The Los Gatos Pacers were National Junior Basketball champions in Division 2 play this season. Members of the team include (front row, l-r) Nick Murdick, Jacob Anderson, Brian Klofas, Brian Cassel and Nick Tom, and (back row, l-r) Greg Anderson, Ryan Daily, Rory Bauer, J.P. Bellotti and Trevor Brannon. Not pictured are Chris Willard and assistant coach Sherman Tom.
By Dick Sparrer
The Indiana Pacers may be headed to the NBA playoffs. But playoff action? That's old stuff for the Pacers' namesakes in Los Gatos.
Because as far as the Los Gatos Pacers are concerned, the attitude is: Playoffs? Been there, done that!
The Pacers won their division championship in the National Junior Basketball Association and advanced to the South Bay Sectional championship tournament in Fremont.
The locals opened the tourney with a 37-16 win over Irvington, but the Pacers lost in the quarterfinals to fall out of playoff action.
Three members, though, will see their season continue. Jacob Anderson, J.P. Bellotti and Nick Murdick were selected to play for a league all-star team that will be coached by Pacers' coach, Greg Anderson.
The honors come after an outstanding season for the Pacers.
They rolled up a 7-3 record to win the Division 2 championship for fifth and sixth graders.
Anderson averaged 10.8 points a game to lead the Pacers in scoring and Bellotti was the club's top rebounder. Murdick was the floor leader for the squad and Nicholas Tom starring on defense and Chris Willard at power forward.
Ryan Daily, Trevor Brannon, Brian Cassell, Brian Kolfas and Rory Bauer were other key players for the Pacers.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, March 20, 1996.
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