Basketball Teams Begin Playoff Run

Cal Pac Playoff Seeding Announced

When school started in September, the men's and women's basketball teams at Cal Maritime had several questions to be answered concerning their upcoming seasons. With the regular season in the books, many of these questions were answered but the postseason will bring finality to the final question: Can Cal Maritime's basketball teams make history and advance to their national tournaments?

Both teams played a challenging non conference schedule and acquitted themselves very well going into Cal Pac Conference play. During conference play, the men and women raced through the first round of conference with unblemished records and finished as the first and second seeds, respectively. Entering the conference tournament, there is definite reason for optimism.

The women finished the regular season well with an exhibition win over UC Merced last Friday and enter this week's playoffs as the second seed. Due to their second seed, the Keelhaulers earned a bye until the semi-finals. They will play the winner of game between third seeded Holy Names and sixth seeded Pacific Union. The Keelhaulers swept Pacific Union and split with Holy Names during the regular season. As has been the case throughout the season, success will rest in large part with the senior class who is led by Alexsis Brown. Brown finished the year with the top scoring average in the nation at 24 points per game. Game time for the semi-final contest in 7:30pm on Friday.

Women's head coach Dave Covell commented, "The Keelhaulers have played solid all year and have put us into a position to host a semi-final game on Friday night. I am very proud of how these ladies have played all year long. It should be a very tough conference tournament and I am looking forward to seeing how it all plays out."

The Cal Maritime men's basketball team made history during the conference season as they finished a perfect 12-0. Not only did this mark earn the program an outright championship and second title in three years, but it was also the first time in the conference's history that a team finished the regular season without a loss. The Keelhaulers earned the #1 seed and will play in a semi-final contest on Saturday at 7:30pm. They will play the winner of the #5 seeded Simpson University and #4 seeded Menlo College. Seniors Isaiah Moore and Josh Greenwell lead the team into the playoffs as both are averaging double figures with Moore's 14.5 points per game pacing the team.

"This is a great time of year and our players should be excited because we have given ourselves an excellent chance to finish strong. We know, whether it is Menlo or Simpson, it is going to be quite a challenge but all these guys want is an opportunity to keep playing together," stated men's head coach Bryan Rooney.

Winners of both semi-final games will advance to the championship next week with the women's championship on Monday, February 27th and the men's championship on Tuesday, February 28th.

Go Keelhaulers!!!