Sure, the latter doesn't appear on the glossy tourist brochures but it's the most exciting offering in the area November through March.
Coach Blake Spiering heads the Lobo program. A football, track, basketball and baseball participant in high school, the latter was actually his best sport. But upon entering Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, it was hoops -- his actual first love among activities -- for Spiering.
Coach Spiering
After two years, he made his way to Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in Belmont, playing for Coach Pat Fulscado, who now heads the program at Sonoma State. At both Cuesta and NDMU, it was Spiering for the defense, having earned "Mr. Defense" honors at both locations.
His coaching bonafides include a season an Notre Dame de Namur, four years at Sonoma State and another four at San Jose City College.
Alex Brandon
Spiering's take on his squad this season? "We're pretty solid, with a strong group of sophomores. There's Alex Brandon. Quinczy Spencer is our starting off guard. Mitch Philp is a great kid and being highly recruited. [6-foot-7] Ryan Stanley is a great shooter and Josh Caldwell is our starting center." Plus, Spiering has fellow second-year talents Cam Johnson, Pat Kilty and Dominic Zanella at his disposal.
Mitch Philp
He also sports sophomore Julian Demalleville, the former county player of the year in San Luis Obispo and "the heart and soul of our team," per Spiering.
Julian Demalleville
Additionally, Shayne Perryman, the co-county player of the year in Santa Cruz is a Lobo newcomer.
Dom Zanella
"We have seven freshman and a couple of redshirts," he said.
MPC finished 15-13 last season in the always tough Coast Conference, a residence also inhabited by CCSF, San Jose City College, Ohlone, Chabot, and Foothill.
"In the last eight years, all my guys have transferred -- that's my goal," Spiering explained. "We've had nine D-1 signees in eight years, heading to schools such as Arkansas, Tulsa, Hawaii, Weber State and Sacramento State."
He sees the small size of his school plus "our students get a lot of support" and being two blocks from the beach and also the weather as working in his favor.
Spiering listed his biggest basketball influences as Fulscado, the late Paul Rundell (the longtime coach at San Francisco State who was also affiliated with Stanford hoops), Rodney Tention (currently assisting at Stanford) and Patrick Sandle (an assistant at Pittsburgh) but "all my coaches have had a hand in molding me."
Here's the 2010-2011 Lobos, alphabetical and by position:
* Conor Byrne G 6'2 170 SO Arcata High/Arcata, CA
* Niccolo Bongioanna G 6'4 185 FR Pacific Grove High/Pacific Grove, CA
* Alex Brandon G 6'2 165 SO Hayward High/Hayward, CA
* Julian Demalleville G 6'2 195 SO San Luis ObispoHigh/San Luis Obispo, CA
* Cameron Johnson G 6'2 185 SO Eaglecrest High/Aurora, CO
* Brandon Moore G 6'1 170 FR St Mary's High/Stockton, CA
* Mitch Philp G 6'2 185 SO TCC HS, Rockhampton High/Queensland, Australia
* Quinczy Spencer G 6'3 185 SO North Salinas High/Salinas, CA
* Josh Caldwell F 6'7 210 FR Eaglecrest High/Aurora, CA
* Shaun Hall F 6'7 235 FR Monterey High/Monterey, CA
* Patrick Kilty F 6'6 220 SO North Monterey County High/Prunedale, CA
* Shayne Perryman F 6'5 205 FR St. Francis High/Capitola, CA
* Ryan Stanley F 6'7 235 SO Gig Harbor High/Gig Harbor, WA
* Dominic Zanella F 6'5 215 SO San Benito High/Hollister, CA
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Great photos of Mitch Philp. What a cutie!
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