North Salinas basketball

North Salinas Vikings (8-16, 6-6)
 A return to the postseason after a three year absence was big for the Vikings program, which was filled with youth and hampered by injuries last season.
 Two games standout from last winter that can be used as building blocks for this season. One was a late season win over Seaside that catapulted North Salinas into the postseason.
 The other was a four-point loss to league champion and undefeated Alisal, whose average margin of victory in the Pacific Division was 21 points.
 "I'm very excited to be with these young men as we pursue excellence on and off the court,'' North Salinas coach Alan Green said.
 It doesn't hurt that Green has a nucleus of parts to work with, starting with guard Jaime Beltran, who averaged just under 10 points a game last year, and returning starter Noah Backus.
 "We need to be a little more consistent,'' Green said. "I believe we can be a very competitive playoff team.''
 You can make an argument that the Vikings were competitive last season, as they were involved in six games decided by five points or less, going 1-5.
 Reverse that and North Salinas would have had title aspirations dancing in its heads, something that has not occurred since 2004.
 While Green will rely heavily on the senior leadership of Beltran and Backus, opponents will have to be aware of 6-foot-2 Rico Vega.
 Brought up last year as a sophomore, Vega slowed flashes of his potential. So did Darren Tennant before breaking his arm in the preseason last year.
 Tennant was named to one all-tournament team, while averaging double digits before the injury. His return gives North Salinas a weapon on the perimeter, as well as a slasher to the basket.
 What the Vikings would like to avoid is a slow start. Last year they opened 1-7. The year before they were 2-5 out the gates, and 1-6 in 2014.