First-year coach guides Sanger West to section championship game against McLane
As the top seed in Central Section Division IV, Sanger West has made the most of its opportunity, rolling through opponents.
Thursday’s matchup against Monache was no exception.
The Hornets opened the game in the second quarter, jumping out to a 20-point lead and rolling to an 80-60 victory over the fourth-seeded Marauders. They advance to the section championship, where they will face familiar rival McLane.
The No. 2-seed Highlanders took care of business, winning 76-64 over No. 3 McFarland.
The game is set for 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at Selland Arena.
Mike Paredes is in his first season as the Hornets’ head coach, taking over for Scott Spielman.
“We just have a great group of boys that play together,” Paredes said. “We’ve been doing it since March, and the job isn’t done yet.”
This marks Sanger West’s first appearance in the section championship at Selland Arena since the school opened in August 2020 with limited capacity before becoming official in 2022.
The road to Selland for Sanger West began with a 70-36 victory over Golden Valley-Bakersfield, followed by an 84-40 rout over Mira Monte.
Make no mistake. The Hornets know what is in front of them: another matchup with McLane.
Both teams split during the North Yosemite League.
“It’s not easy,” Paredes said. “To have been fortunate to be part of a double-digit wins and to still have that same grind, that same grit every day. It’s not actually easy, but wins come when you stay focused. I’m very proud of these boys.”
