Mustang Chelsea Hill falls one steal short of a
triple-double
SALINAS
A closely contested first half between Gilroy High’s girls basketball team and host Alisal led to one of the more intriguing second halves of the season Friday night in Salinas.
Ahead 29-27 entering the third quarter, Gilroy found itself in a major hole to start the fourth after being outscored 16-4. As bad as the third period went, though, the fourth couldn’t have been much better for the Mustangs, who rallied to win 56-45, outscoring the Trojans 23-2 in the final eight minutes.
Gilroy’s Chelsea Hill had a game for the books, coming within a steal of a triple-double with 24 points, 17 rebounds and nine thefts.
“Honestly, she stood out,” Mustangs coach Susan Shapiro said. “She was a workhorse. They’re whole thing was just nail her every time she got the ball.”
Hill responded by going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Sovi Nou had an excellent all-around performance, scoring nine points while also contributing seven rebounds, seven steals and five assists.
Gilroy returns home to play Salinas Wednesday at 7 p.m., and will do so without the help of center Laura Steele, who was injured in practice late last week. Steele could miss the rest of the regular season, Shapiro said, making every contribution off the bench that much more crucial.
“(Kristy) Pineda, (Kristen) Costa and (Lindsey) Foster are really going to have to step up,” Shapiro said.
Gilroy’s coach added that sophomore forward Demornay Granados will also play a key role in providing toughness in the interior.
“That’s what we’re going to need to beat Salinas,” she said.
The Mustangs are currently 13-8 on the season, and sit in third place in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 5-2 record.
