The Lady Mustangs hold off Acorns; Still TCAL perfect
By Leann Shea, Staff writer
Morgan Hill – The Gilroy Mustangs girls basketball team took one step closer to the Tri-County Athletic Title Thursday night with their 52-43 win over the Live Oak Acorns.
“We’re always happy to come away with a win,” said Gilroy coach Kari Williams. “Live Oak came out and played hard. We know that every team coming to play us is looking to take us down. Amanda Spellman gave us a spark from the bench with six points late. I’m happy with my team.”
The undefeated Mustangs (19-3, 9-0 TCAL) came out fast against the Acorns (9-12, 3-5 TCAL) opening up a 8-2 lead early in the first quarter behind two 3-pointers from Kristin Campos.
Live Oak fought back, forcing several Gilroy turnovers, but the Mustangs extended the lead to 13-7 by the end of the first on a free throw by Vanessa Wilkins and field goals from Katherine Hussey and Jessica Groppe.
Gilroy extended its lead to 10 points in the second quarter as Live Oak’s shots had a hard time find the basket, taking a 23-13 lead into halftime.
The Acorns came out during the third quarter fired up on defense. Using a full-court press, Live Oak closed the lead to three points by forcing Gilroy into turnovers. The Acorns outscored the Mustangs 14-12 in the third, but Gilroy never allowed them any closer and pulled away in the fourth.
Hussey and Groppe led the Mustangs with 12 points and four rebounds each and Campos finished with eight points, two rebounds and two steals.
“It was a good high school basketball game,” said Live Oak coach Jeff Perkins. “Our shooting wasn’t too good in the first half, we shot like four out of 23. We just got a slow start and they (Gilroy) played good defense.”
Gilroy takes its spotless TCAL record to Salinas on Tuesday night to face the Notre Dame Spirits (8-12, 3-4 TCAL).
“Last time we played them it was a defensive battle,” said Williams. “I hope we can score more points. I expect them to come out tough just like every other team in the TCAL.”
