Anzar frustrated with 37-30 loss to defending champs; sees
encouraging season end in CCS quarterfinals
There will be a next time. The Anzar boys basketball team is sure of that. But following the Hawks’ 37-30 loss to Eastside Prep in the Central Coast Section quarterfinals on Saturday, that opportunity will have to wait for next season.
The Hawks, more than anything, wished that they could have a do-over. Another chance to prove themselves. But as No. 4 Anzar discovered in such disheartening fashion, there are no mulligans in the postseason. Win or go home. After a lackluster showing against the No. 5 Panthers that left Anzar players and coaches shaking their heads afterwards, the Hawks will have to watch the rest of the playoffs from the sidelines.
“We let one slip away today,” said Anzar head coach Ed Cecena after his team struggled to a one-point third quarter that doomed its chances. “I just felt like we were never in it. We were nervous from the start.”
Making their maiden postseason appearance after seven consecutive seasons in the cellar of the Mission Trail Athletic League, Anzar entered the contest riding the momentum of five victories in its last six games. After a first-ever victory over league heavyweight Carmel that wrapped up their regular season, the Hawks demolished No. 13 York to the tune of a 70-17 victory in the first round.
Despite the anxiety inherent in playing in the quarterfinals for the first time and at the unfamiliar digs of De Anza College, Anzar started out strong against Eastside Prep.
Two baskets by forward Scott Benson gave the Hawks a quick 4-0 lead, an advantage they managed to protect throughout the first quarter to emerge with a 10-8 lead over the four-time defending Division V champions.
But even then, Cecena saw the trouble brewing.
“Our pressure defense wasn’t too effective,” said Cecena, whose team opened with its traditional full-court trap. “[The Panthers] broke it pretty quick. They got some good shots and they knocked them down.”
Eastside Prep (16-13) took its first lead when guard Ramon Meacham knocked down a three-pointer off an inbounds play near the start of the second quarter. The Hawks switched to a 3-2 zone defense that seemed to temporarily stymie the Panthers, and baskets were few and far between for either team for the rest of the half.
Anzar (14-11) looked poised to take a small lead into the break, but fell victim to a tough-luck play as the clock wound down. After Meacham drove past the top of Anzar’s zone, Benson swooped in to block the Panthers’ star’s shot, but the ball bounced out into the hands of Eastside Prep’s David Mobolaji near the top of the key. Mobojali drilled a jumper just before the halftime buzzer that sent Eastside Prep into the break with a 17-16 lead.
And come the third quarter, the Hawks couldn’t hit anything.
Even though Anzar enjoyed a significant size advantage over the Panthers, Eastside Prep’s help defense did a great job of either denying the Hawks entry passes or surrounding Benson, Erik Olson and Brent Ramos whenever they got the ball in the post.
Anzar guard Nick Romero wished his team had done a better job of getting the ball to its open outside shooters.
“Everyone was frustrated,” said Romero. “We wanted to get easy points [in the post]. If we would’ve countered that at the three-point line or with mid-range jumpers, I think we would’ve scored more.”
But when the Hawks did get those open looks from the perimeter, their shots wouldn’t fall. The Panthers hardly had a stellar offensive quarter of their own, netting just eight points, but Eastside Prep head coach Chris Bischof said his team’s effort on the other end of the floor made the difference.
“Defensively, I think we did a good job of frustrating them,” said Bischof, whose team has appeared in the Division V title game each of the past seven years, winning six championships. “It was tough team defense. There were a couple of times when they got an offensive rebound and all five of our guys just collapsed on them.”
Taking an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter, Eastside Prep turned to Meacham to put the game away. Despite Anzar’s swarming 3-2 zone, the Panthers’ star managed to penetrate and either convert his shot or feed an open teammate for a score often enough to keep the Hawks at bay.
Anzar pulled within 32-27 with just under a minute remaining when Romero stole a Panthers’ pass under his team’s basket and found Benson open for a lay-up, but Eastside Prep scored five straight points at the free-throw line to secure the victory.
Meacham led the Panthers with 17 points and finished a perfect 6-of-6 on foul shots.
Eastside Prep advanced to play No. 1 Sacred Heart Prep, a 62-46 winner over No. 8 Woodside Priory, in the semifinals.
Anzar’s Adrian Monroy, who scored five points, was the only Hawk other than Benson to register more than one field goal.
Benson, who scored a game-high 19 points, pointed to the Hawks’ one-point third quarter as the difference in the game.
“That was very frustrating,” said Benson. “You can’t do that if you want to win a CCS game or win any game. I feel we were a way better team than them. Of course it’s a good thing to make CCS for the first time, but it’s frustrating to get knocked out by a team you know you’re better than.”
Nevertheless, with just two seniors leaving to graduation, Anzar has every expectation to return to the postseason fold next year and use this season’s growing pains as a springboard to take the program to even greater heights.
“We’ll use this as an experience and not be so nervous the next time,” said Cecena.
Romero, part of a talented junior class that includes Benson and Monroy, said to watch out for next year’s team.
“For our school’s history … we made it to the second round [this season], said Romero. “Next year, we can make it to the Finals–I’m sure of that. I can guarantee that.”
