No. 4 Anzar is ready to take on No. 5 Eastside Prep
After already breaking new ground by qualifying for the Central Coast Section playoffs, the Anzar boys basketball team has the chance to add to its history-making when it takes the court in Cupertino this afternoon. The Hawks, first-round winners over York, now have the opportunity to dethrone the four-time defending Division V champions, Eastside Prep.
“They’re an obstacle in our way that we have to go through,” said Anzar head coach Ed Cecena of the No. 5 Panthers. “They just happen to be the opponent in our way–that’s how we’re looking at it.”
With the way his Hawks (14-10) have been playing as of late, Cecena has reason to be confident heading into today’s quarterfinal contest. Anzar denied Carmel a share of the Mission Trail Athletic League title by defeating the visiting Padres last weekend and followed up with a 70-17 romp over No. 13 York on Wednesday.
“We’ve been playing our best basketball,” said Cecena, whose team has won five of its last six games. “Every game we’re getting better and better.”
As such, the No. 4 Hawks will enter De Anza College’s gym with the intent of using the tried-and-true strategy that has them on their late-season roll.
“Full-court press and try to trap,” said Cecena. “We’ll come out as aggressively as we can on defense.”
Using that defense early against York to create turnovers and easy lay-ups, the Hawks raced to a 19-6 lead by the end of the first quarter and essentially put the game away. Anzar knows that success won’t come nearly as easily against battle-tested Eastside Prep.
The Panthers, in addition to their run of four straight CCS championships, have appeared in the Division V final each of the last seven years and have prevailed in six of those title games. Though it has experienced a drop-off this season, Eastside Prep nonetheless has tested itself by playing a challenging schedule. The Panthers (15-13) own victories over Division I teams Mt. Pleasant and Independence.
Eastside Prep defeated No. 12 Anchorpoint Christian by a score of 61-27 on Wednesday to advance to this afternoon’s quarterfinal.
“They’ve been competitive with teams at all different levels,” said Cecena, “so I’m anticipating a good game.”
Hoping to prolong what has developed into a dream season, Anzar is eager to test its mettle against the defending champs, but knows it will needs its ‘A’ game to come out on top.
“We’re definitely going to have to be at our best,” said Cecena.
