Gilroy got one final tune up before the start of league play on Wednesday, having its biggest game thus far.
The boys basketball team routed Trinity Christian 73-41 Saturday thanks to four players scoring double figures.
“It was a good way to start the new year. We played OK. I thought our focus was to take away their top scorer, and we did that,” said coach Abrem Estroga. “We made it tough on them. But it’s the game after New Year’s and it took us a while to get focused.”
The defense led the way in the early going, forcing the Warriors into nine turnovers in the first quarter leading to 13 of the Mustangs’ 25 points.
Gilroy’s defense got the offense rolling as the Mustangs scored 47 first half points and taking a 23-point lead at the break.
“We usually have to work really hard for our points, offensively. But when our defense can step up and get us some transition points, some offensive rebounds and some put backs, that makes it good,” Estroga said. “Scoring, it comes a little easier and it helps us to click a little more.”
Elijah Floyd led the charge with a team-leading 14 points and 11 rebounds. Eric Heiser followed with 12 points, with Andre Tapia with 11 and Michael Kropff with 10.
Tapia and Kropff each had seven boards.
Thanks to the offense getting rolling in the first half, the Mustangs survived the Warriors putting up 12 pints in each of the first two quarters.
Tyler Swedberg led all shooters with 16 points, but was held without a basket in the fourth quarter.
Gilroy didn’t break the 20-point mark in either the third or fourth quarters, but the offense kept the pressure on holding Trinity to 17 second-half points.
Gilroy took its lumps in the game, with point guard Kevin Azcueta going down in the first quarter with an ankle injury after colliding with a defender near midcourt.
Azcueta left the game with nine points and did not return.
Estroga said he was confident that Azcueta would be ready to go for Wednesday’s league opener at Seaside.
Estroga added there were still some things to clean up.
Gilroy shot 7 of 21 from the freethrow line and Estroga said his boys didn’t shoot well from behind the arc despite making six 3-pointers.
“We shot six of 17 from behind the line. Usually we shoot a little better. Our free throw percentage was down,” Estroga said. “I think we were a little flat overall, but our field goals they were up. Thankfully our points at the line or behind the arc didn’t need to be so high.”
The Mustangs wrap up non-league play, going 3-8 overall, having played well in all but a couple of the losses.
“Our preseason has prepared us well—win and lose,” Estroga said. “We’ll see how it plays out.”
