Publication Date: Friday, March 12, 2004
Defense is doing it
Defense is doing it
(March 12, 2004) Eastside Prep boys are No. 1 in state defense
by Keith Peters
Before this season ever began, Chris Bischof put his coaching job aside for that of a salesman. His
selling job to his Eastside Prep players was like pitching a freezer to an Eskimo.
For six years, the Panthers had played man-to-man defense. Now, Bischof wanted them to play zone. It would be an even better chance to freeze the opposition offensively.
"I thought it would be a real tough sell, from man to zone," Bischof said. "But, they bought into it."
Now, Eastside Prep's zone defense has become a source of pride for the boys' squad, which ranks No. 1 in the state - at any level -- in team defense. The Panthers are giving up just 33.4 points a game.
Bischof didn't even know his team ranked No. 1 until a few weeks ago. Since then, his players have taken it upon themselves to defend that lofty status.
"The zone has really worked for us this year," Bischof said. "They have worked incredibly hard to prevent easy shots. It's a real source of pride."
That stingy defense has paid off in a 28-1 record this season heading into last night's CIF Northern California Division V semifinal against No. 4-seeded Branson (29-4) at Sequoia High. The No. 2-seeded Panthers went in with a 25-game winning streak. Included in that streak was a 42-31 win over Branson in December.
Bischof recalled that victory, in the championship game of Branson's own tournament in Oakland, as his team's best game of the season.
"We played exceptionally well," Bischof remembered. "We made 15 of 18 free throws, made a halfcourt shot at the end of one quarter, and only turned the ball over six times."
Bischof knew then that he team was destined to face Branson, the North Coast Section champion, again.
"We knew that if we kept winning, that we'd be playing them again in March," Bischof said.
And, so they did. Bischof expected last night's game to be much more difficult than the first meeting. Branson has improved its defense and now ranks sixth in the state, giving up just 41.3 points a game prior to facing Eastside Prep.
At stake last night was a berth in Saturday's NorCal Division V championship game at Delta College in Stockton at 3 p.m. The Panthers were hoping to make it three straight trips to the NorCal finals.
If Eastside played last night like it did Tuesday in a 60-28 romp over No. Liberty Christian in East Palo Alto, it's a done deal. The Panthers held the visitors from Redding to just seven field goals (in 36 attempts) for a measly 19.4 percent from the floor.
Eastside Prep jumped to a 13-1 lead moments into the second quarter on a 3-pointer by senior Myron Jordan, and later went on a 15-0 run to open the four quarter and take a 51-21 lead.
"I think we did an amazing job on defense," said Bischof, who singled out Stephen Waller for his defensive efforts. "This is a good way to start NorCals. I think we're on our way."
Waller, along with fellow senior Keith Garner and junior Gio Connor, anchored the Panthers' 2-1-2 zone early on by clamping down on Liberty Christian sophomore Derek Oestreicher, who was listed at 6-9 but looked closer to 6-6. The Panthers cut him further down to size by holding him without a field goal until the fourth quarter when he scored all of his meaningless four points. Oestreicher came in averaging 15 points a game.
Liberty Christian, runnerup in the North Section playoffs, didn't get its first field goal until 2:39 was elapsed in the second quarter. Five of the field goals were three-pointers as Eastside Prep denied the Patriots anything inside.
Garner, meanwhile, scored 14 first-half points while Eastside grabbed a 24-14 lead. He finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three steals while Waller contributed nine points. The Panthers committed just five turnovers as Jordan and junior Clarence Webster took good care of the ball.
While Eastside Prep was playing Branson, No. 5 Sacred Heart Prep (26-3) was facing top-seeded and defending NorCal champ Modesto Christian (25-6). The Gators were hoping for an upset victory that would propel them into Saturday's NorCal final, and perhaps a rematch with Eastside Prep.
It was only last Saturday that Eastside Prep handed the Gators a 42-38 loss in the Central Coast Section Division V finals. SHP senior Tyler Holland was held to just eight points in that game, 12 under his season average.
Holland made sure that wouldn't happen again on Tuesday when he scored a career-high 38 points in a 66-52 victory at No. 4 Quincy (24-4) in another Division V opener.
Despite making the long trek to Northern California, Sacred Heart Prep was ready for its playoff opener. The Gators jumped out to an 18-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Holland made 18 of 20 free-throw attempts while coming within one point of the school record of 39 points held by Dane Holderman.
"That was a great effort by Tyler," said SHP coach Lamont Quattlebaum.
Fellow senior Jamie Greene added eight points for the Gators, who were ranked No. 5 in the state in team defense by allowing 41.2 points a game.
Should Eastside Prep and Sacred Heart Prep meet in Saturday's finale, the winner will advance to the CIF State Championships the following weekend at ARCO Arena in Sacramento.
NorCal girls
Pinewood was hoping to extend its season in the NorCal semifinals last night, after the No. 3-seeded Panthers (18-9) streaked to an early lead and then held on for dear life in a 44-40 triumph over No. 6 Convent of the Sacred Heart (21-11) in a Division V opener in Los Altos Hills on Tuesday night.
Pinewood looked like an easy winner when the Panthers jumped to a 44-28 with 6:11 left in the game. The visiting and defending Division V state champion Cubs, however, held the Panthers scoreless while putting on a furious charge that just fell short.
"We tried to shrink each possession down, but we got out of rhythm," explained Pinewood coach Doc Scheppler. "We played protectively, but we're moving on."
Freshman Samantha Field-Polisso led Pinewood with 16 points while junior Daniela Roark added 11. The Panthers made eight 3-pointers.
Senior Liz Ashby and sophomores Liz Altmaier and Alissa Flesher were singled out for their rebounding and defense.
Pinewood traveled to Auburn yesterday to face No. 2 Forest Lake Christian (28-4), a 64-31 winner over No. 7 Mercy of Red Bluff on Tuesday.
The semifinal winners will meet Saturday in the NorCal Division V finals at Delta College at 1 p.m.
The only local team not advancing were the No. 8 Sacred Heart Prep girls (13-16), whose season ended in a 49-36 loss to top-seeded Urban in Division V action at USF's Memorial Gym.
The Sacred Heart Prep girls, meanwhile, continued to struggle offensively in their season-ending loss to Urban. The Gators made just three of 15 shots in the third and fourth periods while trying to catch up. They did get within six points in the fourth period before Urban pulled away.
Junior Jessica Pecota led SHP with 14 points, 12 in the second half. Marissa Maffei, who along with Mica Nereu are the team's only seniors, added nine points.
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