First place won’t be on the line tonight when the North Salinas
and Gilroy girls’ basketball teams meet.
First place won’t be on the line tonight when the North Salinas and Gilroy girls’ basketball teams meet.
But the best record in the Tri-County Athletic League will be, and that could be significant when it comes to seeding the teams for the Central Coast Section playoffs.
The Mustangs gained an extra win last week when it was determined that St. Francis-Mountain View had played too many games. The Lancers forfeited their win over Gilroy in the Mitty New Year’s Classic. That put the Mustangs at 15-4 overall, just behind North Salinas at 16-4.
Strength of schedule will be factored in, which is one reason the Gilroy boys are in such good shape in spite of a 16-7 record. After all, two of the Mustangs losses came against 20-2 Palma, one was against 20-1 Oak Grove, one was against 20-2 McClymonds, and one was against 16-5 Berkeley.
So while it is likely the Gilroy boys will start the CCS playoffs at home if they win out, the girls’ situation is more unsettled. This week will go a long way in determing what happens to the Lady Mustangs.
Five win, five in
Barring a collapse, all five Gilroy winter sports teams will enter the postseason. While the Mustangs’ wrestling team is tied with San Benito pending their duel meet Wednesday, the other four teams are either first or second in TCAL standings.
The boys soccer team was first entering Monday’s game at second-place Salinas; the girls soccer team was tied for second with San Benito one point behind North Salinas, and the boys and girls basketball teams were second.
Grappling with success
While making a deep run in the CCS is always a goal for four of the Mustang teams, the wrestling team is at a level now where nothing less than a title will be seen as successful.
First comes the regular-season finale with San Benito. The Mustangs and Haybalers are always the class of the TCAL and this year is no exception. While coaches are always looking for whatever edge they can get and don’t reveal their lineups beforehand, the following are the matchups (on paper) that look best (Gilroy wrestlers listed first):
114, Rodney Balajadia vs. Junior Davila-This is a matchup of freshmen who finished No. 3 and 2 in the Mid-Cals. It should be a dandy.
162, Ethan Ogle vs. Fernando Lucatero-Ogle is one of the most improved of the Mustangs and Lucatero is a natural who finished second at Mid-Cals.
