North Salinas proved to be a lot tougher than its record
indicated, but San Benito persevered to earn a 52-41 win Tuesday
over the visiting Vikings in Tri-County Athletic League action.
Hollister – North Salinas proved to be a lot tougher than its record indicated, but San Benito persevered to earn a 52-41 win Tuesday over the visiting Vikings in Tri-County Athletic League action.
“They’re scrappy, they really battle,” Haybalers coach John Becerra said of North Salinas, which fell to 2-16 overall and 0-6 in TCAL.
San Benito (8-12, 4-2) took early control of the game and looked as if it might blow it open. Todd Janisch scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the first quarter as the ‘Balers opened a 17-8 lead.
Janisch added nine more points in the second quarter and with less than a minute to go in the first half, San Benito was comfortably in front 29-14.
But North Salinas was determined to make a game of it. Victor Sapp drained a 3-pointer and Marcos Martinez scored his only two baskets of the night as the Vikings trimmed the halftime margin to 29-21.
“Their press was working pretty good,” said Kevin Burley, who scored three points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the ‘Balers. “They’re quick and small.”
San Benito still couldn’t shake the pesky Vikings in the third quarter and with less than two minutes to go, Ervin Rosario-Dawson hit one of his four 3-pointers to make it a four-point game at 33-29.
The ‘Balers woke up after that. Marty Bueno hit a 3-pointer and then delivered a nice feed to Kevin Medeiros for an easy bucket inside as San Benito built its lead back up to nine entering the fourth quarter.
Gus Silva hit a jumper and Jason Canchola connected from beyond the arc early in the final period and the ‘Balers quickly pushed the lead to 43-29.
North Salinas’ Sal Moran hit a pair of free-throws and Rosario-Dawson hit another trey to trim the deficit to nine, but that was as close as the Vikings would get the rest of the way.
“We weren’t as focused as other games,” Becerra said. “You know that’s going to happen, you don’t want it to happen but you know it will. Luckily we can get a win without one of our better performances.”
Bueno scored all 11 of his points in the second half for San Benito to complement Janisch. Rosario-Dawson paced all North Salinas scorers with 15.
The ‘Balers felt fortunate to gut out the victory and were happy with their ability to stay focused despite playing an opponent who is winless in league play.
“That says we can stay focused in a game we should win,” Burley said. “We need to stay focused all the time.”
North Salinas 8 13 8 12 – 41
San Benito 17 12 9 14 – 52
North Salinas (41) – Bandy 1 0-0 3, Ramos 1 0-0 2, Landovaso 1 0-0 3, Martinez 2 0-0 4, Sapp 2 3-6 8, Moran 2 2-2 6, Rosario-Dawson 5 1-2 15, Grayson 0 0-1 0. Totals – 14 6-11 41.
San Benito (52) – Ramos 0 2-4 2, Bueno 3 4-4 11, Canchola 1 0-0 3, Burley 1 1-2 3, Janisch 8 3-6 21, Medeiros 3 0-0 6, Wilson 1 0-0 2, Silva 2 0-0 4. Totals – 19 10-16 52.
3-point goals – Rosario-Dawson 4, Bandy, Landovaso, Sapp, Janisch 2, Bueno, Canchola. Fouled out – none.
