Salinas-Palma basketball

 While the Chieftains have already locked up the Gabilan Division title, there is still a lot to play for in tonight's league finale against Salinas.
  For starters, Palma is chasing a second straight undefeated league season. Plus another win would enhance their seeding into the CCS Open Division playoffs on Sunday.
 Palma is also undefeated this year at home.
 More importantly, pride is at stake for both teams, where emotions run high in a rivalry game.
 Salinas gave the Chieftains a scare on Jan. 27 before falling by two points. For a program fighting to get back to the .500 mark overall, a win would accommodate that.
 Whether the narrow win was a wakeup call or not, Palma (20-2) has stepped up of late behind Wyatt Maker and Jamaree Bouyea, both of which are among the league leaders in scoring.
 Palma is physically bigger in the paint than Salinas with the 6-foot-8 Maker and 6-3 Liam McMillin, while Bouyea has been a thorn in every opponents side this season.
 The Chieftains will go into the playoffs without sophomore forward Garrett Maker, who has been lost for the season to a knee injury, according to head coach Kelly Lopez.
 The Chieftains will go into the game riding a 15-game winning streak, with its last loss coming on Dec. 23.
 Salinas is 5-3 this year in games decided by two points or less.