But the two basketball coaches will have to do some traveling to learn about their opponents.
Both Half Moon Bay varsity teams got high seeds to the Central Coast Section Division IV basketball tournaments and will be hosting games Thursday. The girls’ team is scheduled to play at 5:30 p.m. with the boys’ team following at 7 p.m.
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The Half Moon Bay boys’ team got the No. 5 seed from the basketball committee, made up of coaches of all the leagues involved in the tournament.
“We are very happy with our seeding position,” said Parsons, the boys’ coach. “This is what we all anticipated.”
While there was no doubt Palma would get the No. 1 seed and Sacred Heart Prep the No. 2 seed, the seasons of Santa Cruz (No. 3) and Harbor (No. 4) impressed the committee more than Harker, which finished second to Sacred Heart Prep in the West Bay Athletic League.
Half Moon Bay was brought into the mix for the No. 5 spot along with Pacific Grove. Both teams won league titles.
A 10-minute discussion ensued. Though Half Moon Bay beat Harker, Harker’s league representative said the committee should look at Harker’s season. The Eagles finished 20-4 and split its season series with Sacred Heart Prep.
Half Moon Bay received the most votes of the three, but not a majority. Half Moon Bay won in a head-to-head vote with Harker, 11-4.
Harker picked up the No. 6 spot, with Pacific Grove getting the No. 7 seed.
Half Moon Bay swept Oceana this year in league play. But Parsons admits he has no knowledge of Monte Vista Christian, or Harbor, the team Half Moon Bay would play at Hartnell College in Salinas Saturday, if it wins Thursday.
“We are going to have our work cut out for us, whoever we play,” Parsons said.
Monte Vista Christian (10-16) finished in last place in the six-team Monterey Bay League.
Harbor (18-8) was third in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. Four of the Pirates’ eight losses came to Santa Cruz. Harbor beat Santa Teresa, champions of the Mt. Hamilton Athletic League.
There was no such drama on the girls’ Division IV side as Santa Cruz, Mercy of San Francisco, Scotts Valley, Menlo School and Sacred Heart Prep were almost uncontested for the top five spots.
Half Moon Bay was entered at the No. 6 spot with The King’s Academy, the third-place finisher in the West Bay Athletic League Skyline Division and Santa Catalina, champions of the Mission Trail Athletic League.
Half Moon Bay’s win over Mills last week impressed enough voters that it got in on the first vote. Santa Catalina took the No. 7 spot with The King’s Academy sliding down to No. 13.
“I was hoping to get a closer scouting trip,” Carey said. “But I am happy to get the No. 6 spot. It will give us some time to prepare, get healthy and maybe put in a new wrinkle.”
Monte Vista Christian finished fifth in the Monterey Bay League. Meanwhile, King City finished third in the Mission Trail Athletic League.
The winner of Thursday’s game plays Scotts Valley, Saturday at Santa Cruz. The time will be announced later this week. Scotts Valley finished third in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.
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