Gilroy
– South Valley and Brownell squared off Tuesday for the annual
bragging rights contest between the two Gilroy middle schools.
South Valley pulled out the 41-39 victory in the final minute.
Special to the Dispatch
Gilroy – South Valley and Brownell squared off Tuesday for the annual bragging rights contest between the two Gilroy middle schools. South Valley pulled out the 41-39 victory in the final minute.
The score was tied at 10 after the first quarter, and Brownell led 19-18 at halftime. Both teams had successful presses in the first quarter, but after several lead changes, they settled into a halfcourt game for the second frame.
Brownell put on a fullcourt press at the end of the third quarter and opened up a six-point lead going into the final period. Brownell held its advantage throughout most of the fourth quarter, but with two minutes left in the game, South Valley countered with its own version of the fullcourt press.
The result was six unanswered South Valley points that tied the score with a minute to go. With 20 seconds remaining, South Valley’s Randy Guerrero hit a jumper from the free-throw line to put South Valley on top for good. Brownell unleashed a frantic flurry of shots but couldn’t get any to fall.
Guerrero was the game’s top scorer with 16 points. Jorge Sanchez had 15 rebounds and Uchenna Onyewuenyi had nine points for South Valley.
“This proved to be one of the most intense games of the long rivalry between the two middle schools,” said South Valley Athletic Director Erik Wagle. “Brownell has dominated the series recently, but South Valley served notice that it is starting to arrive.”
