Expectations are high this season for the Gilroy High junior
varsity girls basketball team.
By Dave Thorpe SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH
Gilroy – Expectations are high this season for the Gilroy High junior varsity girls basketball team. Fans in attendance learned why during the Mustangs’ 63-18 win over Watsonville in the first round of the Mustang Classic at Gilroy High Thursday night.
The Mustangs smothered the Wildcatz to the tune of 11 first-half steals and outrebounded Watsonville 21-9 in the first half. The game was out of reach by halftime, when the Mustangs led 41-10.
“We expect a lot out of this team,” Gilroy coach Antoinette Bowe said. “We’re trying to take them a step higher so they are ready for next year.”
After Breanna Mah hit a 3-pointer to give the Mustangs a 9-8 lead with 2:55 left in the first quarter, they never trailed again. Gilroy closed the first half with a 32-2 run.
Center Carmen Pichardo had eight points and four rebounds during the stretch. She finished with a game-high 19 points and added six rebounds.
Gilroy outrebounded Watsonville 41-12 and finished with 15 steals.
“The team ran the ball well,” Bowe said. “If we box-out better than today, we’ll do well in this tournament.”
Jennifer Rose had 10 points and eight rebounds and Sovi Nou added eight points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Mustangs.
Gilroy takes on Gunderson – 36-31 first-round winners over Notre Dame-San Jose – in the second round at 6:30pm today.
