Live Oak produces four league honors combined in boys and girls
basketball
MORGAN HILL — Lee Washington has been named Santa Teresa Division boys basketball Coach of the Year after guiding Sobrato high School to an outright league title in his first year at the helm.
Under Washington, the Bulldogs (19-7 overall) marched to a program-best finish (13-1) in conference play and earned their first trip to the Central Coast Section quarterfinals since the playoffs expanded to five rounds in 2008. Twelve of Sobrato’s league wins came by double-digit margins.
After beating No. 15 Woodside 61-44 in the second round of the Division II playoffs, the No. 7-seeded Bulldogs fell 74-53 to No. 2 Archbishop Mitty, the eventual tournament champion.
Sobrato took pride its defense but was equally effective on both sides of the court. The team featured an experience-heavy roster that produced four all-league honorees.
Ryan Williams, the most prolific 3-point shooter in SHS history, ended his prep basketball career as Co-Senior of the Year. The 6-foot-4 forward, who led his team with 14.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, shared the honor with Larry Melton of Evergreen Valley.
Senior guard Bryan Bradley joined Williams as a first-team selection. Bradley led the Bulldogs with 54 steals and was second in scoring (10.6 PPG).
His twin brother, Chris Bradley, made the second team after averaging 6.6 points and 3.4 assists.
First-year starting point guard Pierre Hemphill (7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals per game) rose to the veteran talent around him this winter on the way to earning second-team all-league recognition. The junior will help break in four new starters next year.
Live Oak finished a win shy of gaining Division III playoff eligibility this season and was awarded three all-league nods.
Center Dominic Leach, who led the Acorns with 6.6 rebounds a game and 18 blocks, made first-team all West Valley Division. Despite playing only 10 league games because of injury, the 6-foot-4 senior ranked in the division in scoring (14.3 PPG).
“He was a force defensively and a go-to guy on offense,” said coach Brett Paolucci, who guided the Acorns to a 7-9 league record in his first year back at Live Oak High School. “He had the kind of year you need from a senior big man. If he had played a full schedule, he maybe could have moved up in some of those categories.”
Leach’s play was complemented by the solid work of second-team all-league senior guards Nathan Seifert and Michael Schreiber. Seifert, a true point guard, dished a team-high 2.6 points per game and averaged 11.7 points in his only year at LOHS. Schreiber also finished in double figures scoring (12 PPG) as the Acorns’ leader in 3-point baskets (36).
“Nathan was a huge addition. He ran the offense and just played with no disregard for his body,” Paolucci said. “When we needed a big basket, Michael was there for us.”
Live Oak will graduate six seniors this summer but could have as many as eight varsity veterans — all juniors — back for the 2010-11 season.
In girls basketball, Acorns post Fa Saulala was the only local to earn league recogition. The 5-foot-10 freshman made second team all West Valley after leading Live Oak with 10.7 rebounds and 9.9 points a game.
