San Jose – This isn’t the way it was supposed to end. After all,
No. 3 seed Gilroy came in on a roll having won 10 of its last 11
games, most of them in convincing style. Maybe it had all come too
easily.
San Jose – This isn’t the way it was supposed to end.
After all, No. 3 seed Gilroy came in on a roll having won 10 of its last 11 games, most of them in convincing style. Maybe it had all come too easily.
Carlmont rolled the Mustangs, getting off to a quick start and never letting Gilroy get comfortable on offense en route to a 61-45 win at Independence High School that allowed the No. 6-seeded Scots to advance to a Central Coast Section semifinal matchup Wednesday against Piedmont Hills. The No. 2-seeded Pirates ousted Monta Vista 68-58, and faces Carlmont at 5:30pm Wednesday at Independence.
Gilroy, led by Spencer Ford’s 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, concludes a 20-8 season.
“We’re disappointed,” GHS assistant coach Jeremy Dirks said. “We felt it was too early to go home.”
And yet Dirks knew that Carlmont (18-9) was extremely effective executing a motion offense that relied heavily on the outside shot. As with all Gilroy opponents, the Scots knew they wouldn’t get much easy inside.
The Mustangs led 4-3 and 8-7 before a seven-point run put Carlmont ahead for good.
“I was surprised at how well they shot their 3-pointers,” Dirks said. “They made some huge shots. We tried to make the adjustments but the guys couldn’t get out on them.”
The two biggest treys were delivered by Kevin Hindenach. The 6-4 junior, who had been fighting a shooting slump, hit two treys at the end of the first quarter to put the Scots ahead 16-10. Coach Dave Low credited the shooting of Hindenach with giving Carlmont added confidence.
Anthony Burrell, who matched Hindenach with 16 points, took over in the second quarter as the Scots extended their lead to 32-19 as Gilroy struggled with its shooting. The Mustangs made just 5 of 26 from the field in the first half.
Derek Jensen tried to keep Gilroy in the game in the third quarter with all eight of his points, but Carlmont led 47-30 at the end of the stanza.
“They played tough defense,” Dirks said. “They get up in your face and I’m not sure if we were ready for that. We were never able to make a run. You usually think you can make a comeback at some point. It just didn’t happen.
“They brought their A game, no doubt about it. I’m not sure that we did. If they play like they did against us, they can win it. I’m told it’s the best they’ve played all season.”
Ford finished with his fifth straight double-double and Handy, despite fighting foul trouble, had nine points but only one field goal.
“It’s a tough way to end but I feel the kids for being together only three months played pretty well,” Dirks said.
Carlmont (61)-Brady 2, Mading 2, Burrell 16, Bartkowiak 8, Cappels 4, Hindenach 16, Abinader 9, Plack 2, Wilson 2. Totals 22 9 51.
Gilroy (45)-Siha 2, Handy 9, Martinez 4, Dobson 2, Ford 10, Charlot 2, Jensen 8, Johnson 4, Conrad 4. Totals 19 7 45.
Carlmont 16 16 15 14 – 61
Gilroy 10 9 11 15 – 45
3-point goals: CARL, Hindenach 4, Burrell 2, Bartkowiak 2. GIL, Jensen 2.
