By Don Nash, 1999

The Central Coast Section boys basketball tournament was inaugurated in 1968, just two seasons after the section was formed.  To many area basketball fans, it was an extension of the Peninsula Basketball Tournament which had been bringing the area's league champions--all part of the North Coast Section--together for nine years.

Through the years, the format has varied and with it the number of teams competing--ranging from 11 the first four years to 86 in 1988, the first year of five-division play.  In the earlier years, the leagues were assigned to geographical regions and regional championships were held before the sectional championships.

Presently, the CCS champion in each division automatically qualifies for the CIF Northern California playoffs and a chance at the state championship.

Only two teams--Willow Glen in 1969 and Palo Alto in 1993--finished the season undefeated.  Palo Alto won the State CIF Division 3 title but Willow Glen's effort came before state playoffs.

The top individual scoring perfomance was 51 points by Willow Glen's Brad Quinet in 1992 against Burlingame.  Kurt Rambis of Cupertino scored 50 in 1976 against Ravenswood.

Two schools share top team scoring honors with 113--Saratoga (vs. Menlo Atherton in 1979) and Pinewood (vs Valley View Christian in 1988).