Pacific Grove-Carmel girls hoops

 On the eve of an anticipated showdown between the two rivals, the stat that gets your attention with host Carmel is the third quarter.
 The surging Padres have outscored opponents 112-56 in the third quarter en route to their 7-1 start, which includes five straight wins.
 Mired in a month long scoring slump, the defending MTAL champion Breakers snapped out of their funk with a 50 point showing on the road in King City.
 Defense is what carried Pacific Grove to a league title last year. In its win at Carmel last year, it held them scoreless in the first half.
 It is what Pacific Grove will need to slow down Holly Whittaker, who has been unconscious of late with 73 points in her last three games, including a career high 38 point eruption.
 Teammate Amber Clark has three straight double-doubles, averaging 13 points and 14.5 rebounds a game in league play.
 Jessica Matthews rediscovered her shot last week with a 15 point effort for the Breakers while Allie Patton is coming off a double-double.