Seaside girls basketball

The seven wins the Spartans piled up in the preseason didn’t tell head coach Mike Turnan a whole lot. It was an expectation.

The one loss, though, did.

"That was on me,’’ Turnan said. "We allowed a team to hit eight 3’s in the first half. We made an adjustment at halftime with our defense and outplayed Aptos. That told me we can play with the elite.’’

Which is what Seaside will see on a regular basis now that the reigning Pacific Division champions have been moved to the Gabilan Division.

"We have to get to a higher level if we want to take a step forward,’’ Turnan said. "The feeling I get is these girls are looking forward to it. The calenders are marked for that first league game.’’

Which just happens to be five-time defending Gabilan Division champion North Salinas.

While an argument can be made that Seaside has played just two teams with winning records this year, losing one, five of its wins are against teams that defeated them last year.

"The problem we have to avoid is a mental letdown,’’ Turnan said. "I preach to them that you have to be mentally prepared for each game you go into. We’re not sliding under the radar.’’

That shouldn’t be a problem with junior guard Jordan Olivares on the court, a two-time member of The Herald’s All-County basketball team.

Turnan called Olivares the best player he has seen in the county since 2003 when Serena Benavente roamed the floor for Notre Dame, leading them to their first CCS title in 25 years.

"She has the heart of Serena,’’ Turnan said. "The girls follow Jordan. They look up to her. If she says something, they’ll believe. She corrals them in. No one will outwork her.’’

The Pacific Division Player of the Year last winter, the 5-foot-7 Olivares is averaging just under 17 points a game for the Spartans, along with 4.1 assists and nearly three steals a night.

"Jordan moves really well on the court,’’ Turnan said. "She has those long arms and posses a lot of problems for opposing guards. She’s very unselfish, looking to keep her teammates involved.’’

In fact, there have been times when Olivares has tired to hard to keep her teammates involved with a no-look, blind side pass that no one saw coming, including her teammate.

Turnan does not want Olivares to tone down her Stephen Curry type passing talents, considered one her strengths. But he also doesn’t want his playmaker passing up an open lane or a jump shot.

"When you have a girl like Jordan, you better be looking for the pass,’’ Turnan said. "Because if you get open, she’s going to find you. We talk about 10 fingers up when she has the ball in her hands. But if she’s got an open lane, I told her take it.’’

While Olivares has the capability of putting a team on her shoulders, the additions of two transfers will make the transition to the Gabilan easier, adding depth to the Spartans roster.

Sophomore Daja Mitchell transferred from Monterey and has become a double-double machine for Seaside this winter.

"I found out in the summer I got a transfer,’’ Turnan said. "When I was told who, I said you have to be kidding me.’’

Mitchell averaged 17 points and 14 rebound a game last year as a freshman for Monterey. She gives the Spartans a dynamic second scoring option on the floor.

The early Christmas gifts kept coming for Turnan when Khrystianna Edwards and her 6-foot frame transferred from Arizona.

"She's giving us quality minutes in the paint,’’ Turnan said.

So is sophomore Jocelyn Hernandez. A member of The Herald’s All-County volleyball team last fall, the 5-11 post is pulling down 11 rebounds a night.

Don’t discount senior Marianne Tuazon, who led the team in rebounds last year.

"She is the anchor in the middle,’’ Turnan said. "Girls can’t push her out. She’s strong. And she is pretty active inside. She’s picked up right where she left off.’’

What’s critical in Turnan’s mind is the play of the bench, which starts with guard Aleah Jakubowsky, who has provided quality minutes in a reserve role.

"Our reserves have to step up,’’ Turnan said. "We can’t count on just our starting five. If we’re five strong at all times, opponents will have a tough time beating us.’’