Hawks can’t keep pace with Castilleja, fall 54-18 in CCS
quarterfinals
WATSONVILLE
As Anzar High head coach Aaron Netzel says, it’s a building process.
“We made a lot of progress not only last year, but from last year to this year,” Netzel said. “We’re not just happy to have made it.”
Although Anzar did make it to the Central Coast Section Division V playoffs for only the second time in school history and the second year in a row, it was the more experienced and third-seeded Castilleja that eliminated the No. 6 Hawks Saturday with a 54-18 defeat at St. Francis in Watsonville.
While the scoring discrepancy was greater compared to Anzar’s first postseason appearance last season – when the then-No. 9 Hawks lost to No. 8 Saint Lawrence 47-26 – the Division V playoffs were more limited this year, from 12 teams to eight.
“We got to see a team we wouldn’t normally have seen,” Netzel said. “There was a lot learned. They got to see the bigger basketball world.”
Castilleja came in with a 20-7 record. Anchored by Ericka (18 points) and Natasha (16) von Kaeppler and Eve Zelinger (12), the three Gators combined to score 46 points on Saturday.
Ericka von Kaeppler added 15 rebounds as well, 11 on the offensive glass, and Zelinger pulled down 12 boards.
“To say the least,” Netzel said, “it was a challenge.”
Anzar’s Alyssa Rodriguez paced the team with 10 points, although the Hawks couldn’t keep pace with Castilleja, which jumped out to a 20-6 lead in the first quarter and carried a 36-11 lead to halftime.
The Gators led 52-16 through three quarters.
“It’s hard to jump up to that level of an opponent,” Netzel said. It’s hard to prepare for the speed of the game.
“But I’m proud of the girls.”
Anzar ends its season at 13-11, while Castilleja advances to Wednesday’s semifinal round against No. 2 St. Francis, which defeated No. 7 Pacific Collegiate 55-14.
It was also the final game for seniors Liliana Resendez and Michelle Terrano. The Hawks will, however, return its 12 other players next season from a team that went 11-1 in the Coastal Athletic League.
“There weren’t any long faces,” Netzel said. “But a lot of lessons learned.
“It’s part of building the whole program.”
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
ANZ 6 5 5 2 18
CAS 20 16 16 2 54
Anzar (18): A. Rodriguez 2 0 6-8 10, C. Johnson 0 0 1-2 1, L. Resendez 1 0 0-0 2, K. Robledo 2 0 0-0 4, S. Masuen 0 0 1-2 1.
Castilleja (54): N. Vais 1 0 0-0 2, E. von Kaeppler 8 0 2-6 18, N. Morin 1 0 0-0 2, E. Zelinger 5 0 2-2 12, N. von Kaeppler 8 0 0-0 16, A. Thornburg 2 0 0-3 4.
