The game was out of reach by halftime as the Mustangs (20-1,
11-0 TCAL) cruised to a 52-23 triumph
When the final buzzer sounded, the reaction remained subdued. A few high fives to teammates and that was it.
But when the cordial postgame handshakes were concluded, the thrill began to show. And the foyer inside Bob Hagen Memorial Gymnasium filled with the sounds of a championship team enjoying a slice of what they had just accomplished.
Let them eat cake.
For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Gilroy High girls basketball program can call itself Tri-County Athletic League titleholders.
“This was a team goal. They wanted it really badly,” GHS head coach Tim Jones said. “We saw that we could beat the two teams we consider to be the upper echelon and once you start to beat those teams, you start to visualize that we could win a TCAL championship if we put some games together.”
The Mustangs had hurdled both San Benito and North Salinas – twice – and with two tilts left on the schedule heading into Tuesday night’s contest against visiting Alisal, and a two-game lead over the rest of the field, a victory clinched the league crown.
The Mustangs left no doubt.
The game was out of reach by halftime as the Mustangs (20-1, 11-0 TCAL) cruised to a 52-23 triumph and now chase the first undefeated league mark since that 05-06 squad in the regular-season finale Thursday at Salinas.
“We are really excited and hope we can keep this going into CCS,” senior Ashley Lambert said.
Lambert was among five other seniors (Chelsea Hill, Alex Rose, Emily Costa, Dani Hemeon and Lauren Rhodes) who were honored with a pregame ceremony.
“I credit the senior leadership. If you want to win at the high school level, you have to have your seniors play up here,” Jones said, holding his hand high above his head. “It’s always your seniors. They may not score all the points but they get the job done.”
Hill and Lambert, two seniors, led the way with 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the Mustangs laid out a comfortable 31-9 halftime advantage. All nine Mustangs registered points. Gilroy’s leading scorer, Michelle Sosa, collided face to face with an Alisal player in the second quarter and sat out the rest of the way – precautionary only, and the game was well in hand by then – after contributing four points.
Hemeon had six points and Rose, Costa and Ashlee Williams each had four points.
It wasn’t a flawless effort – the Mustangs shot just 37 percent from the floor. But as they have continued to do with a seemingly unflappable consistency, the Mustangs managed to get the job done.
There are certain intangibles, which contribute to the success a team finds during the season.
Some aren’t as noticeable, others are as bright as day.
The Mustangs defense is annoying, that’s clear. It has been their signature this season. Passing lanes are never unblocked, there’s always a hand up in an opponents face and shots aren’t taken without being contested.
“For some reason, this team just does a great job of not practicing as well as they should, then comes out and defensively do things … I don’t know where some of it comes from,” Jones said. “If we can only practice with that same intensity.”
Where it comes from is the hidden intangible, the teamwork that has been the backbone of this season’s squad.
“They don’t rattle. They have faith in what we are. These girls are willing to sacrifice different parts of their game and give every effort than they can give. To me that’s the little thing, the ‘I’m willing to give up what I do for wins,'” Jones said.
It’s a bit uncanny how nonchalant the players appear. It’s not because they are overconfident but more so than anything they trust each other.
“They are here to play basketball,” Jones said.
The unselfishness can be seen on two-on-one fast breaks. If the pass is there it’s utilized and assist before the shot – not uncommon.
“We have had such a team effort, no one is an individual and we all want the best for each other,” Lambert said. “We have all grown up as basketball players and I think that shaped us as people and on the floor with each other. It’s our chemistry.”
Thursday’s game at Salinas High is slated for a 7 p.m. start. The CCS playoff Division I seeding meeting is Sunday. Jones said he figured GHS won’t land any lower than the fourth seed but expects its a three-way race between the Mustangs, Palo Alto and Oak Grove for the No. 1-seed.
The Vikings are 17-4 overall and 10-0 in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division while the Eagles are 20-3 overall and 13-1 in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division.
Playoffs begin next Tuesday, however, the Mustangs will most likely earn a bye into the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for Feb. 26.
NOTE: The Division I semifinals are hosted by Christopher High School.
