GILROY – Six seniors were recognized before the Gilroy High boys
basketball team took on Tri-County Athletic League opponent North
Salinas inside Bob Hagen Memorial Gymnasium on Friday night.
GILROY – Each one had a smile on his face soaking in the final few seconds on the hardwood floor of Bob Hagen Memorial Gymnasium.
Looking up into the stands at family and fans, and collecting high-fives from their coaches and teammates, their eyes told the stories of four years of practices, wins, losses and camaraderie.
Six seniors were recognized before the Gilroy High boys basketball team (18-5, 9-2 TCAL) took on Tri-County Athletic League opponent North Salinas on Friday night, and as the lead began to balloon to 20-plus points in the fourth quarter, one by one the seniors, with fans standing in appreciation, left their home floor for the last time.
Greg Hamik, Dolapo Opere, Michael Aldridge, Max Fishler, Michael Hartman and Andrel Gaines all contributed in Gilroy’s 74-41 triumph over the Vikings in the final home game of the regular season. Gaines, who transferred to GHS last year, relinquished his normal start to Fishler, a four-year member of the Mustangs program.
“It’s a great way to go out for the seniors,” head coach Jeremy Dirks said. “They have been a joy to be around the last four years. I remember when they came in, especially Greg and Dolapo because I had them in class freshman year. They are a great group of kids. (I) haven’t had to deal with any discipline issues all season.”
Although the Mustangs learned shortly after their game that their chances of a TCAL title were dashed with Palma’s 60-50 victory over San Benito, the news didn’t damper the celebratory spirit. Helping, perhaps, was the knowledge that they had another crack at defeating the Chieftains in the season finale Friday in Salinas.
Both teams came out with a burst of energy; the Vikings looking to prove their 3-19 record wasn’t a justification of their talents, and the Mustangs wanting to leave an impression on the hometown crowd.
Hartman looked to score early and often, getting to the free throw line three times in the opening period, converting five free throws, and adding two buckets for a nine-point quarter. Despite his efforts, the Vikings were able to keep things tied at 15 apiece after Victor Moran dropped in a pair of freebies of his own.
Hartman finished the night tying a season-high with 16 points. He also ripped down 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.
GHS broke out in the second quarter, clamping down on defense and heating up on offense, with Dirks utilizing every available player on the bench. The Mustangs outscored the Vikings 20-7 in the second, taking a 35-22 lead into the locker room and creating a downhill road to the victory.
Five out of the six seniors scored in the third quarter, as the Mustangs kept a 14-point cushion between themselves and the Vikings into the fourth.
Opere opened the fourth quarter with a patented rebound and put back for two of his 11 points. Opere’s 10 rebounds gave him his 12th double-digit rebounding performance of the season.
Hamik, the team’s leading scorer, hit two 3-pointers in the fourth, the second of the two hit nothing but net, leading to a sly grin directed at his teammates.
“I made the first three and I thought ‘I got to get one more,'” said Hamik, who led the way with a game-high 18 points. “It was fun.”
Gaines contributed an efficient 10 points and Aldridge posted four points to go along with two rebounds and a steal. Fishler pulled down four rebounds for the Mustangs, who totaled 43 as a team.
GHS has won three straight after a disappointing loss to Salinas on Feb. 1. The matchup with the Chieftains is a rematch of a 43-35 home loss back in January. If anything, the game will serve as the last challenge before heading into the Central Coast Section Championships, which begin Feb. 23.
Dirks said the Mustangs are expecting to receive at least a first-round bye in the Division I bracket. Seedings are set to be released the Sunday before the tournament gets underway.
JV BASKETBALL
The GHS boys junior varsity basketball team clinched first place in the Tri-County Athletic League with wins over San Benito 59-58 on Wednesday and North Salinas 64-45 on Friday.
This is the second consecutive league championship for the JV’s. The Mustangs are 11-0 in league with one game to go against Palma next Friday.
