Gilroy’s girls basketball team dug itself into a hole to start
Tri-County Athletic League play this season. After three games in
one week, the Mustangs have dug themselves out.
Gilroy’s girls basketball team dug itself into a hole to start Tri-County Athletic League play this season.
After three games in one week, the Mustangs have dug themselves out.
By beating Alvarez 52-26 on the road Friday, Jan. 18, Salinas at home 54-35 last Wednesday and then Alisal 51-49 two days later, Gilroy (8-10 overall, 3-3 league) has put together its longest winning streak of the season as well as moved to just a game out of second place in the TCAL standings.
Gilroy coach James Wilkins pointed to the Alvarez win as a turning point after his team had dropped six-straight.
“At that point, the girls saw we do have talent,” Wilkins said. “We have better chemistry (now) and you can see it.”
Had Vanessa Wilkins not nailed a timely three-pointer against Alisal this past weekend, however, the team’s momentum could have stalled. Trailing 49-48 with just seconds remaining Friday, the Mustangs put together several crisp passes to get up court before Wilkins canned a shot from the top of the key.
Alisal’s inbounds pass was intercepted by Angela Silveira, locking up the game up in Gilroy’s favor. Vanessa Wilkins and Breanna Mah both scored seven for the Mustangs while Silveira had a game-high 23 points. It is the fifth-straight game Silveira has reached double-figures scoring.
“I thought all the girls played well,” coach Wilkins said. “Everyone contributed.”
While San Benito holds a three-game lead over Gilroy in the TCAL standings, the Mustangs will have a chance to trim that margin when the two squads play Saturday at 2 p.m. in Hollister.
“We started 0-3 and now we’re 3-3. We’re in the thick of things” coach Wilkins said. “What we need to do is continue the development, but not look past the next game.”
Junior Varsity Note:
Gilroy’s junior varsity girls basketball team remains undefeated in the TCAL after matching the varsity team’s successful week by beating three Salinas schools in a span of seven days.
In a 52-41 victory over Salinas Wednesday, Emily Lorea scored 14 for the Mustangs and Laura Steele pitched in 10.
