San Benito beats Vikings for first time since 2005, avenge
early-season loss
Hollister
For the first time in almost three years, the San Benito girls basketball team has the upper hand on North Salinas.
After Friday night’s 54-36 victory over the visiting Vikings at Mattson Gym in Hollister, the Lady ‘Balers have completed the first half of their league schedule with a perfect 6-0 record.
They have the upper hand on North Salinas, and every other team in the Tri-County Athletic League, for that matter.
With a two-game lead on everyone else, the first-place ‘Balers now sit firmly in the drivers seat toward a league crown.
“It’s huge for us to be two games up,” said Elena Fata, who dropped six points against North Salinas. “It gives us confidence, for sure. We can beat anyone as long as we play team ball.”
Team ball was in full effect Friday, as San Benito scored their first win over North Salinas in their last six tries, a span that dates back to Feb. 8, 2005.
In what turned out to be a heated battle between the top two teams in the TCAL, the Lady ‘Balers managed to avenge a loss from earlier this season when the Vikings outlasted San Benito 36-27 at the Seaside Sweet 16 on Dec. 27.
In that particular contest, the Lady ‘Balers shot a dismal 14 percent (9 of 64) from the field, 53 percent (9 of 17) from the line.
Although that preseason game did not affect the TCAL standings, it did provide San Benito with a glance of the defending league champion Vikings.
“They manned us the whole game last time, so all week we scrimmaged with a man defense,” Fata said. “We learned a lot of new offenses (since Dec. 27) – two new offenses. We came in with more weapons.”
Those weapons led to 40 percent (19 of 47) shooting from the field, while the San Benito defense was stifling as usual, forcing 25 turnovers on the Vikings.
Vanessa Farias led all scorers with 23 points behind three treys.
“We just played harder. We didn’t break down when they were pushing and shoving,” coach David Kaplansky said. “Our defensive effort was awesome.
“Knowing that we can go into next week with a two-game lead is huge. This game was the most important game of the season, with a chance to give us a little breathing room.”
Viking Chelsea Dacpano scored eight points to lead North Salinas, which falls to 4-2 in the league, and is tied for second place with Notre Dame (4-2).
“No matter what the league standings are, they’re gonna be the biggest game,” Fata said of North Salinas. “No matter what.”
San Benito started big with a 7-0 run at the start, eventually working out to a 12-2 cushion. But the Vikings finished with a 7-0 run of their own, and cut the deficit to a 12-9 margin after one quarter.
North Salinas kept the momentum in their favor when they tied the contest at 14-14 early in the second, and even grabbed a three-point lead midway through the quarter.
But a Shireen Zamani jumper from the right side tied the game 20-20, and Megan Halstead followed with two points in the paint to give the Lady ‘Balers a 22-20 edge.
San Benito would not trail for the remainder of the game as they headed to the break with a 25-20 lead.
The contest took a hard turn in the third quarter when the physical play resulted in a double technical. North Salinas’ Bina Abbott, however, the leading scorer for the Vikings at the time with six points, was ejected from the game.
San Benito then took their 27-23 lead and opened a 38-28 margin.
“Every girl that came in either got a huge basket or a huge rebound,” Kaplansky said. “For the important possessions, we made those free throws … It just means the flow of the game really went our way.”
Shooting 1 of 8 from the free-throw line through the first three quarters, San Benito blew the game open in the fourth behind 11 of 14 shooting from the charity stripe. They outscored the Vikings 16-8 in the final stanza.
The first-place Lady ‘Balers (15-4) will take to the road on Tuesday to play at Salinas. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 12 13 13 16 54
NS 9 11 8 8 36
SB (54) – Aguilera 0-1 2-2 2, Ademek 1-3 0-0 2, Cabrera 0-0 2-4 2, Casalegno 2-2 0-0 5, Farias 8-16 4-5 23, Fata 2-7 2-3 6, Halstead 2-4 0-4 4, Romero 2-9 2-4 6, Zamani 2-4 0-0 4.
Three-point goals: Farias 3, Casalegno 1.
NS (36) – B. Abbott 3-4 0-1 6, Ayala 2-4 1-2 6, Campbell 1-1 0-0 2, Dacpano 3-11 0-0 8, Lugo 3-13 0-2 7, Rowland 3-4 1-2 7.
Three-point goals: Dacpano 2, Ayala 1, Lugo 1.
JV Note:
Hollister
The San Benito junior varsity team edged North Salinas 40-38 Friday at Mattson Gym in Hollister.
“A great game,” coach Karen Fortino said. “A couple times we had the opportunity to really open it up, but North Salinas fought back. They were a very good team.”
Cassie Pate scored 18 points to lead San Benito. Arielle Rianda added eight for the Lady ‘Balers.
“This junior varsity team, they’re for real,” Fortino said. “They never give up and they fight until there is no time left on the clock.”
San Benito will play at Salinas Tuesday. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 9 17 10 4 40
NS 10 9 9 10 38
Frosh Note:
Hollister
The San Benito freshmen girls basketball team improved to 18-2 on the year when they defeated North Salinas 43-23 Friday night at Mattson Gym.
Jessica Vest scored 16 points and added three steals, while Mari Vallejo had 10. Michelle Fortino had eight points to go along with 12 rebounds.
Erin Glasspool had five assists and Amanda Byron and Nicole Rianda had six rebounds and five rebounds, respectively.
Coach Tom Dean said his team started out of sync in the first quarter, but quickly turned it around by controlling the tempo of the game on both sides of the ball.
“The girls are really handling the ball very well and playing great team ball as the 11 assists tell you.” Dean said. The Lady ‘Balers committed only 11 turnovers in the game.
San Benito is now 5-1 in the TCAL. They’ll play at Salinas Tuesday. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 13 13 15 6 43
NS 7 5 4 7 23
