Returning talent key to Sobrato’s quest for league title

Sobrato left last season with the sting of a four-point defeat in the opening round of the CCS playoffs.
The returning players from that team are focused on not just returning to the playoffs, but doing so with the swagger of a league champion.
“We ended with a sour taste in our mouths,” said coach Lee Washington. “But the guys are focused this year. I have not seen guys this focused since we won league a few years ago.”
To emerge as the league champs, Sobrato will have to improve on a 4-10 Santa Teresa Division mark and knock off Evergreen Valley, which is looking to repeat last year’s 12-2 performance.
“They are going to be restocked,” Washington said. “Their JV team went undefeated the last couple of years. They’ll be the same power as last year.”
Also looming on the schedule is Gunderson, who finished with four league losses last year and is returning its talent.
But Sobrato will have weapons of its own.
Its top two scoring leaders from last year were both juniors.
It’s biggest weapon, Karl Mann, is literally the team’s biggest weapon. Mann, standing at 6 feet, 7 inches is built like a football lineman. At just under 10 points per game, Washington said he is expecting Mann to be an offensive presence, and a smart one.
“We surrounded him with a lot of talent too,” Washington said. “Once he gets the ball, we know he’ll make a good decision.”
Washington said Mann has spent the offseason working on his foot work so he can continue to pound the inside against teams as well as scoop up rebounds under the basket.
Mann led last year’s squad in boards with 260.
With Mann underneath, Washington said he hopes to put pressure on defenses and try to put them into foul trouble so his boys can put the game away early.
Still, Washington said he wants to make sure the team is balanced on both sides of the floor. He said he wants his boys to play inside out both on offense and defense.
Also returning is Kristian Maldia, who had eight points per game and finished with a little less than 200 points for the season.
Washington also highlighted Alex Minagawa, Max Mosgrove, Joe Halla and Bryce Shore as players who have stepped it up in the offseason to get ready for this year.
If gunning for a league title wasn’t incentive enough, Sobrato will have two shots at cross town rival Live Oak, including an end-of-the season match up across town.
“The guys get so excited playing them annual, even if just once,” Washington said. “But to play them twice, the players are very excited with the opportunity.”
Washington, however, is working to make sure his boys stay focused on the task at hand.
“It’s got to be a one game at time mentality,” Washington said.