Carmel-Stevenson boys hoops

 If league openers can set the tone, than this is a big one for both the Padres and Stevenson, who have title aspirations dancing in their heads.
 These two Mission Trail Athletic League teams have contrasting styles as Carmel prefers to pound it inside behind three time all leaguer John Stivers and Dylan Riley.
 The Pirates, who reached the State Northern California Division V tournament last season, might be the best outside shooting team in the county.
 Parker Olin has knocked down 33 shots from beyond the 3-point arc for Stevenson while sophomore Winston Elstob has 22.
 Both teams have momentum going into their league opener with the Pirates closing non-league play with a 4-1 mark, while Carmel won its last two games.
 The 6-foot-5 Stivers, who missed three games while on recruiting trips for football for Carmel, is rounding into shape on the hardwood after dropping in 29 points in his last game.
 The two teams split their head-to-head battles last year, each winning on their home court.
 The biggest difference might have been Stivers and Olin.
 Stivers had 27 points for the Padres in a 51-39 win, but was held to 10 in a 59-44 loss. Olin had 26 points in the win for Stevenson, but just 11 in the loss.