Furious Mustang rally thwarted by Vikings’ late 9-0 run
Salinas – In its game against first-place North Salinas Wednesday, the Gilroy boys’ basketball team outrebounded, outhustled and even won the turnover battle against the Vikings.
It was perhaps the Mustangs’ finest effort of the season.
In the end, though, it simply wasn’t enough.
After Gilroy stormed back from 10 down in the fourth to take a two-point lead, North Salinas closed the game with a 9-0 run and walked away with a hard-fought 56-49 victory.
“We’re not content with our play, but we definitely took a step forward today,” said GHS forward Adam Moon, who led the ‘Stangs with 11 rebounds. “We put up a good fight.”
Mustangs’ post Ryan Chisolm knocked down a 3 to start the game and GHS remained competitive throughout against a Viking team that beat league favorite Hollister last week.
The game was tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter and North Salinas snuck into the halftime break with just a 27-26 lead. In that half, the Vikings were just 7-of-13 from the line, but Gilroy countered with an even worse 2-of-7.
“We missed a lot of free throws that could’ve given us the lead going to the second half,” said Chisolm, who scored 12 points and hauled in seven rebounds for the Mustangs (11-10/0-3).
After Gilroy took a brief lead to start the second half, North Salinas (11-7/3-0) rolled off a 16-4 run that extended into the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Orlando Johnson’s 3-pointer to open the final quarter gave the Vikings a 45-35 lead.
The Mustangs didn’t cave in, though.
Starting with a Dominik Wilkins trey, Gilroy turned in a stunning 14-2 run in a matter of just three minutes. Wilkins poured in seven of those points, including the bucket that gave his team a 49-47 lead with 4:25 remaining.
“Gilroy didn’t quit … they made us play,” North Salinas head coach Tim Kirkland said. “They play some hard basketball. That 0-3 record isn’t fooling anybody – that’s a good team. They’re gonna win some league games.”
Just not on this night.
Once the Mustangs took the lead, they never scored again. The Vikings’ Marco Ramos, who shared the team lead in scoring with standout Eric Petty, Jr. (14 pts.), converted on a three-point play that gave his team a 50-49 lead it would never relinquish.
The key down the stretch?
The same Viking team that was shaky from the free-throw line in the first half was a perfect 8-for-8 in the second.
“They made the shots they needed to make,” Chisolm said.
Nevertheless, the game as a whole was a giant leap forward for a team that looked downright sloppy in its last outing, an ugly 39-34 loss at Palma. Chisolm said there was “no comparison” between the two efforts.
“We played with Hollister and we played with these guys … we’re even with any team in this league,” he said. “We just need to keep working hard and win one.
“Hopefully we can get back on track Friday.”
The Mustangs won’t be the only team looking for their first league win tomorrow night, though. Gilroy travels to Morgan Hill for a 7pm matchup with 0-3 Live Oak (9-8 overall).
JV/Frosh Update
The other GHS basketball teams continue to roll right along Wednesday. The freshmen squad improved to 20-1 with a 55-48 victory over the Vikings, while the junior varsity team posted another blowout, 59-41.
The JV Mustangs (17-4) only led by seven going into the fourth, but turned it on late to put the game away. They were led by Chris Yates (12 pts.), Destry Jones (10 reb.) and Michael Martinez, who threw in some stifling defense to go along with nine points.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GHS 14 12 15 14 56
NS 14 13 9 14 49
GILROY
Chisolm 4 2-2 12, Kretz 1 0-2 2, Kennedy 4 0-0 8, Jackson 2 1-2 5, Moon 1 0-0 2, Wilkins 4 0-1 9, Strametz 0 1-2 1, Supnet 2 0-0 5, Mitre 2 0-0 5
3-pointers: Chisolm (2), Wilkins, Supnet, Mitre
NORTH SALINAS
Petty Jr. 5 4-5 14, Perktil 3 0-0 6, Johnson 3 3-5 10, Pope 2 4-5 8, Ramos 5 4-6 14, Berlanga 2 0-0 4
3-pointers: Johnson
Rebounds: GHS 31, NS 29
Turnovers: GHS 17, NS 18
UP NEXT: at Live Oak, Friday, 7pm
