It was the seniors’ game to win or lose Wednesday night. Two
days short of a month since their last victory, the seniors chose
the path less traveled. Gilroy High’s varsity boys basketball team
dug deep in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to force
overtime with the Salinas Cowboys, and then followed through by
beating the Tri-County Athletic league rival 63-62.
It was the seniors’ game to win or lose Wednesday night.
Two days short of a month since their last victory, the seniors chose the path less traveled.
Gilroy High’s varsity boys basketball team dug deep in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime with the Salinas Cowboys, and then followed through by beating the Tri-County Athletic league rival 63-62.
“It was ugly, but we’re so overdue it’s perfect,” Gilroy assistant coach Jeremy Dirks said. “I’m happy for the seniors. We played them almost exclusively.”
Seven-straight losses had taken a toll on the team. But the resiliency shown by the Mustangs on Senior Night, especially by those who were honored before the contest, carried Gilroy to victory.
After allowing a 14-3 run to start the fourth quarter, and trailing 55-50, it looked like the Mustangs (8-18 overall, 2-9 TCAL) were going to find a way to lose.
But this time it was the Cowboys who shot themselves in the foot.
After taking a five-point lead with roughly a minute to play, the Salinas bench was whistled for a technical foul due to players stepping onto the court in celebration.
Gilroy senior guard Kevin Siha sunk two ensuing free throws to cut the Cowboys’ lead to three, 55-52. After trading possession of the ball, Gilroy’s Siha was money again, this time hitting a bank-shot three-pointer to tie the game 55-all.
“That’s my bread and butter,” Siha said when recalling the bucket after the game.
After a defensive stop, the Mustangs had a chance to win the contest with a final shot but got nothing, sending the game into overtime.
During the extra period, Gilroy’s Derek Jensen (23 points, six rebounds) and Siha (15 points, four steals and three assists) took turns providing points, with several big stops as a team on defense helping to secure the win.
“It feels good. It feels really, really good,” Jensen said. “We haven’t won in a while. But on Senior Night. Our last home game…”
The final play of the game as time expired was goaltending by Gilroy’s Marshad Johnson on a three-point attempt, but up four at the time, 63-59, Gilroy was in no danger and able to hold on for the one-point victory.
No one could fault Johnson for being eager to make the play. By then he had already scored 11 points, blocked two shots and collected 27 rebounds. Along with Lorenzo Dobson (five points, 12 rebounds), Johnson snatched just about everything in sight in the painted area.
Kyle Vasher led Salinas with 19 points and Eric Neal pitched in 10 for the Cowboys (13-13 overall, 4-7 TCAL).
Gilroy’s other scorers included Kendrick Azcueta (five points and eight assists), Tyler Hartman (two points, two rebounds) and Stephen Galtman (two points and three rebounds).
For Siha, one of seven seniors honored before the game, being able to come back from a knee injury that kept him out much of the year to win his last game at home was a special moment.
“I missed it a lot. To me, basketball is like life,” Siha said. “It felt great. I’ll remember this for a while.”
The Mustangs will play their last game of the season Friday at 7 p.m. at Alisal.
JV and Freshmen Note:
Gilroy’s junior varsity boys basketball team also edged Salinas Wednesday, winning its contest over the Cowboys 49-39.
Michael Aldridge led the Mustangs with 12 points, Michael Hartman had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Raul Quintanar had nine points.
Gilroy’s JV team is now 21-5 this season.
Gilroy’s freshman team lost 57-50 to Salinas.
View more photos of Gilroy vs. Salinas Boys Basketball at our
