EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth of five stories looking back at the highlights of the 2024 sports year in local high school sports. To read more stories highlighting last year visit montereyherald.com

MONTEREY >> The tears were genuine. The feeling in the locker room — and on the drive home to Monterey High — was disappointment.

Turning in basketball uniforms the following day after falling in the Central Coast Section Division III semifinals was not part of the plan. But it turned out, it would be a few more weeks before the Toreadores would have to turn in their uniforms.

Monterey was invited to the Northern California Division IV playoffs 24 hours after its heartbreaking loss to Santa Cruz.

“I remember the seniors were in a lot of pain,” Monterey coach Greg Daniels said. “They went home thinking they were turning in uniforms the next day. By the afternoon, we were practicing.”

It didn’t matter that the Toreadores were a low seed and that each game would require a road trip — some in excess of four hours.

It was a shot at redemption, a chance to make amends after Monterey’s flight in the section playoffs was cut short just days after capturing its first Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division title in 12 years.

“I was happy for the kids, especially the seniors,” Daniels said. “I was hoping they would make the most of the opportunity.”

Over the next 11 days the Toreadores played five win-or-go-home road games that amounted to over 1,100 miles in bus rides, with stops where cell phone reception didn’t always exist.

The Toreadores would have played on blacktops outside if it meant keeping a magical season alive.

Playing with a sense of urgency, Monterey went on the road and silenced soldout gyms by dismantling four teams by 16, 24, 24 and 21 points to capture the Northern California title.

“The first game was a 3-point battle in the fourth quarter,” Daniels said. “I looked up at the scoreboard thinking we can’t get on the bus and let this slip away.”

Instead, JJ Roth and Nicholas Duque took over on the perimeter, burying 3-point shots that turned a one-possession game into a 16-point cushion.

“Getting that first win relaxed everyone, coaches included,” Daniels said. “It let the team know we belong.”

The Toreadores were turning to a different player each game, with Suhieb Ibrahm becoming a double-double machine.

Ryan Roth, who averaged over 17 points a game during the regular season, was joined by his brother JJ Roth, with Duque coming off the bench and providing production.

Reaching the state title game was the pinnacle — as the Toreadores became just the fourth team in the county to play for a state title.

Celebrating a state championship had only occurred once, with Palma winning a Division IV championship in 1992.

“You never want to think you got this, or we’re a team of destiny,” Daniels said. “I want to live in the moment.”

Yet, what kept coming back to Daniels was remembering five years earlier when Monterey was in the Northern California tournament.

“Some of the kids on this team watched us as middle schoolers the last time we were in the NorCal tournament,” Daniels said. “I’m thinking what are the odds that now they’re playing in it. This is our time. It was meant to happen.”

Whether Monterey was possessed, on a mission or it was simply destiny, the Toreadores didn’t want to do a return trip from Sacramento, the venue for the state title game, without a championship plaque.

This time it was Kavon Collins in the spotlight, scoring 17 points in the first half as the Toreadores built a double-digit lead over Chatsworth.

“He had games like that all year,” Daniels said. “Kavon had that in him. He’s that good. He’s a good basketball player. The moment wasn’t too big for him. He was fearless. He’s the ultimate competitor. When other kids are sleeping, he’s going to work out.”

When the attention shifted to containing the playmaking guard, 6-foot-4 JJ Roth took over from beyond the 3-point arc with a State Division IV finals record five 3-point goals.

Contributions from Ryan Roth, Duque and Julian Johnson in the second half enabled Daniels to sub without the Toreadores skipping a beat.

It was time to light the beam at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center — home to the Kings — as Monterey posted a 74-66 win to join a small fraternity of county state champions.

This time the tears were ones of precious joy as Monterey did something only five other teams in the state achieved in the playoffs — and that’s ending their season with a win.

“I do not think about it,” Daniels said recently. “I’ve kind of moved on. It’s a new season, new talent, new kids. We’re not defending anything. But I know we have a target on our back.”