Tollison nets 15, Vadillo adds 14 in Gilroy’s 61-33 victory over
Del Mar.
GILROY – The Mustang boys basketball team crept one step closer to defending its Bob Hagen Tournament title with Thursday’s 61-33 victory over Del Mar at Gilroy High.
“We just got some easy buckets early,” head coach Michael Baumgartner said. “We got out in front with our defense. We got through four quarters. We didn’t let them back up.”
With the victory, Gilroy (3-5) advances to the second round tonight at 8 p.m. against Harbor – which defeated Alvarez 75-59 in its first-round match-up.
“They’re strong. They’re not only big but they’re strong and well-coached… and well-disciplined,” said Baumgartner of Harbor. “We need to keep the same intensity level and don’t give up any easy buckets. If we play that way, we can be successful.”
In other first-round action, Live Oak defeated Monte Vista, 83-50, and Hollister topped Aptos, 61-45. The neighboring Acorns will take on Hollister tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the winner’s bracket. Meanwhile, Del Mar will face off with Alvarez at 5 p.m. and Aptos will square off against Fremont/Oakland at 3:30 p.m.
“We wanted to come in here and show everyone we can represent and we can play as good as last year’s team,” said senior Erik Tollison, who finished with a team-high 15 points. “I was trying my hardest, trying to pick it up.”
Tollison was on his game – squirming through the Del Mar defense in the paint to get many good looks inside. Senior guard Danny Vadillo had the hot hand from the outside – adding 14 points and keeping his teammates focused through four quarters.
“If our guards are not working, we work it in the post more,” Tollison said. “If it doesn’t work in the post, we kick it out to the guards.”
It worked both ways for Gilroy – which led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and 29-20 at halftime.
“We always go into halftime saying it’s a new ballgame,” said Baumgartner, wanting to prevent another second-half letdown like what happened in Tuesday’s disappointing loss to Branham.
There was no letdown as Tollison and Vadillo continued to supply the offense for the Mustangs.
“(Tollison) was very confident. He knew what he wanted to do with the ball when he got it,” Baumgartner said. “(Vadillo) started feeling it. He was more of a verbal leader today. He was talking to the guys out there… He’s becoming a well-rounded leader.”
In the third quarter, Gilroy extended its lead to 20 points at 46-26 – outscoring its opponents 17-6 and dwindling any hopes of a Del Mar comeback.
“Tucker Baksa is back now so we were able to rotate our guards and give them some rest,” Baumgartner said. “We don’t lose a level of intensity. We have a nice rotation.”
By the fourth quarter, Baumgartner unloaded his bench – allowing some reserves to get valuable game experience.
“That’s so important, too – to give them game experience,” Baumgartner said. “We haven’t been able to do that lately.”
The championship game will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. The third-place game will be played earlier that day at 12:30 p.m. and the consolation game is set for 11 a.m.
