CARMEL >> One thing Kurt Grahl has prided himself on during a two-decade plus run as a head basketball coach is attention to detail and keeping the focus solely on the game in front of him.

That’s not to suggest that the Carmel boys coach didn’t understand the ramifications of Thursday’s Central Coast Section Division IV semifinals went well beyond a return trip the title game.

In addition to returning to the Division IV championships after a 71-47 win over Half Moon Bay, the Padres have ensured themselves of a spot in the Northern California tournament.

“I don’t look at the semifinals as more pressure,” Grahl said. “One thing I’ve been pretty good at is focusing on the game in front of us.”

That includes Saturday when the reigning CCS Division IV champion Padres will face top seed King’s Academy of Sunnyvale in the title game at 3 p.m. at Santa Clara High.

The West Bay League champion Knights dismantled league rival Sacred Heart Prep for the third time this year, this time in the semifinals with a 64-50 win, improving to 22-4 overall.

King’s Academy, who beat Carmel in the semifinals in 2023 en route to a CCS title, have won 15 of its past 16 games, with it’s last loss coming against Division V finalist Woodside Priory.

“I’ve seen them in recent years,” Grahl said. “I have an idea of the style they play. They have a freshman that’s the real deal. He is a talented kid and a DI prospect. King’s Academy’s first five is pretty tough.”

Grahl, who is 3-0 lifetime in CCS title games, has guided the two-time Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champions to seven straight wins. Carmel is 18-2 since getting six football players back from the state championship football team.

Among them was Simeon Brown, who bounced back from the flu last Tuesday to ignite Carmel with 22 points in arguably their best game as a team this season.

“If it wasn’t our best game, it was close,” Grahl said. “We were running on all cylinders. We just had it going. We were able to get our transition game going early. That was our focus in practice. We had been settling in a halfcourt offense.”

For all intents and purposes, the Padres blew the game open in the second quarter behind Brown and Warren Blut, outscoring them 24-8 in the quarter to open up a 40-18 lead, extending it to 24 in the fourth quarter.

“They tried to extend their zone,” Grahl said. “When the floor is spread, we’re pretty good. We got guys that can attack the rim. That leads to opportunities. I think Half Moon Bay got a little rattled.”

Half Moon Bay (18-8), which finished second to Carlmont in the Peninsula Bay League, came into the semifinals as the No. 3 seed, having knocked off Pacific Grove 66-59 last Tuesday.

Blut, a three-year starter for Grahl, chipped in with 17 points, while Brooklyn Ashe was dominant in the paint with 14 rebounds to go along with six points. Sean Carr came off the bench to add six points.

“When you score easy baskets, you can get into your press,” Grahl said. “I think it bothered them a bit.”

Division V

Palma 79, Shasta Summit 71 >> Erupting for a season-high 79 points could not have come at a better time. Yet, it was the Chieftains’ defense in the second half that has extended the Chieftains’ season after knocking off Shasta Summit.

Palma is headed back to the CCS finals for the first time since 2022, this time in Division V, as five players produced double digits in the scoring column.

“That team was as good as advertised,” Palma coach Brian Driscoll said. “Shasta came out swinging. There was no fear. It was a hell of a high school basketball game.”

Seeded No. 2 in Division V, the Chieftains (21-6) will face top seed Woodside Priory — 64-45 winners over defending DV champion Oakwood — on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Santa Clara High.

The Chieftains — who also clinched a spot in the Northern California tournament — swept Oakwood in the Gabilan Division this past season with wins by one and seven points.

“I don’t know if you can take much out of that,” Driscoll said. “Teams match up differently against each other. Matchups, particularly at this level are big. Priory historically is very good. It has a real program.”

Priory has the distinction of beating Division IV top seed King’s Academy, who was nearly bumped to the Open Division at this year’s CCS seeding meeting.

The Panthers (20-6), who finished third in the West Bay League behind King’s Academy and Sacred Heart Prep, have won five CCS Division V titles in the last decade, including back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

“We will watch some film over the next 24 hours,” Driscoll said.

Momentum seemed to shift the Chieftains way just before halftime when Wyatt Hippensteel tipped in a missed basket to tie the game at 38.

“Those little plays really helped,” Driscoll said. “I challenged our guys at halftime to dig in defensively. We have been a defensive minded team all year. But we gave up 38 points in the first half. The third quarter was big for us.”

Palma continued its assault with a balanced scoring attack, anchored by JJ Saucedo’s 19 points, opening up as much as a 13-point cushion in the second half.

“This group has really grown,” Driscoll said. “They don’t care who gets the credit. These guys just play hard together and love to compete together.”

Soren Robert contributed a double-double for Palma with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Chase Amaral continued his strong second half of the season with 15 points. JT Harreld added 13 points and nine boards, with Hippensteel scoring 12.

“I can’t say enough about the effort Wyatt brings every night with his defense,” Driscoll said. “Tonight, he shot the ball well. He’s just a good solid player.”