The plan was a box-and-one defense on North County’s
high-scoring guard Tamara Wong. The plan worked well for the
Hollister High girls basketball team.
The plan was a box-and-one defense on North County’s high-scoring guard Tamara Wong. The plan worked well for the Hollister High girls basketball team.
Wong, averaging 17 points per game, ended up with just nine points as the Balers triumphed 60-46 in a non-league contest Thursday at Mattson Gym.
Condors head coach Kevin Martin, whose club is 6-10, felt the Balers’ ploy didn’t have that much of an effect.
“It didn’t really,” said Martin. “It just meant our other girls scored more.”
“Our job was to contain Wong,” said Baler head coach Richard Silva. “We had to stop her. She has the ability to catch fire.”
Gina Caianiello drew the initial assignment on Wong – then Erika Rodrigues and Trisha Lee, then finally back to Caianiello.
Lee ended up with a game-high 20 points, seven assists and three steals. She took a lead pass from Caianiello with 1:56 to play and laid the ball in, despite being klonked with no whistle. Caianiello had just seven points but had seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Center Sarah Groman was much taller than any Condor and was automatic when the ball went inside. Groman hit seven of eight field goals for 14 points. She also contributed nine boards. Naomi Ruiz was the big Baler on the boards with 13.
Silva wasn’t happy with the Balers’ effort at the free throw line. Hollister was just 6-of-17 from the old charity stripe.
“We can’t shoot free throws like that,” said Silva. “We didn’t do much in the third period. If we play like that against Monterey we’ll get beat.”
The Balers (12-3) play their final non-league game on Saturday at Monterey at 3 p.m.
Baler bits: Martin, whose Condors play in the Monterey Bay League, was candid of his assessment of the initial T-CAL.
“Notre Dame will win the league with Live Oak on the bottom,” said Martin. “Everyone else will be fighting it out amongst themselves.”
JV score: Hollister 61, Condors 20. The Balers (14-2) shot 50 per cent from the field in the first half and had a whopping 32 steals for the game. Jaime Flores had 14 points, while Jen Crepeau had 12.
Frosh score: Hollister 44, NMC 24. The Balers (8-3) had 14 points from Amanda Boyd and eight points from Christine Goytia. Jamie Huston drew praise from head coach Javier Flores for consistent play this season.
