The San Benito junior varsity girls basketball team took second
place at the Alisal Lady Trojan Winter Jam in Salinas last week,
compiling a 2-1 record with wins coming against Pacific Grove and
Gilroy.
The San Benito junior varsity girls basketball team took second place at the Alisal Lady Trojan Winter Jam in Salinas last week, compiling a 2-1 record with wins coming against Pacific Grove and Gilroy.
But the JV’s fell in the championship final to Salinas 44-30, and finished in second place.
“Salinas just put some full-court pressure on us and we had a hard time breaking the press,” coach Karen Fortino said. “We took home the second-place trophy and we’re happy with that.”
Kim Warner had 14 points for San Benito and Arielle Rianda added seven.
San Benito defeated Pacific Grove 49-24 last Thursday behind 13 points from Warner and 10 points apiece from Melisah Cortez and Alexis Sanchez.
Kristina Vasquez provided a great defensive effort, Fortino said, forcing three steals on the night.
“Our team is really improving,” Fortino said. “We’re playing great games.”
The win pushed San Benito to a date with Gilroy, whom the JV’s upended 60-47 behind 17 from Warner and 12 points apiece from Cortez and Rianda.
San Benito will open their league season next Friday with a rematch against Salinas. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. at Mattson Gym.
Freshman girls basketball
SAN JOSE
The San Benito freshmen girls basketball team went 3-1 in their last four games to finish second at the Notre Dame San Jose round robin tournament, but lost to Gilroy 41-38 for their first defeat this season.
After holding a 12-point halftime lead, San Benito committed 19 turnovers in the second half and were outscored 30-15 by the Mustangs.
Nicole Rianda had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
San Benito defeated Gilroy 36-34 earlier this season.
“The girls played very hard and I was very proud of how they maintained their composure during and after the game,” coach Tom Dean said. “We will learn our lesson from this one and be ready for them … when we go to their house for the league game.”
San Benito rebounded with a 43-7 win over Mercy High of Burlingame last Friday to earn their second-place standing of the tourney behind Gilroy. Jessica Vest had 14 points and six rebounds, while Mari Valejo added nine points, five boards and four steals.
Compared to the previous game, San Benito had only five turnovers and forced 18 steals against Mercy.
Earlier in the tournament, San Benito defeated the junior varsity team from Oak Grove 50-15 and Notre Dame (San Jose) 62-29.
Against Oak Grove, Vest had 22 points for San Benito, which shot 21 of 44 (48 percent) from the field.
“Our fastbreak was working to perfection against this team,” Dean said. “We dominated from the tip-off.”
In their second game against Notre Dame, Valejo had 16 points, eight assists and seven steals, while Rianda added 14 points and Erin Glasspool and Michelle Fortino each supplied 10 apiece.
The Haybalers shot 28 of 54 (52 percent) from the field, and had 16 steals on the night.
“They didn’t handle the press or our fastbreak well at all,” Dean said. “The girls took care of their 6-foot-3 center and she went scoreless … It was just a great game by the team.”
San Benito (13-1) will open their league season on Jan. 4 when they host Salinas at 4 p.m.
