St. Mary's has become more than the Lees

Coach Manny Nodar has always been able to count on Dominique and Demetrius Lee and now Justin Pollard plus Glenn Baral have also stepped up. Let's hope the norcal bunch can bring the trophy home.

St. Mary's boys basketball team in state final today against Price
Ben Enos
Oakland Tribune
3/25/2010

For St. Mary's High boys basketball coach Manny Nodar, the defining moment came in the fourth quarter of a win against Cloverdale on Feb. 27. Trailing by two with just over two minutes to play, the Panthers rallied for a 64-60 win in front of a partisan Eagles crowd.

"Up to that game, as a coach our biggest concern was we wouldn't be able to hold our composure offensively. We'd take quick shots and panic," Nodar said. "In those last two minutes, it was perfection from a coach's perspective. There were certain signs where this team was coming together."

Nobody's questioning St. Mary's (26-9) now, as it gets set to play Price-Los Angeles for the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state title today at 1:30 p.m. at Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena. Two wins over rival Salesian have given the Panthers both the North Coast Section and CIF Northern regional crowns, and now they'll try their luck at securing the state's biggest prize.

One big reason for St. Mary's postseason prowess is the emergence of Glenn Baral and Justin Pollard...

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