Mustangs defeat host Mariners in championship
“Getting to know you” is the theme for the Gilroy boys’ basketball team at this point.
With its full team together for less than one week, the Mustangs are encountering some growing pains.
Nevertheless, Gilroy is off to a good start after capturing the Aptos Seascape Resort Invitational. The Mustangs beat the Mariners 53-50 in the championship game.
“In the final game, we got a lot out of playing in a tight game,” GHS coach Bud Ogden said. “We’ll probably be in other tight games this year. It’s a good way of practicing late-game situations.”
Actually, all of the Mustangs’ game in the Aptos tournament were close. Gilroy defeated Pioneer 53-47 in the opener and beat San Lorenzo Valley 64-59 in the semifinals.
Javin Charlot began his GHS career by winning Most Valuable Player laurels in the Aptos tourney. The senior point guard had 42 points, 11 assists and seven steals in the two games he played. Other Mustangs on the all-tournament team were Lorenzo Dobson and Kameron Handy. Dobson had 22 rebounds in two games.
“There were a lot of rough spots,” Ogden said when describing the team’s play in its first of three pre-Christmas tournaments. “I can see now where the situation (awaiting the eligibility issues of Charlot, Dobson and Spencer Ford to be resolved) affected the whole team.
“I am not so sure we had many quality practices. It was a situation where we didn’t know what was going to happen. It loomed heavier on (the players) minds more than I might have imagined. In retrospect, I can see why.”
One positive that came out of the tournament was in the opening round before the eligibility issue had been resolved. Destry Jones had 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals to lead GHS past Pioneer. Michael Martinez had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals. Handy had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.
“I think we have good depth,” Ogden said. “It’s the nature of high school basketball that you never know who will give you the lift. Any day it could be a different person. That’s why we try all these different combinations.”
The Mustangs (3-1) move from the tournament into another staunch test. They face San Lorenzo Valley at 7pm today in Felton. The Cougars (2-2) should have no problem with motivation since they lost to Gilroy’s complete team by five points Friday.
“It’s another tough situation at their place,” Ogden said. “I expect it will be very intense.”
Meanwhile, the Gilroy boys will continue the get-acquainted process with the always-competitive Valley Christian Tournament looming Thursday through Saturday.
