Anzar finishes with 11-1 record in the Coastal Athletic League
after 45-35 win at York on Thursday
MONTEREY
Anzar High girls basketball coach Aaron Netzel said defending the Coastal Athletic League title was rather difficult this season.
And on Thursday night in Monterey, York didn’t make it any easier.
The host Falcons held a 20-16 lead at halftime and even led by a 31-26 margin heading to the fourth quarter. But behind 14 points and 11 rebounds from freshman Kelsey Robledo, the Hawks outscored York 19-4 in the final period and pulled away in the end on free throws en route to a 45-35 triumph.
It wasn’t easy, by any means.
The win seals the CAL title a second straight year for Anzar, which needed to win its last five remaining games of the season after it defeated second-place Pacific Collegiate 41-34 on Feb. 6.
“Defending league is a big deal, no matter what league you’re in,” Netzel said.
With victories over Oakwood School (44-6 and a forfeit), Kirby (52-17), Marina (58-24) and now York, the Hawks are assured of a spot in next week’s Central Coast Section Division V playoffs.
“It was a battle. We really had to earn it,” Netzel said. “[York] was riding high. They were feeling good. For most of the game, they were ahead.
“But we never panicked.”
With the league title on the line, though, Netzel said his team did play tight, perhaps feeling some of the pressures the game generated. Falling behind after the first quarter and remaining behind at halftime, Anzar watched York post 20 points at the break.
Previously on Jan. 28, however, Anzar beat York 51-19.
“It was difficult,” Netzel said. “We started a little cold and felt a little bit of the pressure. I think we played a little tight for most of the game.
“We missed some easy baskets early on, which was kind of like playing with fire.”
But although the Hawks trailed for most of the game, they always remained within a couple of baskets. And the Falcons put Anzar in the double bonus for most of the fourth quarter, at which point the Hawks took over.
Anzar scored 19 of their points from the stripe, with Nicole Mello leading the way with an 8 of 12 performance.
Mello also pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds, while teammate Alyssa Rodriguez, who York focused on with a box-and-one defense, finished with nine points and four steals.
“We snapped out of our funk in the fourth quarter and free throws were a major factor,” Netzel said.
The Hawks finish their season with an 11-1 record in the CAL, 13-10 overall.
Certainly not backing their way into the postseason – Anzar has won their last nine games straight – the Hawks will find out their CCS seeding this weekend.
The team earned the No. 9 seed last year with a 13-7 overall record. Although they have three more losses this season, the Division V playoffs will have four more teams on the bracket this year, and Anzar could very well earn a home game in the first round.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
ANZ 10 6 10 19 45
YRK 6 14 11 4 35
Anzar (45): A. Rodriguez 3 0 3-4 9, N. Mello 0 0 8-12 8, C. Johnson 0 1 2-4 5, L. Resendez 1 1 0-0 5, K. Robledo 5 0 4-10 14, S. Masuen 1 0 2-6 4.
