Division I Boys All-Stars secure fifth place finish at National
Tournament
The Gilroy National Junior Basketball chapter may be small, but it is mighty.
The 12-team Gilroy NJB produced three teams that qualified for the NJB Nationals in Southern California this past weekend, making a strong showing for Garlic City hoops.
The sixth-grade Gilroy Crush girls’ All-Net team won the national championship. The team went 4-0 in the more competitive All-Net division. Two other teams, the boys’ and girls’ Division I All-Star teams, also qualified for nationals. The Gilroy boys’ Division I All-Stars placed fifth.
The girls’ Division I All-Stars did not place, but finished the regular season 10-0.
The members of that team were Emily Costa, Kristin Costa, Lindsey Foster, Chelsea Hill, Ashley Lambert, Emily Loera, Alana Osaki, Carmen Pichardo, Laura Steele and Megan Wheat.
Gilroy Crush Win National Title
Gilroy’s sixth-grade girls NJB All-Net team, the Gilroy Crush, wrapped up its 2006 season with an undefeated run at the NJB D4 All-Net tournament in Southern California this past weekend, raising its record to 19-2 for the year.
The Crush went 13-1 in the regular season and lost in the Silicon Valley Championship game against Almaden, a team Gilroy had beaten twice in the regular season. The team’s league record qualified it for the national tournament.
Gilroy won all four of its games at nationals, beating Castro Valley (37-22), Rancho Santa Margarita (41-30), Encinitas (36-26), and Anaheim Hills (54-30). Anaheim Hills and Gilroy were both undefeated coming into the contest, but Gilroy was able to build a big lead by halftime and didn’t look back in the second half.
The Crush averaged 40 points per game during the 21-game season. The team’s leading scorer was guard Kaylana Mah, who averaged nine points per game. Sara Sauceda, Ashlee Williams and Michelle Sosa all averaged seven points per game, and Sarina Sandoval averaged four points per game. Kacey Lester, Sara Ordaz, Sarah Spindell and Alex Olvera all made big contributions to the team’s success as well.
Four of the Gilroy crush players – Mah, Sauceda, Sandoval and Sosa – were a part if the sixth-grade All-Star team that went 21-1 and won nationals in the regular NJB nationals last year.
“They’re all multi-sport athletes,” said head coach Bruce Mah about what makes the Crush a successful team. “It wasn’t just one player who scored everything.”
Assistant coach Ed Sauceda, who coached with Mah the sixth-grade All-Star team that won it all last year, said the team’s toughness helped it be so consistent.
“These aren’t girly-girls. They kind of fight back,” he said.
Division I Boys All-Stars Take Fifth
The Gilroy NJB Division I Boys All-Star team scored 75 points in the last game and finished fifth with a 2-2 record at the national tournament.
Despite not making it to the finals, the team stepped up in its the last game on Sunday. As soon as the clock started, the Mustangs were on the run and never looked back, running the game with fast breaks and steals from the front line of Cameron Harrell, Bryan Sanchez, Greg Hamik, Chris Catanzaro and Cameron Yawary.
The Mustangs outscored the Menifee Wildcats 18-10 in the first quarter and 14-10 in the second quarter. The team continued to play well together and outscored the Wildcats in the second half 43-22 en route to a 75-42 win. Gilroy’s 75 points were the most scored by any team in the tournament.
“It was incredible to watch all 10 guys perform so well in the same game,” said head coach Scott Aldridge, who was assisted by K.C. Adams and Charlie Hamik. “No one had a bad game! We had steals, fast breaks, and the passes were a thing of beauty. When we shot the ball, it went in.” Gilroy also out-rebounded the Wildcats 32-14.
The Mustangs were led by Darelled (Buster) Jones with 13 points. Leach had 11 points and Catanzaro added 10.
Michael Aldridge recorded four player possession turnovers with stubborn defense. Also contributing defensively were Bryan Sanchez, who had several steals, Jordan Holler and Delapo Opere.
