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GAME
San Benito will look to bring stalwart defense tonight to stop
Evergreen Valley in the Division I championship at Santa Clara
University; tip-off is at 6 p.m.
HOLLISTER
Although they had one of their best offensive outings against Evergreen Valley earlier this season, posting a 66-spot in which four different players scored in double digits, the San Benito Lady ‘Balers know another Division I championship will only come if the defense is there.
And luckily, defense has been the most consistent facet to San Benito’s game this season.
“I feel this will be a defensive game,” said San Benito head coach David Kaplansky, whose team easily beat Evergreen Valley 66-37 at the Dons Club Holiday Tournament on New Year’s Eve earlier this season. “The girls are excited to play, they’re confident, and they have been here before. But they have to respect the opponent. Evergreen Valley is a good team … and they play with a lot of confidence.”
And it shows. With a 23-5 record, the 3-seeded Cougars have made 161 3-pointers this season. By comparison, San Benito has sunk 103.
Junior guard Alyssa Prudencio, who was coming back from vacation the last time these two teams met up, has 35 of those 3’s and is averaging 11.2 points per game, while junior Jennifer Le leads the team with 46 made treys. She’s averaging 10.1 points.
Forward Lanyssa Fiaui leads the team with 14.0 points per game.
“They’re extremely quick. The thing we have to work on is getting back on defense,” said Kaplansky, noting the importance of locking up on defense in the half court.
“We’ve got to retreat and pick up at the half court,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we close out on the shooter. One though nine, each girl will look to shoot 3.”
Returning to the Division I dance for a second straight year, the reigning Central Coast champion Lady ‘Balers will play Evergreen Valley tonight in the section final at Santa Clara University at 6 p.m.
Kaplansky believes Evergreen Valley, which defeated Carlmont 54-50 in the semifinals, is probably the quickest team San Benito has seen all year. Although not blessed with a tremendous amount of height – 5-foot-10 center Samantha Grant is listed as their tallest player – the Cougars do use their speed to drive-and-kick.
Similar to Sacramento’s CK McClatchy in the first round of the Nor Cal playoffs last year, Evergreen Valley uses their speed to penetrate into the paint, then dish off to a player at the perimeter for an open shot.
“Penetrate and pitch,” Kaplansky said. “They want to get your defense to commit to the paint so they can pitch.”
Few teams are ever able to make their way through postseason play with first-hand knowledge on each of their opponents. But partly due to the success of the Tri-County Athletic League this season, and partly due to the team’s difficult preseason slate, the Lady ‘Balers have qualified for the Division I championship by upending some rather familiar foes.
After beating league rival Salinas by 11 points each in two previous contests during the regular season, San Benito cruised by the Cowboys 50-23 in the quarterfinal round last Saturday. Similarly, after trumping league rival Gilroy by 15 and 11 points in a pair of TCAL games earlier this season, the Lady ‘Balers then shut down the Mustangs 50-26 in the semifinals on Wednesday.
While it will be difficult to mimic the 29-point victory over Evergreen Valley on New Year’s Eve, in a game that saw San Benito jump out to a 35-8 halftime lead, the Lady ‘Balers will look to replicate upon what has brought them this far.
After all, it is defense that wins championships.
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Check back tonight for a full report from Santa Clara University.
