You know things are going your way when you can score 17 points
in a row.
That was just what the Haybalers did in the second quarter of
Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League basketball game against
visiting Palma to win 54-48, giving Palma its fifth consecutive
league loss.
You know things are going your way when you can score 17 points in a row.
That was just what the Haybalers did in the second quarter of Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League basketball game against visiting Palma to win 54-48, giving Palma its fifth consecutive league loss.
With the win, San Benito (15-6, 4-1 TCAL) will play for first place when the Live Oak Acorns visit Friday in the second half of a double header.
“Overall it was a really good team effort,” said coach David Kaplansky. “These guys coming off the bench are starting to mature and give us quality minutes and really help the team.”
One of those players who stepped up off the bench was Darryl Baladad, who had eight points.
With 20 seconds to go before the half, Palma was trying to hold for one last shot to try to salvage at least a small sliver of the pie. But the Balers came up with a steal, and Baladad hit a jumper from the right side at the buzzer to put San Benito up 32-24 at the half.
“I was looking to pass it, but there wasn’t any time,” Baladad said.
The bucket capped off a 19-2 quarter in which the Balers posted 17 consecutive points before Palma scored with 40 seconds left.
The Balers fell behind early in the game as is their habit recently. But true to form, San Benito came back strong late in the game.
“Every team gets very motivated to play us right now, and they come out with everything they have,” Kaplansky said. “But eventually it starts to take a toll on them. Palma did a great job tonight, dogfighting us to the end.”
Although Palma hasn’t won a game in league this year, they have played some close contests, losing by an average of five and a half points per game.
“We just stopped running plays and they didn’t,” said Palma coach Josh Nielson about the turnaround in the first and second quarters. “We kept pressure on in the third and fourth quarters, and I am proud of them for that.”
In the first quarter, Palma was moving the ball well and hitting shots both inside and out.
“We came out not as intense as we could have,” Kaplansky said. “But we started anticipating the passing lanes and making good steals. That really gave us the momentum we needed throughout the game. Putting pressure on them helped us play our style of game.”
Kaplansky was a little upset about the team’s 4-for-13 free throw performance.
“We could have shot free throws better at the end to help us open it up a little,” That will be important if we are to win the rest of our games.”
In the second quarter during the 17-point rally, Mike Moisa hit a three pointer to get San Benito within one point. After a Palma shot clock violation, Kyle Sharp, who led the Balers with 19 points, drove the lane and was fouled to put the Balers up 24-21.
Although the Chieftains never took the lead again, they were never out of the game. Palma got within 40-36 with under two minutes left in the third quarter on a pair of treys.
Mike Moisa gave the Balers a big boost in the final quarter with a three pointer when Palma was threatening. And in the final seconds of the game, Anthony Butler grabbed a rebound on a missed free throw and dropped it in to help seal the win.
“It was tough for us to get it inside, because they have some good big guys,” Butler said. “But when we were able to, we got it done. We came out a little slow, but we stepped it up with good transiting and hustling down the floor.”
San Benito 13 19 10 12––54
Palma 22 2 12 12––48
San Benito: Moisa 1 1-2 4, Davis 1 0-0 2, Bautista 1 0-0 3, Baladad 4 0-1 8, Sharp 8 3-7 19, Sims 2 0-0 4, Zanella 1 0-0 2, Butler 6 0-3 12. Totals 24 4-13 54.
Palma: Romero 1 0-0 3, Jackson 0 3-5 3, Marquez 3 0-2 6, Fox 2 1-2 5, Harris 4 1-4 9, Dunham 9 0-2 22. Totals 19 5-15 48.
3-Point Goals: SB-Moisa, Bautista. P-Dunham (3),Romero
