Katella has waited many days and a few Knights to reach this point

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When you’re looking for a coach of the year, stories like the one that includes Tom Gorrelll and Katella are the kind that deserve a hard look.

Katella won only five games over the previous four seasons. It heads into its second-round boys’ basketball playoff game with fifth-seeded Righetti (21-5) on Tuesday with a 22-5 mark.

Katella won its first-round playoff game on Friday, when it posted a 49-26 victory over Saddleback. Regardless of the circumstances -- one of Saddleback’s best players was academically ineligible, but that was his own fault -- it’s a huge step for the Knights’ climb back to respectability. Then again, by winning the Empire League title, maybe that first step was already taken.

It’s not only a testament to Gorrell, but also to the five seniors on the squad, including Frank Gutierrez, who Gorrell credited with being the ‘heart and soul’ of the team in Adam Maya’s game story.

-- Martin Henderson