Playoff preview: Honkers prepare for scrappy Bruins

The Yuba City High boys basketball team will have to be mentally tough when the Honkers travel to Shingle Springs to take on defensive-minded Ponderosa in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II playoffs on Wednesday.

Using a deliberate offensive attack to slow down the pace of the game, the No. 5 Bruins (23-3, 9-1) have held opponents to just 35 points per contest.

"Their game plan is to mentally frustrate teams and get them to panic. It will be 8-5 at the end of the first period and teams panic because they think they're shooting poorly against them," Yuba City coach Brad McIntire said.

"They've had the same coach for years and if they keep the game in the 30s, he's fine with that."

The key for the No. 12 Honkers (19-8) will be to dictate the pace of the action.

"We have to control the tempo and do what we do best," said McIntire, adding that his team will come out and press as usual. "We have to push the ball up the court and be able to control the boards."

The Tri-County Conference co-champion Honkers have three players averaging in double digits: junior guard Tyler Fry (14.3), junior wings Mundeep Purewal (12.1) and Kevin Noall (10.5).

The Sierra Valley League champion Bruins are led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Rhett Beal with 14.8 points, six rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The Bruins also possess size in the front court with 6-foot-7 junior center Steve Lackey (10.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and 6-foot-6 senior forward Alex Martin (7.7 ppg 5.3 rpg) doing the work inside.

"I truly believe that if we play our game and play to our potential, we should win," McIntire said.

DIVISION V

Excelsior at Faith Christian

The No. 5 Lions (17-8, 8-2) will need to take care of the ball when they host ball-hawking Excelsior in a first round match-up.

Using a full-court trapping defense, the No. 12 Knights (11-10, 7-3) have hounded the opposition to more than 15 steals per game. Junior guard Freddie Dupree leads the team with 23.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 5.6 steals per game.

The Lions, who finished second to Bradshaw Christian in the Sacramento Metropolitan League, rely on the scoring and play-making of seniors Cody Martin (18.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg), Carson Risenhoover (16.4 ppg) and Derick Strain (10.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg).