A week ago things were looking bleak for Gilroy High’s boys
basketball team.
Losers of their first three Tri-County Athletic League games,
the Mustangs were sliding after going 9-5 in the preseason. No
relief was in sight, as a three-game stretch on the road stared
them directly in the face.
Two road victories in a row later, the second of which came
Tuesday night in a 56-54 win at North Salinas, and Gilroy is
looking to climb back into the Tri-County Athletic League hunt
while pushing towards a playoff berth.
GILROY – A week ago things were looking bleak for Gilroy High’s boys basketball team.
Losers of their first three Tri-County Athletic League games, the Mustangs were sliding after going 9-5 in the preseason. No relief was in sight, as a three-game stretch on the road stared them directly in the face.
Two road victories in a row later, the second of which came Tuesday night in a 56-54 win at North Salinas, and Gilroy is looking to climb back into the Tri-County Athletic League hunt while pushing towards a playoff berth.
The victories have made the message of hard work resulting in a reward, such as wins, easier to relay, Gilroy coach Jeremy Dirks said.
“It makes us feel like we can actually get some, we can actually win,” he said. “It’s tough preaching to work hard and play hard when you’re not winning, but this brings us back and makes us feel good about ourselves.”
At 2-3 in the TCAL, Gilroy is tied for third with Alvarez behind Alisal (3-1) and Palma (4-0). The Mustangs will play at Palma in their next game at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Greg Hamik led all Gilroy scorers with 22 points. He also snatched five rebounds, while Tyler Hartman poured in 18 points to go with nine rebounds.
Down 24-23 at halftime, Gilroy traded buckets throughout the second half with North Salinas to enter the fourth quarter tied at 42-all.
Using a smaller lineup and more man-to-man defense was key in keeping pace with a quick Vikings squad, Dirks said. The result was a very close contest.
“We kept switching (the lead) back and forth all game. It was pretty fun,” Dirks said. “I don’t think the lead got above six points either way.”
It was the second-straight stellar performance by Hamik, who scored 18 points in an all-around effort last Friday to help beat Hollister 44-43.
“He’s being more active, getting to the hole more, and that’s helping the rest of his game,” Dirks said.
Gilroy has now won as many league games as it won all last season, when it finished in last place in the TCAL, with seven games remaining. With each win, it’s becoming more likely Gilroy will have a game that takes place after all TCAL contest are completed.
“To be honest with you, we’re probably already in,” Dirks said of the playoffs, adding that he believes there are only 19 Division I teams in the Central Coast Section this season. The Mustangs would be included in the playoff bracket if it is deemed they are one of the top 16 teams.
Qualifications require a team to have a .500 or above record in either preseason or league play, the first of which Gilroy has already achieved. Getting above that win-percentage mark in the TCAL is something Dirks believes is possible.
“If we play tough like we’ve been playing, we can play with anybody,” he said.
