The San Benito boys basketball team could not stop a Trojan
charge in its season opener, losing to Milpitas 57-45.
By Cheeto Barrera
Staff Writer
Hollister – The San Benito boys basketball team could not stop a Trojan charge in its season opener, losing to Milpitas 57-45.
The Trojans went on a 14-2 run to open the game and led 28-16 by half time. Even though San Benito outscored Milpitas 19-10 in the fourth quarter, it had to overcome a 47-26 deficit.
Coach John Becerra said his team was taken out of its game plan by the pressure Milpitas applied.
“We could not run our type of offense because of all the pressure,” Becerra said. “They are a very physical team, they are very good.”
Later in the third quarter, Milpitas went on a 14-4 run to increase its lead to 42-20.
The Trojans held the Haybalers to 30 percent shooting from the field in the first half. San Benito turned the ball over 12 times in the first two quarters.
The last time the two schools faced, Milpitas won 57-38 in the first round of last season’s Central Coast Section playoffs.
“This was a better team,” Becerra remarked about the Trojans.
In both halves, San Benito faced foul trouble early. Milpitas took advantage and shot 62 percent from the line, converting 15 of 24.
San Benito visited the free-throw line just five times in the entire game, making two of them.
Leading the way for the ‘Balers was Marty Bueno with 15 points, 11 coming in the fourth quarter.
Bueno was followed by Todd Janisch with 10. They were the only two ‘Balers to break the double-digit mark in the game.
Leading the way for the Trojans was Kameron Birks with 17 points with 11 coming in the first half.
In the fourth quarter, San Benito managed to control the ball better. The ‘Balers also out-rebounded the Lancers in the quarter by a better than two-to-one margin.
Becerra said his team needs to step up how hard it plays once it takes the court.
“They have to step up the intensity,” Becerra said. “They are going to learn – they have to learn – that once they step on the court, they intensity level is unbelievable.”
Becerra said he was encouraged from the play of several players, including David de Mateo, who missed last year because of injury.
De Mateo had six points in the game and pulled down three boards.
