San Benito senior center Victoria Aguilera averaged 14.78 points
per game, named to first team along with teammate Erin
Glasspool
HOLLISTER
Although they didn’t end their season on the high note they were hoping for, the San Benito Lady Balers were well received around the Tri-County Athletic League, nonetheless.
Look no further than Victoria Aguilera, and the hardware she now carries, as to how well received the Lady Balers were around the league.
Despite finishing in third place in the TCAL this season with a 9-3 mark, San Benito (22-5) received all-league honors in the form of two first-team selections and two second-team selections — none bigger than Aguilera pulling down the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
The senior post player averaged a TCAL-high 14.78 points per game this past season, including a regular-season high of 20 points against Gilroy on Feb. 9.
The long season proved to have little effect on Aguilera as well; she averaged 16.8 points per game in her final five games of the regular season, while her 157 field goals on the season and 2.81 free throws per game were tops on the team.
Moreover, her 157 field goals, which was the most in the TCAL as well, was 100 more than her closest teammate.
Also named the MVP of the Wildcatz Invitational during the preseason, Aguilera’s league recognition keeps the award in Hollister for a third straight year, as former Lady Baler Vanessa Farias earned the coveted honor in both 2009 and 2008.
Aguilera was also named to the TCALs first team as a result, and headlined a list of 10 players from around the league, including fellow first-teamer Erin Glasspool.
The San Benito junior point guard earned first-team honors for the second straight season, improving upon already strong numbers from a year ago.
Glasspool went from 5.36 points per game last season to 8.93 this season, and showcased a shot from behind the arc that was unmatched in the TCAL. The Lady Baler guard made a whopping 62 3-pointers this season, an average of 2.3 per game and roughly 41 more than her nearest teammate.
In fact, Glasspool’s ability from 3-point land not only put her at the top among TCAL leaders, but also at the top among the most prolific long-range shooters in the area. According to MBayPreps.com, which keeps statistics on teams in five different area leagues, Glasspool’s 62 treys was 11 better than her nearest competitor.
North Salinas, which won the TCAL for a second straight year with an 11-1 record, received three first-team selections, including senior Jasmin Rowland and juniors Julia Ashen and Amy Woo.
Vikings head coach Darren Jackson, meanwhile, was named Coach of the Year in the TCAL.
Other first-teamers included Gilroy’s Chelsea Hill and Lindsay Foster, Alisal’s Gaby Pantoja, Jessica Clark of Notre Dame and Rhaissel Perez of Everett Alvarez.
The Lady Balers received a pair of second-team selections as well, as both junior Nicole Rianda and senior Vanessa Casalegno were honored. Rianda was third on the team in scoring with 5.24 points per game and second on the team in field goals with 2.28 a game, while Casalegno, whose presence was felt more on the defensive end, was fifth on the team in scoring with 3.04 points per game and second on the team in free throws with .81 a game.
Junior guard Jackie Echaorre was also recognized as a member of the All-Defensive Team in the TCAL, while teammate Cassie Pate was selected to the Pursuing Victory with Honor Team.
Tri-County Athletic League Honors
Most Valuable Player: Victoria Aguilera, San Benito
Coach of the Year: Darren Jackson, North Salinas
First Team
Jasmin Rowland, senior, North Salinas
Julia Ashen, junior, North Salinas
Amy Woo, junior, North Salinas
Chelsea Hill, junior, Gilroy
Lindsay Foster, senior, Gilroy
Victoria Aguilera, senior, San Benito
Erin Glasspool, junior, San Benito
Gaby Pantoja, junior, Alisal
Jessica Clark, senior, Notre Dame
Rhaissel Perez, junior, Everett Alvarez
All-Defensive Team
Taryn Winfield, North Salinas
Laura Steele, Gilroy
Jackie Echaorre, San Benito
Dariani Salvador, Alisal
Aimee Sawyer, Salinas
Jessica Clark, Notre Dame
Rita Castro, Everett Alvarez
Second Team
Alyssa Ayala, senior, North Salinas
Meeshell Campbell, junior, North Salinas
Sovi Nou, senior, Gilroy
Nicole Rianda, junior, San Benito
Vanessa Casalegno, senior, San Benito
Eva Latu, sophomore, Alisal
Jaynie MacDonald, senior, Salinas
Aimee Sawyer, senior, Salinas
Mariel Busch, junior, Notre Dame
Ana Urzua, senior, Everett Alvarez
Pursuing Victory with Honor Team
Tiana Osborne, North Salinas
Dani Hemeon, Gilroy
Cassie Pate, San Benito
Yesenia Urueta, Alisal
Dariani Salvador, Alisal
Haley Land, Salinas
Kaitlyn Whitehead, Notre Dame
Gabrielle Bollin, Everett Alvarez
