Hawks rout Downtown College Prep, move on to quarterfinals
San Juan Bautista – For the first quarter of its Central Coast Section Division V playoff game, Anzar didn’t play like the No. 3 seed.
But the Hawks picked it up near the end of the second quarter and poured it on in the second half as they routed No. 13 Downtown College Prep 71-37 at home Wednesday.
“It was too sloppy for my liking in the first half,” Anzar coach Ed Cecena said.
“We played sloppy. I was embarrassed,” senior forward Scott Benson added.
But Anzar had plenty of room for error and its performance in the second half was indicative of a team with a 17-10 record.
“We did get it going,” Cecena said. “Eventually our size prevailed. I wanted to make sure we rebounded and got out on the break.”
Even during the sluggish first quarter, the Hawks closed on an 8-2 spurt to grab a six-point advantage.
The Lobos scored the first four points of the second quarter to make it 14-12. But a 17-2 run by the Hawks eliminated any thought DCP had as Anzar took a 31-16 lead at the half.
The Hawks and Benson broke it wide open midway through the third. Benson had nine points – including a dunk – in a 13-0 run that made it 48-23. He added another dunk on a breakaway off a steal late in the quarter and Anzar took a 52-31 lead into the fourth quarter.
“At halftime I said, ‘Am I playing to perfection? Is this how I want to go out? I’ve got to step it up so we can win,'” said Benson, who finished with game-highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds.
The game also marked the return of point guard Adrian Monroy, who had missed the final week of the season due to illness. While he was not at 100 percent, his return should be a boost for the Hawks as the playoffs continue.
“Now that he’s back, it’s on his shoulders,” Benson said of the team’s floor leader who had three points in limited action. “The more healthy he gets, the more consistent he is with the jumper, the better we’ll be.
Senior center Erik Olson had a solid night with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Ryan Waller also finished with 12 and Tony Tovar came off the bench to chip in seven.
Jairo Aguirre paced the Lobos with 18 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, Anzar moves on to the quarterfinals Saturday where it will face No. 6 Bridgemont, a 54-40 winner over No. 10 Fremont Christian. The game will take place at The King’s Academy in Sunnyvale at 4:30pm.
Downtown Prep 8 8 15 6 – 37
Anzar 14 17 21 19 – 71
DCP – Melendez 3 0-0 7, Toledano 2 0-0 4, Slayday 3 0-0 6, Aguirre 8 0-1 18, Batres 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 0-1 37.
Anzar – Waller 6 0-0 12, Indarose 1 0-0 2, Mockabee 2 0-0 4, Tovar 3 0-0 7, Benson 9 7-10 25, Olson 6 0-2 12, Zavala 2 2-2 6, Monroy 1 1-4 3. Totals 30 10-18 71.
Three-point goals – Aguirre 2, Melendez, Tovar.
