Hawks make return trip to postseason, will face Castilleja
SAN JOSE
Having never qualified for the postseason prior to 2008, the Anzar High girls basketball team is suddenly making it a habit.
After they won the Coastal Athletic League for the second straight year last week, the Hawks (13-10) qualified for the Central Coast Section Division V playoffs for the second time in a row at Sunday’s seeding meeting in San Jose, and earned the No. 6 seed in the process.
“I think it’s fair,” Anzar head coach Aaron Netzel said. “You can only hope that the girls who have been there before will bring a calming influence to the girls who haven’t.”
Last year, in their first-ever appearance in the postseason, the Hawks earned the No. 9 seed but lost to No. 8 Saint Lawrence 47-26 in the opening round.
This year, that calming influence will most likely be needed when Anzar squares off against No. 3 Castilleja (20-7) on Saturday, Feb. 28 at St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School in Watsonville.
Castilleja is part of the West Bay Athletic League – Foothill Division, and Netzel said he observed the private Palo Alto school in the D-V playoffs last year when they were the No. 4 seed.
“We’ll just prepare for everything and do our best, prepare for every possible situation and not be caught off guard,” he said. “I expect them to come out with some sort of pressure, but you never know.
“They’re a good team … I’m actually pleased we have a little extra time to prepare and get a few more practices in.”
The Hawks are coming off a 45-35 victory on Thursday against York (8-4), which also qualified for the D-V playoffs, earning the No. 8 seed. York will face top-seeded Pinewood (25-4).
It was Anzar’s ninth straight win, but if they plan on cracking into the double digits, they will need to pull the upset in Watsonville this weekend.
“This Anzar team is much more balanced (than last year), and therefore better,” Netzel said. “At this point in the evolution of the program, it’ll be fun to see where we’re at.”
The Division V bracket is made up of only eight teams this year – there were 12 last year – meaning the road to the finals is a little bit shorter, but a little more difficult.
No. 2 St. Francis CCC (21-6), No. 4 Eastside College Prep (14-14), No. 5 Saint Lawrence (21-5) and No. 7 Pacific Collegiate (15-6) round out the D-V bracket.
“I was a little surprised by eight,” Netzel said, “but eight is enough.”
