Pacific Grove basketball

Pacific Grove Breakers (23-5, 13-1)
 Despite successfully defending their Mission Trail Athletic League title and winning a Central Coast Section Division IV crown, the Breakers walked off the court last year somewhat unfulfilled.
 A heartbreaking 52-50 loss on the final play of the game in the State Northern California Division IV playoffs to Mission of San Francisco left Pacific Grove numb.
 It has also created incentive for those that have returned this season to clear that barrier. It won't hurt having two-time MTAL Most Valuable Player Brad Sendell back for his fourth year.
 The sharpshooting guard dropped in just under 18 points a game last year for the Breakers, knocking down 45 3-point goals.
"Our goal is always focused on daily improvement and playing our best basketball at the end of the season,'' Pacific Grove coach Dan Power said.
 Sendell is a game changer, relentless in creating a shot, unselfish in keeping his teammates involved. The moment never seems to big for the 5-foot-11 guard.
 While Sendell is the target for opponents to contain, Zack Miller evolved last year into a threat in the post for Pacific Grove, averaging over 10 points a game in the second half of the season.
 The 6-foot-5 Miller, who won the CCS 400 meter title last spring in track and has committed to run track at Harvard, recorded seven double-doubles last season.
 His presence in the paint not only gives the Breakers another dimension offensively, but Miller's also a disrupted force on defense, blocking six shots in that battle against Mission.
 Finding parts to surround the pair means developing chemistry on the court. Gaurav Gurung was a contributor off the bench, hitting a game winning shot last season.
 "We have three four-year players who played critical roles last season,'' Powers said. "We lost some great senior leadership. But I'm excited about this group.''
 Pacific Grove put together three winning streaks of five or more games, including a seven-game run that catapulted them to their first section title in 18 years.