After going down to the wire with Salinas Tuesday night, Gilroy
High’s varsity girls basketball players didn’t even have a chance
to decide the outcome in a 41-40 loss.
After going down to the wire with Salinas Tuesday night, Gilroy High’s varsity girls basketball players didn’t even have a chance to decide the outcome in a 41-40 loss.
Trailing 40-38 with the clock running down, the Mustangs’ Breanna Mah had just made a runner in the key to tie the game 40-apiece. Salinas, wanting to get a good shot off with just two seconds remaining, then called timeout.
During the break, Gilroy coach James Wilkins approached one of the referees to ask why Mah hadn’t received a foul in addition to the basket. To Wilkins surprise, his query was met with a technical foul.
“I asked him, ‘Why did you give me a technical foul?’ Wilkins said after the game. “And he said, ‘You bumped me.’ I did not bump him.”
Salinas made the second of two ensuing free throws to win the contest by a point.
“That’s my first technical ever,” Wilkins said. “With the score tied 40-40, the girls should decide the game unless I pull a Bobby Knight and throw a chair. But I know I didn’t bump him.”
The loss could be a critical blow to Gilroy’s chances of making the Central Coast Section playoffs. At 11-12 overall now, 6-5 in the Tri-County Athletic League, the Mustangs will need to beat Alisal Thursday at 7 p.m. in Gilroy to have a .500 record for the season.
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If you were at Tuesday’s game between Salinas and Gilroy, let Green Phone know what you think about the technical foul call at the end of the game by calling (408) 842-9069 or emailing gr********@**********rs.com
