What game do you put more stock into?
The Chieftains 39 point win over San Benito in a tournament back on Dec. 22.
Or Palma's two-point loss to the Gabilan Division leading Balers on Jan. 16.
Both were at Palma and Noah Allen played in both games. Well sort off.
The 6-foot-6 UCLA bound forward fractured his right wrist on Dec. 21, but played one more game, scoring 14 against the Balers.
Allen also played in Palma's 50-48 setback to San Benito in the second half, but only as a defensive replacement, unable to shoot with his right wrist.
The four-year starter is back for tonight's battle in Hollister, and making up for lost time, averaging 23 points a game since his return, helping Palma avenge a loss to Seaside.
No question Palma is a different team with a healthy Allen. But his absence has turned Palma into a better all-around team for a postseason push.
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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5 comments:
It's a given on any day another team can win, especially in high school athletics and playing a team on their home court. However,a healthier Allen and a Palma team that has had to step up without him is probably a 10-15 point better team than San benito. The top teams in the Gab in order are: Palma, Seaside and San benito. San Benito's record has been cushened with it'schedule. Seaside would probably be league champs if their top twoplayers would have been able to be in the game earlier in their loss to San benito.A healthy Palma is better than both teams this year as far as being a favorite.
I agree with NorCalSportsFan that any team can win on any given day, particularly at home. MBL road games are tough and there's a good chance the league could end up with a tri-championship. I also agree that Palma gets way better with a healthy Allen. The "cushioned" schedule argument is curious, however, as both Seaside and San Benito played -- and beat -- teams such as PG and Watsonville in the preseason. San Benito's preseason consisted of a Game 2 loss against Bellarmine (ranked today by MaxPreps as No. 1 in CCS D1) a win against 20-6 Patterson, a win against 18-5 Santa Cruz and a win against a 16-win St. Mary's of Albany (which plays in the same league as Salisian and El Cerrito). The Balers also had some cupcakes in Cupertino and Homestead, but Seaside played 4-18 Gonzales and 9-13 Soledad as well as talented Carmel and MVC teams. To make the strength of schedule case in a more formulaic way: MaxPreps ranks San Benito as 183 in the state, 13th in CCS overall and 4th in CCS D1 based on strength of schedule. Seaside is 290th in California, 24th in CCS overall and 6th in CCS D4. Jakubowsky and Turner missed one quarter in Seaside's loss to San Benito and San Benito led at Seaside throughout the game until less than a minute was left in the game this week. They are about as close as two teams can get. The equity league has done what it was supposed to do -- create a league where no game is a walkover.
Like I was saying ... Balers beat Palma, become first team in CCS to win 20 games, and clinch at least a share of MBL title. Seaside a close second, but second nonetheless. Case closed.
Hollister played a great game. Palma did what they tend to do in big games I've seen in the past couple years and really to much on the perimeter or become one dimensional. Live by the three and die by the three. SB deserves title. Still, I would take Palma in a rematch ...losing an 8 point dvantage in 1 minute is a collosal collapse, but hand it to SB. Still think SB is probably a first round loss in Open Division (Palma better shot at matching up at least for a first round although matchups with Mitty or Serra would be losses for either). SB is maybe 3rd or 4th best team in D1 enrollment. Palma is 1st or 2nd in D4 (Seaside 2nd or 3rd). Still Palma has to prove they can play as a team when it gets to the clinch and also not get behind early when they are cold and away. No norcal entry or D4 title would be a complete failure for this team. I will be rooting for all of the south CCS, but only teams that really have a shot to go anywhere in norcals is Palma or Seaside (they could go far if Salesian is in Open Norcals). SB will have a chance if they are pushed down to CCS D1, but looks like they ill be in Open division.
SB will get an automatic bid toNorcals if they get into Open Division, but NCS and SJS D1 teams are very strong. This is a year they should hope to get into D1 enrollment and a shot at CCS title by enrollment (which nthey would have a chance)
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