Gilroy – It took a little more than three minutes for the
explosion. Once it came, Silver Creek was never the same.
Gilroy – It took a little more than three minutes for the explosion. Once it came, Silver Creek was never the same.
Gilroy scored 16 points in a three-minute, 20-second span of the first quarter Wednesday and was never seriously challenged in an 80-54 win over the Raiders at Bob Hagen Gym in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division 1 playoffs.
The Mustangs will face Carlmont, a 48-39 winner over Alisal, in a second-round game 6:15pm Saturday at Independence High School.
Gilroy trailed 7-5 when it busted loose with its 16-point run which featured field goals by six different players. GHS extended the margin to 26-10 after one quarter, shooting a sizzling 10 of 17 from the field.
The Mustangs (20-7) put so much distance between themselves and Silver Creek that even a 12-point run by the Raiders in the third quarter couldn’t cut the deficit to single digits. When foul-plagued Javin Charlot returned to start the fourth quarter, Gilroy extended a 16-point lead to 66-42 in the first two minutes.
“I’m happy with a win and going into the second round of the playoffs,” GHS coach Bud Ogden said. “I hope our consistency gets better down the road because the competition is going to get better. We need to continue to improve and play better defense.”
Spencer Ford extended his streak of double-doubles to four with 20 points and 17 rebounds. The 6-11 senior also blocked six shots. Derek Jensen gave Gilroy an outside presence, hitting five treys and finishing with 18 points. Kameron Handy had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Charlot handed out seven assists and Marshad Johnson came off the bench to grab 11 rebounds.
Jensen insisted Gilroy was not looking ahead, despite playing a team that finished 12-11.
“You can’t come into any round of the playoffs and think you’re going to just walk on through,” Jensen said. “You have to play like it’s the best team you’ve ever seen. You always need to play hard in the playoffs.”
On the other side, Silver Creek coach Cliff Warren felt his team, which was paced by Matt Everly’s 17 points, was not only overmatched but a bit overwhelmed.
“They’re a little bit on the tall side,” Warren said of Gilroy. “Our guys were a little nervous. The height was a factor. We were looking up at the bottom of their shoes. But it was excellent experience.”
Gilroy outrebounded Silver Creek 65-31. But it wasn’t just the big men who dominated. Jensen, who was lost offensively during the middle of the season, continued his resurgence.
“You can’t lose your confidence,” the junior guard said. “For this team to go far, everyone needs to contribute. If I can contribute to the team by shooting, I’ll keep shooting. Really, the team is all coming together and is playing its best basketball.”
Silver Creek (54)-Everly 17, Sanchez 9, Brown 0, Holtz 5, Sumiga 2, Dalit 0, Dick 5, Nwuzi 10, Grewal 3, Manaseer 3. Totals 18 13-26 54.
Gilroy (80)-Siha 2, Handy 16, Martinez 2, Harrell 2, Dobson 2, Ford 20, Charlot 8, Jensen 18, Johnson 2, Tomasetti 4, Conrad 2, Costa 0, Wheat 2, Galtman 0. Totals 31 12-17 80.
Silver Creek 10 11 18 15 – 54
Gilroy 26 14 15 25 – 80
3-point goals: SC, Everly 3, Holtz, Grewal. GIL, Jensen 5, Handy.
