At 1-9, the Anzar Hawks have been in a similar position
before
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
The Anzar girls basketball team’s current preseason record probably doesn’t stir images of a defending league champion.
But for those who can glance back to just one year ago, Anzar’s current 1-9 record is, more or less, business as usual.
Last year, after going 2-6 in the preseason, the Hawks finished their year with an 11-2 mark and not only won the Coastal Athletic League, but advanced to the Central Coast Section Division V playoffs for the first time in school history.
This year, with a similar preseason slate that has seen the Hawks face only one other Division V opponent in St. Lawrence, Anzar has taken their lumps but are looking to reap the benefits later on. Despite their current state of affairs – their only victory was a 37-34 triumph over Gonzales – Anzar is simply preparing for another CAL title, another CCS bid.
“We still have to build everything up,” said leading scorer Alyssa Rodriguez, who is averaging 12.1 points per game this season. “But we’re playing these harder teams, and they get us ready for league.”
St. Lawrence, which defeated the Hawks 47-26 in last year’s CCS playoffs and 46-23 on Dec. 13, were the only D-V team to make Anzar’s preseason cut. Otherwise, D-III opponents like Monterey and D-II opponent Overfelt have peppered the remaining nine games on Anzar’s preseason schedule, as Hawks head coach Aaron Netzel tries to mimic the raised level of competition his team will see with another CCS bid.
“Last year, with this same sort of start, there was a little bit more drama,” Netzel said. “It was disheartening and we didn’t know what to expect going into league.
“But then we played Kirby, and it was just turning the page, night and day. And I would hate to think how it’d be if we didn’t take that preparation, and the girls know that.”
Anzar downed Kirby 62-22 in last year’s CAL opener, and went on to win 10 of their remaining 12 games. Hoping for a similar streak, the Hawks will open this season with Kirby on Wednesday at Branciforte Junior High School in Santa Cruz at 5 p.m.
And despite their preseason lumps, Anzar is improving and are perhaps a more all-around team than one year ago.
Rodriguez, for instance, her points per game are down – she averaged 22.7 last season – but the sophomore wing is finding other ways to make her presence felt.
“Even though she’s not averaging 20 points a game, she has stepped it up tremendously,” Netzel said. “This year, she’s filling up the whole stat sheet – blocks, steals and rebounds.”
Rodriguez actually leads the team in rebounding, and has helped fill the very large void that was left by all-league forward Nicole Mello, who has been sidelined all season with an injury.
The second leading scorer on the Hawks last season, Mello will make her debut Wednesday at Kirby.
“She was an all-star last year and she averaged nearly a double-double,” Netzel said. “She is the grittiest player, by far. She’s tough, tough as nails, and that behavior is contagious.”
Coupled with senior guard Liliana Resendez, Anzar boasts two freshman starters in point guard Sydnee Masuen and center Kelsey Robledo to round out a solid starting five.
“This group here is easily more talented than last year’s team,” Netzel said. “Whether it’s the same girl coming back and returning as an improved player or just fresh faces … the core is still very young.”
That’s good news for the second-year Netzel, who continues to raise the expectations for the Anzar girls basketball program, while the Hawks remain the team to beat in the CAL.
League rival Pacific Collegiate remains Anzar’s biggest threat this season, though. They went 10-2 in the CAL last year and lost to St. Lawrence 48-22 on Dec. 5. The two teams will meet up on Jan. 16 and Feb. 6.
On the other hand, Santa Cruz Waldorf, which was the only team in the CAL last year to defeat Anzar, was unable to field a team this season and will not play out their league schedule.
“This season, we’re a much more balanced team, offensively and defensively,” Netzel said. “The confidence is just riding high, and we can’t wait to get into league.”
