It was an 14-minute stretch the GHS girls’ basketball team would love to soon forget.
After taking a 23-20 lead into halftime of its game at Salinas Wednesday, the Mustangs managed just a pair of field goals from the break until the final two minutes of the game.
As a result, previously red-hot Gilroy – winner of eight of its last nine – suffered just its second league loss of the year in a 54-43 loss to the Cowboys.
“It was just a weird, out-of-rhythm night – not typical of this team,” GHS head coach Kari Williams said. “We just didn’t get a friendly roll the entire time.
“Jumpers in the paint, runners … you name it, we missed it.”
Hardly anything that has made the ‘Stangs so successful this season seemed to work against the Cowboys (11-10/2-3).
Gilroy got outrebounded, didn’t move the ball around very well and didn’t execute on the fastbreak, a particular trademark of the team this year.
In addition, the Mustangs – blessed with a deep bench all season long – only had six scorers in Salinas.
Guard Kristen Campos, who hit three consecutive 3s in the closing moments, went 4-for-4 from the line and led the team with 13 points.
“Kristen had a really good game,” Williams said.
Senior post Amanda Link added nine points, while Jessica Groppe contributed eight for Gilroy (14-8/3-2).
In the end, though, the hustling Cowboys were simply too much to overcome.
“Salinas did well,” Williams said. “They were just more aggressive on the boards. And whenever there was a loose ball, they were the ones diving for it.
“In the end, they just played better basketball and deserved to win.”
Gilroy now looks to bounce back with Saturday’s 7pm home game against Hollister (14-5/3-2), which the Mustangs beat 53-48 in the league opener Jan. 14.
Even though the Mustangs clinched a Central Coast Section playoff spot with a win at Live Oak last week, Williams said the team still has plenty to play for. For starters, the ‘Stangs and Haybalers are currently tied for second in TCAL.
“Hopefully we’ll get some momentum going into CCS,” Williams said. “We’ve got five more league games and we’re gonna try to win them all.”
