You expect Amat football and baseball to compete for CIF titles, but Amat boys basketball could go title shopping in 4AA playoffs

“We have to play well to win,” Ertle said. “We don’t have a team who can just show up and win games this year. Hopefully, the potential is there, but we’re just looking at one game at a time right now.”Bishop Amat coach Brandon Ertle

By Aram Tolegian
Bishop Amat’s run to the semifinals of last year’s Division 4A playoffs took a lot of area fans by surprise, and the Lancers are looking to do the same thing again this season.
Amat, which finished 19-7 overall and second in the Del Rey League, gets the luxury of a home game against San Luis Obispo in Wednesday’s first round.
The good news for the Lancers is Price, which knocked out Amat last year before winning the division, has been moved out of 4A.


Amat coach Brandon Ertle is excited about being at home, but getting a scouting report on San Luis Obispo has been difficult because of geography.

“It’s been hard because they’re so far away,” Ertle said. “There are so many teams in our division from around here, so the chances were we would get someone we’ve seen. So, we don’t know a whole lot about them other than that they seem to be good.

“I don’t think it’s advantageous to be on the bus for three hours before you play a basketball game, but I think they’re kind of used to it.”

Amat has gotten another outstanding season out of Daniel Rodriguez who is averaging 20 points per game, 11.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists while playing just about everywhere on the floor.

Rodriguez is the lone returning starter from last year, so the rest of the roster will have to get used to postseason basketball on the fly if Amat is to make another run.

“We have to play well to win,” Ertle said. “We don’t have a team who can just show up and win games this year. Hopefully, the potential is there, but we’re just looking at one game at a time right now.”

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