Sharp leads the way with 35 points, Baladad adds 12 as San
Benito improves to 10-2
Although his team found itself up 41-30 at the halfway point of Thursday’s home opener against Pacific Grove, San Benito High basketball coach David Kaplansky knew that the Breakers were going to make a move on the scoreboard at some point in the contest.
Pacific Grove did make their move, very early on in the third, and even managed to take its first lead of the game off a flurry of scoring from guard Troy Smith. But the Haybalers responded to the challenge just as they have all season long. And by the time the fourth quarter reached its third minute, right about the time Kyle Sharp broke the 30-point barrier on a lay in following an offensive board, the game was all but out of reach for the Breakers at 62-50.
“I knew the whole night that they’d make a run,” said Kaplansky. “They’re a great team and they’re well coached. We had some trouble with their pressure at the beginning. In the second and third quarter, they did a nice job of putting pressure on us in the backcourt and taking away our continuity in transition.”
San Benito came out strong in the opening quarter as Sharp didn’t waste any time in establishing himself both down low and in the Balers’ transition game.
The vertical game was on display early on as well. After a nice jump hook from the baseline by Henry Taylor, San Benito forced a turnover on Pacific Grove’s ensuing possession. They kicked the ball upcourt to Sharp who went up big for a two-handed dunk, forcing the Breakers into a timeout and giving his team a 9-3 advantage.
This is how the game went for the rest of the first half. Pacific Grove just wasn’t getting anything against the Baler defense. And when they did, San Benito would answer right back.
But things turned around pretty quickly to start the third as the Haybalers saw their nine-point lead evaporate in less than two minutes.
Pacific Grove’s Smith just turned into a monster on the court. He made something happen every time he got the ball early in the second half, eventually giving the Breakers their only lead of the game on a three-pointer.
But the Balers regrouped and managed to give themselves a 54-49 cushion at the end of the third.
And then they simply ran away with it in the fourth.
Eric Davis got it started for San Benito with a tough shot before Darryl Baladad started hitting from outside. The Balers continued to force Pacific Grove into taking bad shots as sharp was doing a tremendous job of controlling A.J. Walker’s shot and his ability to rebound effectively.
“It was tough,” said Sharp of Walker, who managed only a pair of field goals all night. He’s the same size, same strength as me so I had to step it up a little bit. I had to keep out of foul trouble but once we got to the fourth and I only had two, I knew I could turn it up.”
