Santa Cruz Sentinel

Local Sports

Subscribe

Marcopulos guides Cabrillo into playoffs

Tony Marcopulos isn’t sure what emotions he’ll feel tonight when he steps on the basketball court at his alma mater.

But the Cabrillo College men’s basketball coach knows one thing for sure: nostalgia won’t get in the way of his team’s desire to win the game.

In a Northern California first-round playoff game, the Seahawks take on Columbia College in Sonora at 7 p.m. Marcopulos played point guard there from 1982-’84 under coach Bob Thomason, whom he’d later follow to the University of Pacific, where he was an assistant for 11 seasons.

Returning to his roots, however, is a sidenote to Cabrillo’s first postseason appearance since 1995. This is Marcopulos’s first season.

"I had a very successful career there," said Marcopulos, whose Columbia team went 27-7 his sophomore year and reached the elite eight in the state tournament. "I enjoyed Sonora and the college quite a bit. I had a good time, it’s a neat school that has great community support.

"But competition is competition, no matter what jersey they’re wearing. We want to beat them as much as Gavilan or San Jose City."

Marcopulos said he’ll likely see some old friends and colleagues with whom he’s been out of touch for a long time. But he’ll save the catching up for afterward.

The coach has enough to think about in making a game plan for Columbia (21-8), which has the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Cabrillo (8-21) is seeded No. 29 of 32 teams.

The Seahawks were invited mostly based on strength of schedule, having played several top 20 teams. They also notched a few quality wins, including one over ranked Diablo Valley College.

Marcopulos said he’s watched three Columbia games, and was impressed by its personnel. Columbia averages 92 points per game and has six players averaging in double figures.

Conversely, Cabrillo has just seven players total. And the Seahawks may be without one of their top players — sophomore forward Demetreus Hunter is nursing a sprained ankle and did not practice this week.

Marcopulos said Cabrillo’s best chance is to force Columbia into a half-court game and limited transition baskets by sending three players back on defense to stop the fast break.

Even if that works, Marcopulos concedes defeating Columbia is a monumental task.

Regardless of the outcome, the playoff invitation in itself is a reward for the seven players who stuck by Marcopulos in a somewhat tumultuous first season.

The Seahawks started with 15 players, and for various reasons, dwindled down to seven during the course of the season.

"It does feel good," point guard Eli Wilson said after practice Thursday. "You look at the court, and this is our team. We’re happy with making the playoffs."

Marcopulos said he’s proud of those who stayed, and looks forward to furthering the rebuilding process. He said colleagues told him he’d always remember his first team with his first head coaching job. Now, he knows why.

"The first team is special," he said. "These seven guys have been through a lot together and with each other. We’ll always remember that we got this far."

Subscribe