The moment of truth is at hand for the San Benito High boys
basketball team.
The moment of truth is at hand for the San Benito High boys basketball team.
With Tri-County Athletic League frontrunner Palma and Gilroy making visits to Hollister, this week should decide the fate of the Haybalers.
San Benito takes the court at 7pm today against first-place Palma in a deadlock with Gilroy for second place at 4-3. Both teams trail the Chieftains (18-2, 7-0) by three games and appear unlikely to make up enough ground to catch them.
But second place is still a possibility for the ‘Balers (8-13 overall), although they will also have to contend with Alisal (17-6, 3-3), Alvarez (10-9, 3-4) and Salinas (13-9, 3-4), who are all within a game of second place entering tonight’s action.
Because of its tough 4-10 non-league record, San Benito needs at least a .500 record in league to be eligible for the Central Coast Section playoffs, but that might not be enough.
The only safe bet for the ‘Balers to secure their spot in the playoffs is with a second-place finish to earn the TCAL’s second automatic bid.
The two games this week are essentially must-wins if San Benito wants to do that.
Tonight’s game against Palma is not even close to easy. The Chieftains are definitely the team to beat in the TCAL and among the top teams in the CCS.
With their dramatic win over Gilroy last week – when Loyola Marymount-bound Orlando Johnson nailed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer – Palma stayed unbeaten and probably clinched the league title.
But if the ‘Balers can find a way to beat the Chieftains, it suddenly puts San Benito in sole possession of second place over idle Gilroy (14-7 overall).
And if the ‘Balers follow that up by beating the Mustangs at 7pm Friday to earn their second win this season over Gilroy, San Benito will really like its position and prospect of a second-place finish.
Coach John Becerra knows that won’t be easy giving the quality of a team such as Palma and that Gilroy will be plenty motivated to not lose to San Benito for a second time.
“They’re not going to want to lose again,” Becerra said last week about the Mustangs.
But the ‘Balers should also have a lot of motivation. A chance to hand an unbeaten team its first loss and an opportunity for a sweep of its top rival is enough to get San Benito’s juices flowing and get Matson Gym rocking this week.
