PACIFICA — The little program that could seems to still be doing it.
Pacifica Christian’s boys basketball team qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section’s Division VI-AA playoffs as the no. 3 seed. The Seawolves wasted little time proving CIF bracket makers knew what they were doing when they bestowed such a high seed upon a team that has only played varsity basketball for a handful of years.
Pacifica routed First Lutheran 86-46 on Wednesday setting up a second-round matchup against no. 14 seed California Lutheran today on the road.
This will be the second year in a row that Pacifica will face Cal Lutheran in the first round having defeated them last year before losing in the second round.
“It will be tough going to their place,” Head Coach Kevin Kelsey said. “They have most of their players back.”
Kelsey expects a hostile environment.
“We’ve done fine on the road,” he said. “But, we’ve never been in this kind of situation in a small town, in a small gym.”
The coach, who also serves as the school’s athletic director, said he’s been working to keep his players’ minds on the task at hand.
“I’ve told them that each team is trying to end your season,” Kelsey said. “For the seniors, each team is trying to end their careers.”
Pacifica will rely on strong guard play if the Seawolves are to advance to the third round. Derek Williams, a senior shooting guard, scored 26 points and tallied seven assists during the first-round rout.
Fellow guard David Hammer said energy will be the deciding factor if his team is going to make a run deep into the postseason.
“There is a positive vibe going on,” Hammer said. “Everybody is jacked to play.”
daniela@www.smdp.com
