevenson

All-MTAL guard 6-3 Casey Curtis (6-3) and All-MTAL forward Michael Younger (6-4), both seniors, headline a veteran, playoff-experienced Pirate squad. Curtis and center Sean Chan were both named to the Coach Wilson Memorial All-Tournament team. Michael Factor (6-3) rounds out the Pirate backcourt. Look for Rob Goode and Stan Huang to make solid contributions as well.

Soledad

The height-challenged Aztecs have one of the area's most prolific offenses, with Henry Ventura and Danny Plascencia shooting the lights out from beyond the three point arc. Point guard Steven Terry is responsible for running the Aztec offense. Danny (3.7 ppg last season) and Jose Rodriguez (4.5 ppg last season), Michael Lopez (5.3 ppg last season), and Johnny Martinez (1 ppg last season) all return from last year's playoff squad.

King City

Gonzales

Greenfield

Carmel

Anzar