Gilroy cruises in final regular season game; Sets sights on CCS
Tournament
Morgan Hill – Getting off to a slow start could prove to be playoff-deadly illness for the Gilroy boys basketball team next week in the Central Coast Section playoffs. So the Mustangs wanted to make sure to get it out of their system in their final Tri-County Athletic League game Friday at Sobrato.
Senior forward Ryan Chisolm called the first meeting a few weeks ago between the two teams the Mustangs’ “flattest game of the season.” But in Friday’s contest, Gilroy got a fast start and led 18-4 after one quarter.
“We have to come out and play well early,” said Gilroy head coach Bud Ogden, whose team maintained the lead to come away with a 62-49 win. “I thought we did that pretty well.”
Chisolm’s 13 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists led the Mustangs (20-7, 11-1 TCAL) in their eleventh TCAL win. Junior Kameron Handy (13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals), junior Frankie Tomasetti (12 points, 6 rebounds), senior Christian Cania (6 points) and senior Chris Yates (6 points) also contributed.
Gilroy led by as much as 19 points two minutes in to the second quarter, largely in thanks to a focused defense.
“We practiced shutting down their two guards Mo (Abdullahi) and Marqus (Crawford) because they’re two really good players,” Chisolm said. “We played better defense and hopefully we can carry that into CCS.”
Crawford (17 points) and Abdullahi (12 points) were the only Bulldogs in double-digits. Crawford got nine of his points from three second-quarter 3-pointers.
“The second quarter, we were a little lax and they came back,” Chisolm said. The Bulldogs (7-17, 3-9 TCAL) outscored the Mustangs 19-18 during that stretch. Gilroy tried to get the momentum going back in its direction by looking to get big leaper Tomasetti some dunks. In the final minute of the first half – one of the more exciting stretches of the game – junior guard Michael Martinez threw the ball off the backboard for Tomasetti to throw down on a fastbreak. Later on in the same possession, Cania tossed an alley-oop pass to the junior. The timing wasn’t right on either plays, but they brought the Gilroy bench to its feet.
“They’re always doing that in practice,” said assistant coach Jeremy Dirks about the team’s attempts to create some above-the-rim excitement.
On Sunday, the Mustangs find out where they end up in the CCS Division I bracket. Ogden, whose team was seeded 13th last year before bowing out in the first round, is hoping for a top-five seed.
The Mustangs, who have been healthy all season, could be without starting senior guard Jeremy Teschera in the first round. The lefty dislocated the pinky on his shooting hand Wednesday against Salinas and did not play Friday. Ogden said the team is taking the situation day by day. Chisolm expects his teammate to pull through for tournament time.
“This is the big show,” Chisolm said. “When CCS comes, he’ll say, ‘I’m playing no matter what.’ That’s how he is.”
Gilroy 62, Sobrato 49
Gilroy 18 18 15 11 -62
Sobrato 4 19 8 18 -49
Gilroy (20-7 ,11-1), Sobrato (7-17, 3-9)
JV Boys End Season on Winning Note
The Gilroy JV boys basketball team defeated Sobrato 54-27 Friday night in Morgan Hill, finishing the season as Tri-County Athletic League champs and 25-3 overall.
Robert Mercado’s 13 points led the Mustangs (11-1 TCAL). Steven Galtman’s double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds and Marshad Johnson’s 11 points also helped Gilroy to victory.
