In two seconds, Megan Land undid what had taken Gilroy almost
eight minutes to accomplish.The Mustangs not only wiped out an
eight-point halftime deficit but actually led by three with two
seconds left in the third quarter. Then Land launched a
buzzer-beater from just across the halfcourt line.
In two seconds, Megan Land undid what had taken Gilroy almost eight minutes to accomplish.
The Mustangs not only wiped out an eight-point halftime deficit but actually led by three with two seconds left in the third quarter. Then Land launched a buzzer-beater from just across the halfcourt line.
That shot was the impetus to Salinas getting back in front as the Cowboys took sole possession of second place in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 46-40 win Friday. It was the Cowboys’ fifth win in their last six games.
“We did so well and then that shot from three steps over halfcourt,” GHS coach James Wilkins said. “Our defense was forcing turnovers. We had them frustrated. We just didn’t finish our shots.”
High-scoring Mia Musones, held in check by Gilroy through three quarters, collected seven of her game-high 14 in the final quarter as the Cowboys (12-8, 4-1 TCAL) broke a 31-31 tie. Hannah Larick had 12 points for Salinas.
Other than Land’s last-second shot, the Mustangs were exceptionally sharp in the third quarter. With top scorer Dana Schoeneman being double and triple teamed down low all night, Gilroy needed others to step up.
Russhelle Preeshl and Angela Silveira were solid throughout the game. Preeshl, who has stepped up her scoring in TCAL play, led the team with 13 points. Silveira had 12.
Gilroy played solid first-half defense, forcing turnovers and getting good looks. But its shots weren’t falling and the Mustangs were shaky at the free-throw line (5 of 14 in the game) as they fell behind 23-15 at halftime.
The Mustangs were crisper in the third period, cutting down on mistakes and taking control of the game before Land’s launch. And Wilkins found a lot of positives.
“Angela had a good all-around game,” Wilkins said of Silveira. “It was a game that could have gone either way. I was proud of the way the girls fought back. We did some good things. We just didn’t finish.”
Gilroy completes its first round of league games Tuesday when it hosts Alisal at 7pm.
Gilroy (40)-Nou 0, Schoeneman 3, A. Spellman 3, L. Spellman 4, Wilkins 5, Solorio 0, Preeshl 13, Silveira 12, Pineda 0, Totals 17 5-14 40.
Salinas (46)-Castro 4, Musones 14, Land 8, Theus 2, Hayes 4, Larick 12, Osgood 2. Totals 19 5-8 46.
Gilroy 7 8 16 9 – 40
Salinas 13 10 8 15 – 46
3-point goals: Gilroy, Preeshl. Salinas, Land 2, Musones
