Seaside basketball

Seaside Spartans (10-14, 7-5)
 You knew the Spartans absence from the postseason in 2015 -- its first in 20 plus years -- was going to be brief.
 Yet, while a return to the postseason last winter was a starting point for Seaside, the objective for a program rich in tradition is to get back into the upper division of the Monterey Bay League.
 For that to occur, the Spartans are going to have to put their name in the hat as a title contender this year in the Pacific Division.
 "Our goals are pretty high,'' Seaside coach Wayne Garnett said. "We believe we will compete for a league title and return to the Gabilan Division next year."
 Lofty expectations for a program that is coming off a 10-14 season, dropping its last four games of the season, including a first round playoff game.
 Then again, Seaside was 7-2 at one point in the Pacific Division before going on its late season slide.
 "We're excited about this group,'' Garnett said. "Some of these kids have put the work in over the spring and summer, and have stepped up their game.''
 Garnett was speaking about Matthew Briscoe and Jordan Banon, both of which have significantly improved from the off-season.
 Briscoe, the Sophomore of the Year last winter in the Pacific Division, finished among Seaside's scoring leaders while Banon provided energy.
 "We have four starters back from last year,'' Garnett said.
  That includes Malik Jeter and DeMarcus Hawkins, although both were late arrivals because of an extended football season.
 Jeter is an athletic combo guard while the 235-pound Hawkins can be a force in the paint with his frame and athleticism.
 "The biggest thing for us this year is experience,'' Garnett said.
 Garnett will use the month of December to establish chemistry on the court. The key to chasing a league title may be the depth on the bench, something that was missing last year.