The feeling among coaches was a move to the Gabilan Division was earned.
Seaside basketball coach Wayne Garnett felt his squad had done enough last season to warrant an invitation after winning the Pacific Division.
It's on hold.
The Spartans were placed in the Mission Division, where the emphasis is repeat the feat.
"With the size and speed we have, my goal was to be in the Gabilan Division," Garnett said. "That is where we want to eventually be.''
Despite losing the league Most Valuable Player to graduation, Garnett feels he has a more complete roster coming into league play.
"Our first few non-league games were up and down," Garnett said. "But when this is finished, it will be nice, real nice. I believe we'll be the team to beat."
Those that are back this season are impact players, starting with 6-foot-4 Dalton Rainaud and 6-6 James Milovale.
"Dalton can shoot the three," Garnett said. "James is going to control the paint for me. He's a great passer. And he's strong around the basket. He'll get a lot of put backs for me."
It will not hurt that seniors Elijah Robinson and Noah Penitito are back after missing virtually all of last season. Robinson earned an all-tournament spot before his season was cut short.
"Elijah can get to the basket and defend," Garnett said. "Noah cleans the boards for me. He uses his 6-3 frame well."
Rather than one player dropping in 23 points a night, Garnett believes he has five scorers that on any given night can lead the team in scoring.
Rainaud became a factor in the second half of the season last year for Seaside with his defense and ability to score from the perimeter and in the paint.
"Absolutely it will be a scoring by committee," Garnett said. "What we have this year is balance, a lot of options. I'm excited."
While the Spartans can put a lineup on the floor that goes 6-6, 6-4 and 6-3, it will still be one of the quickest teams in the Mission Division.
Michael Garnett gives them a solid nucleus on the court, while sophomore Dillan Olivares was not brought up to watch.
"We brought him up to play and contribute," Garnett said.
Seaside, who didn't have all of its parts until four weeks into the season, will be an up-tempo team that will apply a lot of pressure defense on opponents.
"We'll look to generate points off our defense," Garnett said. "Offense sells tickets. But defense wins championships. We have size, we have quickness. We can trap people."
A new division means new teams as only Christopher and Alvarez were a part of the same division as Seaside last year.
"It will be a competitive league," Garnett said. "The future is bright for us. We're going to be strong for a while."
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