I keep hearing that Salinas didn't play a rigorous non-league schedule.
And that will ultimately come back and haunt them in the postseason.
I disagree.
Aptos is 20-3. Santa Cruz and Harbor are 17-6. And Center High of Antelope, the team that beat the Cowboys in the preseason this year, is 18-6, unbeaten in league play.
The last time I checked, the Tri-County Athletic League is an 'A' league. Didn't the Cowboys beat Palma twice? Oh, that's right, it's a down year for the Chieftains.
Come on man, Salinas deserves a little more credit for being 20-1. This ride is not over.
John Devine has been writing about high school sports in Monterey County since, well, practically since he was an athlete at King City in the days just after leather helmets. In PrepNation, John has even more in-depth analysis of the latest results and news he's brought to you in The Herald and in his weekly videos.
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2 comments:
Salinas deserves a lot of credit, but... without testing themselves against any of the WCAL teams they are pretty much destined for an early exit in the playoffs. I think Salinas should be ranked in northern CA but they aren't because they haven't been tested against any of the best. A league title should be the first goal, but that's as far as you will most likely go if you don't test yourself and prepare for the best in the section or other sections. Palma plays in a smaller division for playoffs but still plays Mitty and St Francis. By playoff time and league time, they have played against and have some measurement of top competition. If Salinas plays any of these teams, they get a ood indication of where they are and what thy need to do to improve. Without this, they will face some teams they aren't prepared for. All I'm saying. Chappel needs to up the competition early on to improve the program rather than have a talented squad every few years win league. No doubt this is agood group and Chappel is a good coach, but come playoff time I hopethey aren't blind sided.
If Salinas were playing in the Division IV playoffs, then beating Palma twice may mean something more, or even Harbor or Santa Cruz (also Div IV teams). The Cowboys will likely be in the Division I playoffs against some very tough competition. Good luck to Salinas, I hope they do well.
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