Costa Coach's Corner

November 2011:

Returning this year will be Mira Costa Boys' Basketball post-season awards. The awards will be as follows:
 
1. Coaches Award: This award will be presented to the player who most embodies the spirit of Mira Costa Boys' Basketball. One player from each team will be given this award: player's earning this award will be good leaders, have superior sportsmanship and are role models for their teammates and the entire program. In addition these player's are viewed by their coaches as being great teammates and someone who the coaches trust on the court and during practice to be an extension of themselves. 
 
2. Most Inspirational: This award will be presented to the player's who day in and day out inspire their teammates the most. The player's earning this award will be rewarded for their efforts in practice and games. Player's given this award are the one's that come to the gym with enthusiasm and a positive attitude every day. They believe in their role on the team and positively support their teammates. 
 
3. Most Improved: Not every player starts out the best player on a team. Every season we see a tremendous amount of growth out of each player and this will be awarded to the player on each team that stands out as being the most improved from the beginning of the season to the end. 
 
I hope each player will make a goal to win an award this season. The awards all spotlight characteristics of successful teams. Please see that we don't have an "MVP" or "Most Outstanding" award. The awards that the coaches announce at the banquet will be for the players that show positive spirit, tremendous sportsmanship, growth and leadership throughout their teams respective seasons.
 
GO COSTA

OUTLOOK for 2011

The Mustangs look to rebound from a 10-18 season and head coach Jeff Amaral is excited about the depth he has on this year’s squad.

“We will rely heavily on players coming off the bench,” Amaral said. “We have skilled players with speed and quickness that are good ball handlers and shooters.”

Amaral expects a trio of guards to be a key to his team’s success. Junior Cole Feaster (6’0”) and senior Cooper Pugnale (6’0”) are returning starters and junior Kevin Kim (5’11”) experienced a lot of playing time last season.

“Feaster is our best player and makes things go,” Amaral said. “Pugnale is the strong, scrappy senior leader who is the glue for our team and is a tremendous rebounder out of the guard position as is Kim, who appears to be a real threat to breakout this season.”

The Mustangs will look to senior big men Keith Waddell (6’6”) and Karl Acres (6’5”) to provide support under the boards.

“We are relatively young and don’t have a tremendous amount of experience inside,” Amaral explained. “Waddell is coming back after two years off while focusing on volleyball and Acres played a wing position in the past. Both will be important players for us this season.”

Bench strength will be provided by returning varsity players sophomore guard Chase Crandall (6’3”) and senior guard Max Watson (6’1”) along with junior guard Oliver Mausner (6’3”) and sophomore forward Justin Strings (6’3”) who have moved up from playing on the junior varsity and frosh-soph teams last season.

“Mausner gives us a deep threat and Strings is long and lanky, giving us offensive rebounding and length on defense,” Amaral added.