Almaden Resident

Sports

Pioneer, Leland to begin league basketball season

By Kevin Sparrer

They've been playing since Thanksgiving, but now the basketball teams at Pioneer and Leland will start playing games that count in race for the league championships.

The Pioneer and Leland boys were to open play in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League this week, and both clubs are likely looking forward to moving into league play after successful preseasons.

Last year's Mt. Hamilton Division Coach of the Year Joe Berticevich will lead a Pioneer team that posted a 9-5 non-league mark into the league season.

The Mustangs won the championship in the Los Gatos Lions Wildcat Shootout, beating Branham (83-60), Saratoga (71-49) and host Los Gatos (73-55), and finished second in their own Pioneer Holiday Classic, beating Branham (81-47) and Terra Nova (60-54) before losing to Watsonville (57-54).

Led by senior guards Mike Beltramo and Nick Maggipinto and senior forward Andrew Springer, the Mustangs were set to open league play on Jan. 9 against Santa Teresa and will host Oak Grove on Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m. Pioneer travels to Leigh on Jan. 16, 7 p.m.

Returning all-leaguers Drew Marino and Gregg Hipwell lead the Chargers into a new division this winter. Leland moves up from the Santa Teresa Division to join the Mt. Hamilton circuit. Marino was the Junior of the Year and Hipwell the Sophomore of the Year in Santa Teresa action last year.

Coach Steve Seandel's club is off to a solid start this season with a 7-5 record in the preseason. The Chargers won the consolation title at the Westmont Tournament, beating Willow Glen (48-36) and Prospect (47-42) after losing to Saratoga (56-51), and they were fourth in the Los Gatos Shootout, beating Live Oak (61-37) before falling to Gatos (70-53) and Saratoga 64-54).

Leland was to open the league season at Oak Grove on Jan. 9 and will host Leigh on Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m. The Chargers will be home to face Piedmont Hills on Jan. 16, 7 p.m.