In college basketball, the conferences that send only one team to the NCAA Tournament are known as “one-bid leagues,” and the BVAL West Valley Division looks like a one-bid league this year. Teams have combined to go 2-22 in nonleague play, meaning that only the champion is likely bound for the playoffs. In fact, the West Valley Division hasn’t sent multiple teams to the playoffs since 2014.
Evergreen Valley (0-3)
With a -89 point differential through three games, the Cougars’ hope is that a difficult nonleague schedule has prepared them for league play. Two of their losses are teams from the Santa Teresa Division in Independence and Silver Creek, but the other is to Soquel, and the Knights play in the Santa Lucia Division, the lowest of the four divisions in the newly formed PCAL.
Hill (0-3)
With a one-point loss to Los Altos, the Falcons are trending upward, and now they just need to smooth out the mistakes in order to compete for the West Valley title. Rick Quinonez (41 carries-199 yards) and Zeke Jasso (37-196) lead the rushing attack, and Miguel Mejia Jr. already has 25 tackles for the Hill defense.
James Lick (1-2)
With a non-league win over Gunn, the Comets have already surpassed last year’s win total. Salvador Lopez is both James Lick’s leading passer (412 yards, three touchdowns) and rusher (34 carries, 319 yards, four touchdowns). If Lopez does hand it off, it usually goes to Alberto Soreque, who has 174 yards on 16 carries and has found the end zone four times.
Mt. Pleasant (0-3)
For teams that have yet to win a game, it can be difficult to search for positives, but the development of Mt. Pleasant’s offense is certainly a bright spot. The Cardinals scored a grand total of 81 points in ten games last year, and this year’s group has already put up 46. In nonleague play last year, Mt. Pleasant was shut out twice and scored just 14 points in the other game, whereas this year’s team has avoided shutouts and even put up 26 in a competitive defeat against Gunderson.
Prospect (0-3)
Prospect has been shut out twice and has scored just 12 points so far this season, the second-lowest offensive output in the league. The one loss was a 16-12 defeat to Westmont, an inspired effort against a Mt. Hamilton team. No other West Valley team even had a Mt. Hamilton team on the schedule. It’s been a team effort on defense for the Panthers, with seven players accumulating double-digit tackles so far this year and three tied for the team lead with 14. The problem so far has been generating any sort of offensive production. Nobody on Prospect’s roster has broken into triple-digit rushing yards, and though Conor Messier does have 12 catches for 190 yards, the Panthers have completed just 19 of 58 attempted passes.
San Jose (0-3)
With just seven points on the season, which were scored at the end of a lopsided loss to Willow Glen, the Bulldogs have few positives to report on offense. Though the defense has yielded 102 points in three games, that’s the third-best of any West Valley team and has left room for optimism for first-year head coach Bruce Jones Jr.
Ann Sobrato (0-3)
With an 0-3 record and a -125 point differential, the worst in the BVAL and the third-worst in the entire Central Coast Section, it looks like staying in the West Valley Division was the proper move for the Bulldogs. Though the record so far is unsightly, Sobrato has played three quality teams, all of which come from the PCAL, making the Bulldogs one of the most battle-tested teams among those in the West Valley.
Yerba Buena (1-2)
The Aztec Warriors enter league play with a victory on their ledger for the first time since 2015, having opened the season with a 47-25 win over Harbor. Though Yerba Buena doesn’t pass much, Paul Phravixay and Josue Hunter have both seen time under center. While there’s some uncertainty at quarterback, Edward Gonzalez has left no doubt in the rushing game, racking up 231 yards on 56 carries. Andrew Isais has 180 yards and four touchdowns on just 26 carries, and Luis Abrego has 107 on 24 carries. Phravixay has carried the ball just 14 times but has found paydirt on three of those, with 213 yards, propelled by a 70-yard carry in last week’s 48-36 loss to Mills.
