MTAL basketball

 A little respect for the Mission Trail Athletic League.
 Pacific Grove knocks off the Gabilan Division runner-ups in Monte Vista -- not once, but twice this season, holding them to two of their lowest point totals of the season.
 And Carmel goes up and ends top seed Sacred Heart Prep's season in dominating fashion -- the same Sacred Heart Prep private power that keeps beating teams in our county in every other sport.
 This isn't a fluke.
 Two of the better players in the county include Carmel's John Stivers and Pacific Grove's Brad Sendell.
 Yet, Pacific Grove and Carmel are still practicing today for two reasons.
 Both play tenacious defense and both play as one. The team chemistry in both locker rooms is one of cohesiveness.
 That's a attribute the programs coaches in Pacific Grove's Dan Powers and Rich Franks of Carmel, who will step down at the end of the season.
 The last time two county teams played for a section basketball title was in 2000 when Palma held off Carmel 49-43