In lieu of a broomstick, David Kaplansky had his Hollister High
boys basketball team trying to shoot in practice over two red bags,
which were extended three feet beyond Kaplansky’s normal wing
span.
In lieu of a broomstick – see Lew Alcindor and Powell Memorial vs. De Matha High and coach Morgan Wooten circa 1965 – David Kaplansky had his Hollister High boys basketball team trying to shoot in practice over two red bags, which were extended three feet beyond Kaplansky’s normal wing span.
Kaplansky’s no fool. He knows that his Balers are initiating the Tri-County Athletic League season Saturday against not only the tallest team in the Central Coast Section but what is most likely the tallest team 1-through-13 in the history of the CCS.
Not a single Live Oak player is listed under 6 feet tall and the Acorns have a starting front line standing 6-10, 6-9 and 6-5 with a 6-9 player coming off the bench.
The Acorns (14-2), ranked 6th in the CCS, visit Mattson Gym to meet the 4th-ranked Balers (14-3) in what should be an absolute doozy of game. Tipoff time is 2 p.m., changed from the original 7 p.m.
Kaplansky knows full well the talents of the Acorns, having been defeated in a 53-50 thriller in the semifinals of the Bob Hagen Tournament at Gilroy High.
“They’re athletic and taller than us,” said Kaplansky.
Joel Wright is a 6-1 point guard while David Chappell stands 6-3 at the off-guard. Wright was MVP of the Los Gatos Tournament.
“They both are threats from the perimeter,” said Kaplansky. “Chappell is a great athlete and he’s very good defensively.”
Miles Curley, who wrecked the Balers last year, is listed at 6-5, but Kaplansky labeled him at 6-7.
“He can go inside and out,” said Kaplansky. “He’s like our Kyle Sharp. He can pull it out and shoot the three and take the ball to the hoop.”
Drew Pearson, another player who ruined the Balers last season, is a 6-9 power forward.
“He posts up,” said Kaplansky. “He’s a big inside presence.”
Speaking of big, maybe only Robert Rothbart of Monta Vista, who stands 7-1, is taller than the Acorns’ 6-10 center Maciek Bratkowski, a transfer student from Poland.
“He just showed up,” said Kaplansky. “He’s fundamentally sound. And big.”
Acorns coach Brett Paolucci brings 6-9 Chris Deem off the bench and has 6-4 Scott Moquin also available.
Hollister’s front line consists of 6-4 center Anthony Butler, 6-4 forward Danny Brooks and 6-6 forward Kyle Sharp. Jason Sims (6-5) and Kevin Zanella (6-4) give the Balers added height of the bench.
Kaplansky doesn’t label Saturday’s game as crucial.
“It’s a big game, not a must-win,” he said. “A win would give us confidence and put us on top at 1-0. The key for us is to shoot well from the perimeter. If we can shoot well from the perimeter, that brings them out and opens things up in the middle for us. We played well against them when we played them before. Both teams played well. It was a great game and so should this be.”
The freshman game is at 11 a.m. and the junior varsity plays at 12:30 p.m.
