Hennessee nets 15 in 62-33 thrashing of Fremont in Q’finals
SAN JOSE – The Lady Mustangs of Gilroy High powered to a second consecutive CCS Division I Playoffs victory Saturday with a balanced offense and strangling defense producing a 62-33 nod over the Fremont Firebirds at Leland High School.
Coach Kari Williams’ troops have little time to enjoy the lopsided decision. The playoffs return to Leland High Tuesday night for two semi-final games. Fourth-seed Gilroy tests top-ranked Archbishop Mitty at 6 p.m. Co-T-CAL member Salinas plays second-seed Piedmont Hills in at 8 p.m.
The Lady Mustangs never severely tested the 30-second clock in dismantling the Firebirds defense. Gilroy seldom needed more than two passes to set up a quality shot, while a superior height advantage as well as quickness from the Lady Mustang backcourt led to a decided advantage in rebounding.
“We were getting great shots by the second pass,” Williams said. “What was great was that when we missed, we were getting second and third shots at the basket.”
Senior guard Laura Hennessee paced the winners with 15 points and five rebounds. Senior Jennifer Olvera came off the bench to strike for 12 points, often pulling down a rebound of her own shot before successfully making a basket from close range.
Junior center Sarah Hoeft tallied 10 points with as many rebounds in little more than a half before she was injured stumbling into the wall while trying to catch up with a full-court pass against the Firebirds press. Play was delayed 25 minutes before Hoeft was taken out of the gym to an ambulance.
“She definitely hit the wall hard,” said Williams. “She had a concussion at least.” Williams would not predict Hoeft’s availability for the remainder of the playoffs.
“She was having a great game,” said the head coach. Hoeft scored the first five Gilroy points on a three-point play and a 10-foot jumper, then added a free throw and a 17-foot off-balance jumper as the Lady Mustangs built a 33-23 cushion by halftime. Hoeft scored on an inbounds play 55 seconds into the third period, but was injured 1:55 into the period.
According to Athletic Director Jack Daley this morning, Hoeft was released from the hospital with a sore head, sore ribs, and a sore wrist. She was cleared to play as soon as she feels able.
Gilroy owned a victory over the Firebirds in the Mustang Classic in December, experience that helped the winners to prepare suitable offensive and defensive game-plans for the playoff push.
“The win in December gave us a psychological advantage,” Williams said of the rematch. “We had an idea of who their dominant players were, and we thought we knew how to attack them on offense and defense.”
A strong half-court press by the Lady Mustangs dissolved any Firebird thoughts of an upset. Fremont had 16 turnovers in the first half, 12 caused by the press in the Firebird frontcourt applied by Danell Dow, Hennessee and Sarah Miller.
“That was probably Sarah’s best game,” said Williams after watching the junior connect for eight points and seven boards. “She drove to the basket and scored. Her jump shot was incredible. She’s peaking right now.”
Fremont had just one lead, 2-0, and pulled into a tie three times in a first period that ended with Gilroy ahead 16-13.
The combination of the Gilroy half-court press and its rebounding ability led to most of the activity in the Gilroy end of the court for the first eight minutes. The Lady Mustangs fired 21 shots in the period, making just six but keeping control of the ball with seven offensive rebounds. The Firebirds suffered 10 turnovers in the first period and had just nine shots.
Dow was 2-for-2 for three-point range in the opening period. “When she came out and hit those two 3-pointers in the first quarter, that was key because then Fremont didn’t know where to guard,” said Williams of the variety of scorers thrown at the Fremont defense.
Olvera drained a 16-footer from the corner and turned an offensive rebound into a bucket as the Lady Mustangs quickly took a 20-13 lead in the first minute of the second period. Hennessee canned a three-point field goal and a layup off a rebound as Gilroy methodically built a lead.
Fremont lost its offensive touch in the third period. After two free throws opened the second half, the Firebirds needed more than seven minutes before making a basket. Hennessee sparked the 20-4 explosion in the period with three baskets.
Olvera notched two baskets and Michelle Difiore made one free throw in the first minute of the fourth period before Williams called on her bench to complete the showing.
“Their half-court trap gave us a problem,” said Fremont coach John Wells. “They shot better and controlled the boards. They were the better team.”
