Seniors lead boys hoops team to 70-55 home victory over
Viks.
GILROY – As the season dwindles down and their last home game about to be played, the seniors on the Gilroy High boys basketball team had only one wish – a win.
Well, their wish came true as the Mustangs crushed North Salinas 70-55, ending their eight-game losing streak.
“It means a lot more than you would expect. The last home game we would ever play here. It felt good to get a win,” senior forward Erik Tollison said.
The Mustangs (1-8 in T-CAL) took the lead in the last few minutes of the first quarter. North Salinas couldn’t quite keep up. The second quarter was all Gilroy. With two big three-pointers from senior guard Danny Vadillo and sophomore Vincent Mitre and a toss by junior Brandt Chacon, the Mustangs were able to end the half with a commanding 33-19 lead.
“Game in, game out they play really hard. They finally put four quarters together,” head coach Michael Baumgartner said. “It’s great to win.”
Gilroy did not waste any time at the start of the third quarter – sinking shot after shot and increasing their lead to 20. Then, North Salinas started to fight back – but the Mustangs kept them at bay and held on to their lead that was cut down to 10.
The fourth quarter really gave the Mustangs a scare. The Vikings rapidly crept back in the game. It seemed as though Gilroy was losing their momentum, as North Salinas was able to come back within seven points.
Gilroy, however, was able to gain back its 10-point lead – even adding to it. With just minutes left, an injury was sustained to Mitre – who was taken off the court and treated by the school’s athletic trainer for a cut to the back of his head. Mitre went up for a lay-up and on his way down, he ducked and hit his head on a member of the opposite team. He stayed out for the remainder of the game, while the Mustangs were able to add to their lead as the last minute ticked away.
The top scorers for Gilroy were Vadillo (12 points), Erik Tollison and Kyle Loving tied with 10 points, and Chacon (nine points). The other scorers were Josh Gravell and Mitre, each had five; Todd Gimenez and Blair Wortham each had four points; and Tucker Baska and Derrick Fellows each had two points.
The Mustangs conclude their season Feb. 21 on the road against neighboring rival Live Oak at 7 p.m.
