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CIF State boys’ basketball playoffs: Monterey rallies for win over Kingsburg – Monterey Herald
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MONTEREY — Monterey High’s boys’ basketball team has found itself staring at a 10-point third-quarter deficit before — just not with its season on the line.
“Emotions were very high,” Monterey forward Suhieb Ibrahim said. “It was a very intense game. I told the guys, ‘how would it look if a CCS champion lost in the first round?’ Keep pushing.”
Playing in front of a capacity crowd in its historic gym, Monterey fed off the energy, adjusted its defense and found another gear Tuesday in a 66-55 win over Kingsburg in the Northern California Division IV playoffs.
In three state tournament appearances, the No. 4 seeded Toreadores (20-8) have never lost an opening-round game and are 4-0 when hosting games.
“Yeah, but those first three home games were at CSUMB,” Monterey coach Greg Daniels said. “We have never been allowed to host a NorCal game” on campus.
Monterey will host at least one more game on Thursday when it faces No. 5 Chico — 59-56 winners over Calaveras. That game is likely to be held on campus. The Toreadores are 9-1 on their home floor this year.
“I know nothing about them,” Daniels said. “I’m locked in on who we’re playing. That’s what has worked for us. We go one game at a time. I’ll get film of them tonight. I never looked ahead. That always comes back to bite you.”
Runner-ups in the North Coast Section after falling to Pleasant Valley, Chico is 22-8 and seeded No. 5. Relying on a balanced scoring attack, it averages 58.8 points a game.
On the heels of its third Central Coast Section Division III title in the past six years, Monterey was moved down to Division IV in the ever-complicated parity goals of the state tournament.
Perhaps the adrenaline rush of playing on its court created more anxiety early in the game as Kingsburg came out and challenged the Toreadores, going on a 14-4 run to open the third quarter to build a 10-point lead.
“I’ve seen us come back before,” Daniels said. “We’ve been down a lot this year and battled back. It’s a resilient group. There was plenty of time left.”
Daniels pointed to a game earlier this year in a tournament in which it trailed Oakwood by 26 points, yet rallied for a 79-76 win. It was also down by 10 to Alisal in its league finale before bouncing back for a six-point road win.
“I still believed we could come back,” said Daniels, a former Monterey football and basketball standout, who has been a coach in the program for 20 years.
Not without an adjustment. Daniels changed his defensive scheme, implementing a half-court trap that induced turnovers and baskets in transition.
“The mentality shifted,” said Ibrahim, who finished with a season-high 27 points. “We came in a little cocky. I think we saw our season coming to an end. We didn’t want that.”
Running off eight consecutive points — highlighted by a two-handed dunk from Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division Most Valuable Player Matthew Gallagher — put the Toreadores up 50-48 with under four minutes to go.
“The energy from that dunk helped the kids and hurt the other team,” Daniels said.
Maintaining that high level of pressure defense throughout the fourth quarter, the Toreadores closed the game by outscoring Kingsburg 11-0.
Kingsburg came into the game 18-12 overall, riding a six-game winning streak after beating Sierra in the Central Section finals.
“I saw film of other teams using that (half-court trap) on them,” Daniels said. “We’ve had to pull that out in other games. But I only have nine bodies. I get nervous about fouls and guys wearing down. I need Matthew and Suhieb on the offensive end.”
The pair delivered, combining for 49 of the team’s 66 points, with Nick Duque chipping in with 12 points.
Three of Monterey’s four postseason wins have been in double digits. It will go into its quarterfinal match with Chico having won six straight games.
“Now we have to carry this energy into our next game,” Ibrahim said.
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