Missing its man in the middle, Gilroy’s varsity boys basketball
team put out an effort Friday that would have made Bob Hagen
proud.
Missing its man in the middle, Gilroy’s varsity boys basketball team put out an effort Friday that would have made Bob Hagen proud.
Taking on Scotts Valley in the second round of the Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament minus star center Jason Conrad, who was injured in a 73-40 win against Pajaro Valley a night prior, the Mustangs pulled out a hard-fought 69-60 victory.
Gilroy will now face North Monterey County today at 2 p.m. in the tournament’s championship game after NMC beat Alvarez in its semifinal contest.
Using a hard-nosed approach on defense – pressuring the ball and wings predominantly out of a 2-3 zone and full-court press – and an aggressive, attacking style on offense, where Gilroy’s players consistently made the extra pass to find open shots, the Mustangs have put together two strong performances in a row at home this season.
The team was once again spurred to victory through an all-around scoring effort, with seven players pitching in points. Derek Jensen had a game high 23 points to go with six rebounds, with Jacob Dexter (15) and Tyler Hartman (10) rounding out the team’s double-figure scorers.
GHS guard Elijah Harrell, who had 8 points off the bench, said the team was starting to play at a level its expected all along.
“We’re playing with just a lot more intensity,” Harrell said. “We just realized we needed to step it up to realize our goals.
“Especially with Jason going down,” Harrell added. “We’re playing for him now.”
Kendrick Azcueta, who along with Harrell was picking off passes throughout the evening on defense to go with three points, three assists and three rebounds, said the overall effort was the difference in the team’s last two games.
“We’re just keeping our heads down and trying our hardest,” Azcueta said.
Lorenzo Dobson had eight points and 10 rebounds, and Stephen Galtman had two points to round out all GHS scorers.
Jensen, who had his best game of the season, said an improved defensive effort is what has driven the team into the tournament’s title game.
“We’ve been coming out a lot harder,” he said. “With Jason gone we’re getting up on our man more since Jason isn’t there to block shots.”
Coaches declined comment after the game.
By rebounding with two straight wins after losing two in a row coming into the tournament, the Mustangs’ players are confident they can defend the house that Bob Hagen built.
“I think we can.” Jensen said. “We should.”
NOTES: According to Jason Conrad’s family, it looks as though his injury could keep him out the remainder of the season. Going up for several tip-ins during the game with Pajaro Valley, Conrad lost his balance as an opposing player grabbed the back of his jersey. Landing awkwardly with his left leg under the majority of his weight, Conrad may now need surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left ankle.
