SANTA CLARA
–– The San Benito boys basketball team almost found a way to
extend its 10-game winning streak in the Central Coast Section
Division 1 semifinals. Almost.
SANTA CLARA –– The San Benito boys basketball team almost found a way to extend its 10-game winning streak in the the Central Coast Section Division 1 semifinals. Almost.
The fifth seeded Haybalers were defeated 54-48 by No. 1 Piedmont Hills Wednesday. Piedmont Hills (25-2) advances to the championship game on Saturday to face No. 2 Bellarmine
“We had an opportunity to be in the final with the way we played tonight,” said Baler coach David Kaplansky. “I would have liked to have won the game. But I thought the kids did a good job tonight and throughout the tournament.”
San Benito, the Tri-County Athletic League champion, finishes the season with a 21-7 record.
The Balers received contributions from just four players offensively, but it was almost enough behind Kyle Sharp’s 23 points and and Anthony Butler’s 20.
“We didn’t care that they were the No. 1 seed coming in,” Butler said. “We had worked hard and we knew we could have won. Everyone contributed, even if he didn’t play.”
San Benito limited Pirate standout Ryan Cooper to just four points in the first half, but he had 11 points in the second half.
After being up by five points at the half, Piedmont Hills extended the lead to 10 after Cooper hit back-to-back three pointers to end the third quarter.
“We made a substitution there,” Kaplansky said. “They set the screen, and we couldn’t get to him. We were trying to face guard him and deny him open looks. It took awhile for him to get going, but he was able to knock down some big baskets.”
San Benito did a good job not turning the ball over on the press. The only turnover off the press came during the first play of the game.
“They really had to work for every bucket,” Kaplansky said. “Our strategy going in was not to give up any easy buckets. We wanted to keep up the pressure and chip away and get easy buckets. We handled the pressure well.”
Sharp scored 14 of the Balers 18 points in the second quarter.
“I was just trying to get something going,” Sharp said. “I hoped if I could knock down some shots, it would help everyone else to hit some shots too.”
Down the stretch, guard Eric Davis made several nice passes inside to Butler or Sharp, who usually finished them.
“We got good shots off and had good passes,” Sharp said. “I wanted to branch out a little and then find Anthony to give him some more room.”
At the start of the fourth quarter, Butler surprised everyone when he threw up a three pointer on a pass intended for Sharp in the post to get the Balers within 45-38. Butler said he couldn’t remember the last time he made a shot from behind the arch during a game.
With five minutes to go, San Benito got within 48-45 after Butler made a basket and free throw on an inbound plays under the net.
But Piedmont Hills went up 52-45 after a couple free throws and a catch-and-shoot jumper by Terrence Critchlow on the top of the key.
With 1:40 left, Sharp hit a three pointer – his third of the game – to close within four. But Cooper answered right back with a sky hook off the back board to force San Benito to call timeout with 51 seconds left.
San Benito was forced to foul down six points. Cooper made both free throws, but then the Pirates missed their second and third attempts, giving the Balers chances for baskets. But shots by Davis and Sharp came up empty.
“They’re a quick, talented team,” said Piedmont Hills coach Skip Yenchik. “When we tried to slow it down, they kept an even tempo and still put the pressure on inside.”
San Benito 8 18 7 13––48
Piedmont Hills 13 18 14 9––54
San Benito: Davis 1 0-0 3, Baladad 1 0-0 2, Sharp 10 0-0 23, Butler 7 5-5 20. Totals 19 5-5 48.
Piedmont Hills: Buckner 7 4-5 19, Aguilar 1 0-0 2, Valderrama 1 0-0 2, Hayes 3 2-2 9, Hernandez 1 0-0 3, Cooper 6 0-0 15, Critchlow 2 0-2 4. Totals 21 6-9 54.
3-point goals: SB-Sharp (3), Butler, Davis. PH-Cooper (2), Hernandez, Hayes.
