A pair of Live Oak High basketball standouts have been selected
to the All-Tri-County Athletic League
’s first team this season. And, both were their team’s leading
scorers. Senior forward Matt van Keulen, one of the top long-range
scoring threats in the TCAL, and sophomore guard Megan Gulla earned
the distinction.
A pair of Live Oak High basketball standouts have been selected to the All-Tri-County Athletic League’s first team this season.
And, both were their team’s leading scorers.
Senior forward Matt van Keulen, one of the top long-range scoring threats in the TCAL, and sophomore guard Megan Gulla earned the distinction.
Van Keulen, who averaged 13.5 points per game and sunk an astounding 51 3-point shots, was joined on the all-league team by second-team pick Doug Porras, a senior guard, and honorable mention selections Kevin Toombs, a senior center, and Brandon Powell, a senior forward.
Van Keulen and Porras were both all-league second team selections last season as juniors, while Powell was honorable mention last season.
LO’s Dustin Bynum, a junior forward, was chosen as the team’s winner of the Sportsmanship Award.
Van Keulen, who scored in double figures in 20 of his team’s 26 games this season, and his teammates led the Acorn boys basketball team to a 13-13 overall record (3-7 in TCAL) and a Central Coast Section playoff berth this past season.
Meanwhile, Gulla’s best high school basketball days would appear to be ahead of her.
After playing varsity hoops as a freshman last season, but missing a string of games due to injury, Gulla broke through this season.
According to Coach Jeff Perkins, Gulla showed off her versatility by leading the team in scoring, at about seven points per game, field goals, 3-pointers (Gulla was third in the TCAL with 19 treys) and free throw shooting, and was among the team leaders in rebounds, assists and blocked shots.
“She was the player we went to when we needed a basket,” Perkins said. “She’s got a strong desire to win and she’s got a really good future. She’s should do nothing but get better.”
Other all-league honorees included second teamer Annalise Curley, a junior guard, honorable mention choice Mattie Borges, a junior forward, and Sportsmanship Award winner Amanda Lytle, a senior guard.
Perkins called Curley the “heart and soul of the team.” He said she led the team in total minutes and was an “all-around contributor” and an off-the-court inspiration to her teammates.
“She was truly a team leader,’ Perkins said.
Borges, who led the team in rebounding, provided a strong post presence that LO hadn’t had in several seasons.
“She was a good strong inside player, “ Perkins said. “She never got tired.”
It was only an injury that slowed down Borges, who missed several games late in the season, during which the team struggled.
Gulla, Curley and Borges all return from a squad that finished 5-17 overall but won its first two league games in three seasons.
And, Perkins said he’s already looking forward to seeing what the team can do next year.
“It’s something to build on,” he said. “The girls took a few weeks off and now they’re all ready to get back out on the court again. They’re ready to go.”
