March 10, 2004

Back to the table of Contents Page

Classifieds

Palo Alto Online

This formula for success is a winner

by Keith Peters

From the first day Eastside Prep basketball players took the court in 1997, head coach Chris Bischof looked at his talent and established his game plan.

In its first season of existence, the tiny East Palo Alto school had a roster equally small in numbers and size. So, the Panthers played an up-tempo game and pressed all over the place.

As the seasons came and went, Bischof again adjusted. The fullcourt press of the first year became a three-quarters court press, then a halfcourt press. Then, no press at all. The in-your-face man-to-man defense finally became a zone this season. And, the up-tempo game became a patient, halfcourt game that stressed sound fundamentals and few mistakes.

"It's based on who we have," Bischof explained. "This year, we have a different type of personnel and a different set of strengths. So, that's what we go with."

And, like in the past, the results this season have been very positive. The Panthers opened Tuesday night's CIF Northern California playoffs with a 27-1 record and 24-game winning streak, following last Saturday's 42-38 victory over Sacred Heart Prep in the Central Coast Section Division V championship game at West Valley College in Saratoga. It was Eastside Prep's third straight CCS title and fifth in the past six years.

The victory earned Eastside Prep a No. 2 seed in NorCals behind No. 1 Modesto Christian. Sacred Heart Prep (25-3) received a No. 5 seed and played at North Section champion and No. 4 Quincy (24-3) on Tuesday.

The semifinals are Thursday at the sites of the higher-seeded teams, with the NorCal championship set for Saturday at Delta College in Stockton at 3 p.m. The winner of that game qualifies for the CIF state finals, March 20 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento.

Eastside Prep already has assured itself of losing no more than two games, a feat first established by the 2001-02 team that finished 30-2 after losing the NorCal finale. Last year's squad went 28-2, also losing the NorCal title game. In order to win 31 games, the Panthers need to sweep this week and win their first-ever state title.

Right now, however, Bischof is just exceptionally pleased with how his team has responded this season. The Panthers have no player standing over 6-foot-3 and have won 27 games despite losing five players off last year's squad - including three starters - and switching to a zone defense this season for the first time in school history.

Despite the changes and personnel losses, Bischof believes his current team could wind up being his best.

"They just have to play to their strengths," said Bischof, who has compiled an impressive record of 183-28 since 1997. "If we played (the same style) like previous years, we wouldn't be here."

Eastside's strengths this season include teamwork and rebounding, which is enhanced by the team's very active 2-3 zone defense.

"We have less quickness, which was a concern at the beginning of the season," Bischof said. "But we have three strong rebounders (seniors Stephen Waller and Keith Garner plus junior Gio Connor). The zone allows them to stay close to the basket."

Eastside Prep allowed Sacred Heart Prep only four offensive rebounds in Saturday's title game, which ended the Gators' 24-game winning streak. The zone also made it difficult for the Gators to penetrate and get decent perimeter shots. SHP senior Tyler Holland, who averaged 20 points a game this season, was held to a season-low eight points.

Sophomore Pat Coffey and senior Spencer Lucian kept the Gators in the game with their three-point shooting, with Lucian's second trey deadlocking the game at 37 with under three minutes to play. Eastside junior Clarence Webster countered that with a drive and 39-37 lead.

SHP senior Jamie Greene had an opportunity to tie the game, but made only the first of two free throws with 25.4 seconds left. Webster was fouled on the ensuing play and made both free throws for a 41-38 advantage. With 2.6 seconds left, Webster was fouled after making a steal and made one of two to clinch the victory. He finished with nine of 10 from the line and 11 points - nine of them coming in the fourth quarter.

Waller and Garner each had eight points, Connor contributed seven and senior Myron Jordan had six.

"Each big game, a different person has stepped it up and take the team to the next level," Bischof said. "For us, that was a big, big win for us . . . I'm just really proud of these guys. They play so well together."

With good rebounding, defense and mistake-free play.

"We've only been turning the ball over 10 times a game, which is really good for us," said Bischof, whose team had 12 turnovers against SHP. "In the past, we've turned it over twice that. So, hopefully we don't beat ourselves. So far, it's worked out that way."

E-mail a friend a link to this story.