Seaside boys basketball

 It's not just two straight wins to open the Pacific Division season that gives the Spartans a shot in the arm.
 Rather, it's who Seaside has beaten.
 Christopher and Alvarez were projected as the teams to beat in the Pacific Division before the season started.
 The Spartans went on the road and knocked off Alvarez and handed the Cougars a 10-point beating at home.
 Yet, for a program that won just two league games last season, there were signs during the preseason that an abrupt turnaround was in order for Seaside.
 What hurt the Spartans was injuries. Four projected starters were missing at points during the course of the non-league season -- including two for three weeks.
 No one has made a bigger impact since returning from a foot injury than DeMarcus Hawkins, who gives Seaside a menacing presence in the paint.
 While Hawkins weighs college football offers from a handful of schools, he's keeping his 225-pound frame in shape on the hardwood and providing Seaside with balance.
 Teams have to respect Hawkins in the key. That has enabled Matthew Briscoe to continue to shred defenses with his shooting, as he is averaging 27 points a game in league.
 Jordan Banon is getting more looks on the perimeter. The result has seen the shooting guard bury eight 3-point goals in two games, averaging 16.5 points a game.
 While the Spartans have been forced to clear barriers all season, a potential bigger hurdle comes on Friday as they will likely have to face Pajaro Valley without Hawkins.
 The senior is scheduled to play in the Central Coast all-star football game on Friday. Unless a time change can be made for the basketball game, both will start at 7 p.m.
 Seaside had to deal with a similar situation in 2013 when two starters missed a league game to take part in the all-star football game.
 The Spartans lost the game by six points to San Benito. Ultimately that was the difference in their season, finishing one game out of first place.