The Live Oak Acorns boys basketball team has their sights set on
taking home the Tri County Athletic League title to cap their last
season as a part of the league. With a core of five returning
senior players, the Acorns have their work cut out for them in the
competitive TCAL.
Morgan Hill – The Live Oak Acorns boys basketball team has their sights set on taking home the Tri County Athletic League title to cap their last season as a part of the league. With a core of five returning senior players, the Acorns have their work cut out for them in the competitive TCAL.
Last season Live Oak finished 13-13 overall with a 3-7 record in the TCAL and advanced to the second round of the Central Coast Section playoffs before being defeated by Woodside.
In the offseason the Acorns lost guard Doug Porras and for wards Matt van Keulan and Brandon Powell to graduation. Porras and Powell brought a lot of athleticism to the team, while van Keulan was a great outside shooting threat.
To fill in the holes left behind by Porras, van Keulan and Powell, Live Oak has five seniors who can step into the vacancies.
Dustin Bynum and Bobby Long bring depth to the forward position for the Acorns. Bynum brings experience in the post position and uses his body well, according Live Oak coach Brett Paolucci, while Long has worked hard in the offseason and added depth in the post.
Eric Mutz returns as the floor leader at the point guard position for Live Oak, while Brandon Greene and Micah Jones provide options at the guard position. Greene is a good, athletic shooter and is a threat from the outside. Jones provides the Acorns with a threat from the inside, as well as the outside.
“Our goal every year is to make the playoffs,” said Paolucci. “This being our last year in the TCAL, it would be great to leave as league champions.”
Senior Ivan Silviera and junior Jeff Mounteer are two newcomers to the varsity squad that should make an impact this season at the guard position. Siliviera brings a lot of expertise, great speed and is a good defender. He brings a well-rounded game to the Acorns. Mounteer has a lot of speed and plays great defense.
Last week Live Oak participated in the Santa Clara Tip-Off Classic, earning fourth place with one win and two losses.
“The Santa Clara Tournament showed us as a team that there’s plenty of room to improve in the early season,” said Paolucci. “We are going to work on being competitive and playing four quarters of basketball.”
The Acorns host an Alumni game tomorrow at 7pm and will use that game as preparation for their matchup against Gunderson on Saturday.
“Playing the alumni is a good tune-up,” said Paolucci. “They always come in fired up.”
2004-2005 Result
13-13 overall, 3-7 TCAL
Key Returners
Dustin Bynum, Sr, Forward
Brandon Greene, Sr, Guard
Eric Mutz, Sr, Guard
Micah Jones, Sr, Guard/Forward
Bobby Long, Sr, Forward
Key Losses
Doug Porras Guard
Matt van Keulan Forward
Brandon Powell Forward
Key Losses
Ivan Silviera, Sr, Guard
Jeff Mounteer, Sr, Guard
Outlook:
The Acorns would love to leave the TCAL as league champions at the end of this season and have a strong senior core returning to lead the team. Their senior players bring post experience and provide an inside and outside shooting threat.
2005-2006 Live Oak Boys Basketball Schedule
Date Time Opponent Where
11/30 7:00 Alumni Live Oak
12/3 7:00 Gunderson Gunderson
12/7 TBA Tourney Los Gatos
12/8 TBA Tourney Los Gatos
12/9 TBA Tourney Los Gatos
12/10 TBA Tourney Los Gatos
12/13 7:00 Branham Live Oak
12/15 TBA Tourney Gilroy
12/16 TBA Tourney Gilroy
12/17 TBA Tourney Gilroy
12/23 6:30 Santa Teresa Santa Teresa
12/27 6:00 Westmont Westmont
12/29 TBA Tourney Milpitas
12/30 TBA Tourney Milpitas
01/7 2:00 Palma Palma
01/10 7:00 Gilroy Live Oak
01/12 7:00 Hollister Hollister
01/17 7:00 North Salinas Live Oak
01/21 2:00 Sobrato Sobrato
01/24 7:00 Salinas Live Oak
01/26 7:00 Palma Live Oak
02/1 7:00 Gilroy Gilroy
02/3 7:00 Hollister Live Oak
02/8 7:00 North Salinas N. Salinas
02/15 7:00 Sobrato Live Oak
02/17 7:00 Salinas Salinas
02/22 7:00 CCS Playoffs TBA
