GILROY – A ruthless press defense and fast-break scoring carried
the Gilroy High varsity boys basketball team past Seaside 63-26 in
its season home opener Friday night.
GILROY – A ruthless press defense and fast-break scoring carried the Gilroy High varsity boys basketball team past Seaside 63-26 in its season home opener Friday night.
“It was pretty much our press, we pressed them hard all night,” senior center Michael Hartman said. “It was a team effort tonight.”
After playing its first five games on the road, the Mustangs didn’t disappoint the hometown crowd.
“It was great for the fans to see us so they can tell their friends that we are something to be watching,” head coach Jeremy Dirks said.
Gilroy (5-1) displayed an in-your-face defense from the get go, bolting out to an astonishing 23-0 first-quarter lead.
The Trojans scored their first points of the game with two free throws 30 seconds into the second quarter. Gilroy did not allow a field goal until the 6:35 mark in the second.
Senior guard Andrel Gaines got the ball rolling for the Mustangs in the opening sequence of the game, picking the pocket of his man and dashing toward the hoop. A crisp bounce pass to Dolapo Opere, who converted the lay-up, signaled the beginning of the end for the visiting Trojans.
“I don’t look to score first,” Gaines said. “If I have a trailer I look for him.”
Despite his unselfish attitude, Gaines led all scorers with 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-2 from the line.
After senior Greg Hamik drilled a 3-pointer from the corner, a 5-0 lead quickly ballooned. In the blink of an eye, after a Hartman lay-up and a Michael Aldridge steal and assist to Hamik, it was 9-0, then 17-zip and so on.
“We swarm and play full court all game and every game,” Dirks said. “We get easy buckets (on the fast break). It’s fun for the kids and it’s fun for me.”
Hartman scored four of his 12 points in the first and Hamik did most of his damage in the big opening period, scoring seven of his nine points.
With the Mustangs holding such big leads throughout, Dirks was able to rotate his players in and out, giving everyone a piece of the action.
Cameron Yawaray posted eight points off the bench and keyed a number of fast-break opportunities with his feisty defensive work at the point.
Chima Ikeme grabbed five rebounds and scored six points in spot duty for the Mustangs. Connor Ross also corralled five boards.
The Mustangs take the court next Thursday for the 30th annual Bob Hagan Memorial Tournament, host by GHS.
JV NOTE:
The junior varsity Mustangs also moved to 5-I on Friday night, defeating Seaside 71-38.
Robby Filice ended the night with a team-high 15 points followed by Troy Chanuet’s 11.
Nick Chang dished out five assists to go along with his seven points.
