In a battle of two Mustangs squads, host Gilroy prevails
62-46.
With the GHS Mustangs up 38-36 and one minute remaining in the third quarter, head coach Matt Tait called a 30-second time out with the game’s outcome still very much in doubt.
Tait challenged his squad, nearing the end of its fourth game in five days, to dig deep and close out matters against Pioneer High.
And the players responded.
The Gilroy High basketball team went on a 12-1 run spanning the next four minutes into the fourth quarter in a 62-46 victory over Pioneer at the final day of the 31st annual Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament on Saturday.
“There was no sense or urgency on defense and the guys were lackadaisical on the defensive end. So I called the time out to let them know that they were sleepwalking. It has to start at that end,” Tait said of the 30-second respite. “Offensively we will always be able to score. But defensively they have to continue to bring it even though they are tired.”
Cameron Yawary scored 10 points in the final period to cap a 26-point effort and an All-Tournament team selection.
The Mustangs earned third place at the tournament, going 2-1, one poor-shooting performance shy of making the championship game.
After a 68-34 drubbing of Live Oak to open tournament play Thursday, the Mustangs met with Aptos High on Friday for the right to play in the championship game.
However, the Mustangs shot just 28 percent from the floor, in a 62-55 loss.
“Before we started the games our goal was to win the Hagen, so yesterday was a bit of a downer. But third place isn’t bad,” senior Chima Ikeme said after Saturday’s win.
It took the Mustangs about a quarter to find their feet Saturday, falling behind 18-15 after the first eight minutes.
But the defensive energy kicked in during the second quarter as they held Pioneer to just nine points and grabbed a 30-27 halftime lead.
“They responded well,” Tait said. “They played hard and just got back to keeping guys in front of them and making them work – just getting stops instead of trying to get steals.”
Pioneer kept within striking distance until the gut-check timeout. GHS rolled after that.
The Mustangs have a week to prepare for the Sobrato Bulldog Chase Tournament, which starts after the Christmas holiday. GHS has participated in two tournaments this season and finished third in both, leaving a thirst for a championship game.
“We definitely have to stay mentally focused for sure and rest our bodies,” Ikeme said. ”
