San Benito victory dampens Acorns’ Homecoming night
Morgan Hill – Friday night in front of a huge homecoming crowd at Live Oak high school, the San Benito Haybalers boys basketball team defeated the Live Oak Acorns in a tough, physical game, 45-41.
Live Oak’s loss to San Benito could have major playoff implications as now the Acorns and ‘Balers are tied with the same records in the Tri-County Athletic League standings.
San Benito (11-12, 5-4 TCAL) led most of the game Friday night thanks to several 3-pointers from ‘Baler guards Vince Bautista and Marty Bueno from way behind the arc.
Forward Dean Wilkins led San Benito with 12 points and six rebounds in the game, while Bautista added 10 points and and Todd Janisch finished with eight points for the ‘Balers. Bueno contributed six points in the victory.
Wilkins was a force in the paint for San Benito, boxing out the Acorn defenders on rebounds and loose balls.
Trailing 22-14 at the half, the Acorns (12-12, 5-4 TCAL) came out in the third quarter fired up on defense and forced San Benito to turn the ball over. With just over three minutes left in the third, Live Oak tied the game at 23-23 and took the lead, 25-23, when Ivan Silveira grabbed a defensive rebound and Brandon Greene drained a jumper at the other end. Dustin Bynum extended the Acorns lead to 27-24 with two free throws.
San Benito’s offense wasn’t discouraged, however, and they regained the lead at the buzzer with one of Bautista’s long 3-pointers, 28-27, to end the third.
Live Oak retook the lead early in the fourth quarter, but ran into some foul trouble that allowed San Benito to tie and eventually go ahead.
With less than four minutes remaining in the game, the ‘Balers went ahead 36-33 and didn’t give up the lead the rest of the game, as the Acorns desperately tried to overtake them.
San Benito next faces the Sobrato Bulldogs at home for San Benito Senior Parents’ Night on Wednesday February 8 at 7pm.
