Hollister
– There was no way that Gilroy was going to let itself play the
way it did the last time it squared off with San Benito in
Tri-County Athletic League boys basketball action.
Hollister – There was no way that Gilroy was going to let itself play the way it did the last time it squared off with San Benito in Tri-County Athletic League boys basketball action.
The Mustangs, who were upended 70-62 in overtime on Jan. 10 by the Haybalers, came out with fire and intensity Friday and dominated every aspect of a 58-32 road victory.
“They beat us at our home and kind of embarrassed us,” said Gilroy guard Javin Charlot, who scored a game-high 12 points. “We had to come back and steal the win (back).
“Last time we played lackadaisical. This time it was non-stop pressure. We kept pounding it down their throat.”
While the Mustangs (15-7, 6-3) are out of league title contention – Palma officially clinched the TCAL title with its 78-62 win over Alvarez – coach Bud Ogden is happy to see his team finding its groove with the Central Coast Section playoffs on the horizon.
“We’re trying to build for the playoffs and win the rest of our games,” Ogden said. “This was a great atmosphere tonight. It was like a playoff atmosphere so that’s good experience for us. We’re not exactly where I want us to be but we’re getting better.”
At the end of a tightly played first quarter that included three ties and four lead changes, San Benito’s Carlos Ramos swished in a jumper at the buzzer to make it a 13-12 Gilroy lead.
But the Mustangs started to pull away early in the second. Kevin Siha drained a 3-pointer two minutes in and Kameron Handy followed with another trey as Gilroy took a 21-12 lead.
Handy had eight of his 10 points in the period and the Mustangs held a 33-21 advantage going into the break.
Any hopes San Benito still had quickly vanished in the third. Gilroy came out on fire and the ‘Balers were no match for its size or strength. The Mustangs started the quarter on a 13-2 run to make it 46-23 with 3:22 left in the third.
The Mustangs kept pushing early in the fourth and San Benito couldn’t find any offense as it was outscored 25-11 in the second half.
Gilroy’s size proved to be a major factor. While Jason Conrad was limited to five points, the 6-foot-10 junior grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots. Spencer Ford, a 6-11 senior, had five blocks and helped alter several other shots.
“They kept attacking us inside, which I admire them for,” Ogden said of San Benito. “They’re a very, very scrappy team.”
Marty Bueno paced the scoring for the ‘Balers with nine points – all on 3-pointers. Leading scorer Todd Janisch, who came in averaging more than 17 points per game, scored six points in limited minutes.
The win – along with a Alisal 55-52 loss to Salinas – put Gilroy in sole possession of second place with four game remaining before CCS playoffs begin.
Gilroy 13 20 13 12 – 58
San Benito 12 9 6 5 – 32
Gilroy – Siha 2 0-0 6, Handy 4 1-1 10, Ford 3 0-0 6, Charlot 3 6-7 12, Jensen 1 1-1 3, Johnson 2 0-0 4, Dobson 4 0-1 8, Thomasotti 2 0-0 4, Conrad 2 1-2 5. Totals – 23 9-12 58.
San Benito – Vessey 1 0-0 2, Ramos 2 0-0 4, Bueno 3 0-0 9, Burley 1 0-0 3, Janisch 3 0-0 6, Wilson 1 2-4 4, Zanella 2 0-0 4. Totals 13 2-4 32.
3-point goals – Siha 2, Handy, Bueno 3, Burley. Fouled out – none.
