Lady Mustangs crush ‘Balers with huge second half
Hollister – After the first quarter against San Benito, the Mustangs were in an unfamiliar position.
For the first time in league play this season, the Mustangs were losing at the end of a quarter.
“We weren’t getting back on defense, we weren’t moving on defense,” said Gilroy head coach Kari Williams, who reshuffled the starting lineup to compensate for ailing usual starters Vanessa Wilkins and Marissa Nowakowski. “And for the most part, we couldn’t buy a shot.”
But Gilroy, switching from a 2-3 zone to man-to-man defense in the second quarter, regained control and outscored the ‘Balers 14-2 in the second quarter to take a halftime lead of 27-22.
The ‘Balers, whom the Mustangs defeated 62-37 in Gilroy Jan. 6, were within two points of the Mustangs with six minutes left in the game. However, Gilroy turned up the defensive pressure down the stretch and converted ‘Baler turnovers into points to pull away with a 62-45 win.
“It just kind of woke us up,” said Gilroy forward Dana Schoeneman about San Benito’s early lead. “We’re used to leading the whole time. We were down and we needed to wake up. So we played more aggressive.”
Schoeneman, in particular, took that role to heart. She scored 14 of her 16 total points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the first half.
“Dana was our fire,” Williams said. “She really toed the line.”
Along with Schoeneman, Katherine Hussey, who provided Gilroy with 11 clutch points in the fourth quarter, and Jessica Groppe led Gilroy with 16 points. Kristen Campos added eight points.
Gilroy (18-4, 7-0 TCAL) led just 38-34 going into the fourth quarter. But Campos drained a three-pointer from the right baseline and Groppe scored on a putback in the Mustangs’ first two possessions to take a 43-34 lead.
San Benito’s Vanessa Farias responded with a jumper at the other end. On the following Gilroy possession, ‘Baler guard Ari Romero stole the ball and started the ‘Baler break the other way. Guard Elena Fata finished with a lay-up off a pass from Farias. Moments later, Farias came up with a steals on the Mustangs’ end and sprinted down floor for another lay-up. She was fouled, but converted the basket and the free throw for the 3-point play which cut Gilroy’s lead to two.
Gilroy opened its lead after Hussey scored on a a short jumper off the glass and Schoeneman made two free throws. Hussey picked off a pass for a steal on the ‘Balers’ next possession and went downcourt for a lay-in. The quick Gilroy run prompted San Benito (8-11, 2-5 TCAL) to call a timeout with 5:04 to play.
But the break only fueled the Mustangs.
“When we came out, I sent (Nowakowski) to guard (San Benito’s Farias),” Williams said. “I said, ‘Look, Mo’s gonna keep her busy and Kristen, get the ball.'”
Sure enough, Nowakowski and Campos came up with a trap and steal. The Gilroy pressure continued, forcing the ‘Balers to turn the ball over six consecutive times. The Mustangs made use of the turnovers and built a 56-41 lead that San Benito would never surmount.
Mustangs Basketball
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