A freshman, sophomore and junior each made crucial contributions
in helping Gilroy High’s girls basketball team hold on for a 50-45
win over the visiting Salinas Cowboys Wednesday night.
Each of the three GHS players did something different, but not
one of the three’s effort was more important than another’s in
keeping the Mustangs (14-8 overall) near the top of the Tri-County
Athletic League standings. Gilroy is currently in third place with
a 6-2 league mark.
”
We’re just going to be a team that keeps battling,
”
Gilroy coach Susan Shapiro said.
”
One player goes down and another one picks them up.
”
GILROY – A freshman, sophomore and junior each made crucial contributions in helping Gilroy High’s girls basketball team hold on for a 50-45 win over the visiting Salinas Cowboys Wednesday night.
Each of the three GHS players did something different, but not one of the three’s effort was more important than another’s in keeping the Mustangs (14-8 overall) near the top of the Tri-County Athletic League standings. Gilroy is currently in third place with a 6-2 league mark.
“We’re just going to be a team that keeps battling,” Gilroy coach Susan Shapiro said. “One player goes down and another one picks them up.”
Lindsey Foster, a junior, led the Mustangs in scoring with 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Sophomore center Chelsea Hill controlled the paint with 12 rebounds and 12 points, two of which came on free throws to seal the win. Freshman forward Ashlee Williams was equally cool in her first game in a GHS uniform, scoring five points and grabbing three rebounds, all of which in the fourth quarter.
“The story of the night: Ashlee Williams,” Shapiro said.
Making a mark in her first game since transferring to GHS from Gavilan’s GECA (Gilroy Early College Academy) program was a surprise to Williams, who was cleared to play the day of the game and admitted to being nervous when entering the contest.
The plan going forward will be to “just trying to do my best, don’t let the coach down,” Williams said.
After going down 5-0 to start the first quarter, Gilroy responded by scoring the next 11 points and never trailed the rest of the game. The Mustangs’ built a lead as large as eight, 27-19, at halftime, but they were never able to put Salinas completely away until the final minute.
Six fourth-quarter turnovers by the Mustangs and questionable shot selection were the main reasons for the contest being so close.
Foster admitted that she took some shots she probably shouldn’t have, but the spark she provided off the bench, scoring eight points in the second quarter and six in the third, was invaluable to a Gilroy team that had trouble getting into its offense as Salinas picked up the defensive pressure.
“I just gotta keep [coach] in my head and say, ‘Is this a smart shot?’ Foster said. “But aggressive is the way I was taught to play.
Leading 38-33 entering the fourth quarter, Gilroy and Salinas each scored 12 points, with the final two of the game coming on free throws by Hill.
The Mustangs’ Lauren Rhodes (four points, seven rebounds) and Sovi Nou (two points, five rebounds, four assists) both had solid all-around performances, while Rochelle Welsh led Salinas (13-10 overall, 3-5 TCAL) with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The Mustangs will be playing at home again tonight at 7 p.m. when they host Alvarez (4-16, 0-7).
