With a 56-45 victory at James Lick on Saturday, the Hollister
High boys basketball team has qualified for the Central Coast
Section Division I playoffs.
With a 56-45 victory at James Lick on Saturday, the Hollister High boys basketball team has qualified for the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Just ask Baler guard Thomas Fernandez.
“Thomas is a pretty smart guy,” said Baler head coach David Kaplansky, who fell a game short of making CCS last season in his first year. “He did the math and figured out that we’re 14-2 with 11 games left and told me about it. I wasn’t even thinking about it.”
The Balers could lose all remaining 11 games, including 10 Tri-County Athletic League games, which start on Saturday at Live Oak and still finish .500 or better overall, the minimum postseason qualification.
Fat chance of that happening.
The way the Balers have been playing lately with six straight victories, they’re liable to win all 11 games. Hollister, ranked fifth in the CCS, held off a stout Monterey team 71-62 at home Friday, outscoring the Toreadores 25-14 in the fourth quarter. It was the third-straight pressure game the Balers have delivered the goods, dating back to the final two of the Bob Steinbach Tournament at North Salinas when they staved off Salinas and Alisal.
The Balers also had a decided edge at the line. Very decided. Hollister sank 31 of 48 free throws to the ‘Dores 8 of 15.
“It’s frustrating,” said Monterey coach Wash Stallworth. “Hollister was the better team and deserved to win, but the foul situation was a big difference. Our big guy goes the basket, gets hit and doesn’t get a whistle. I guess we have to change the way we play.”
Kaplansky, who has been known to question foul disparity with the officiating crew during games, refused to comment on the foul differential. He was too drained after Friday night’s win as he sat in the front row of the bleachers opposite the Baler bench.
“This team really plays together,” said Kaplansky. “We executed well in that fourth quarter. We seem to get it done in the fourth quarter every time. What can you say about these kids?”
For the majority of the season, the bulk of the Balers’ offense has come from three players – Kyle Sharp, Anthony Butler and Broc Sondgroth. In the two games over the weekend combined, Sharp had 35, Butler had 28 and Sondgroth 31 points, respectively.
Against Monterey (7-4), which had outstanding quickness, the Balers Eric Davis came to life at the start of the fourth quarter to lead a mini-comeback. Davis went off the backboard for a hoop, then went to his left on a drive for another basket.
After a skillful reverse layup by Sharp, the Balers were down just one at 53-52 with five minutes left. About a minute later, Sharp didn’t like the way he was fouled by the ‘Dores Eric Jamerson going to the bucket and took a heated step Jamerson’s way.
The Toreadores seemed to unravel at that point and turned the ball over time after time down the stretch. Passing was sloppy on both sides, but the Balers slopped least and held on. Still, the Balers made just 13-of-21 in the fourth period and could have put the game away earlier.
Baler forward Danny Brooks has to be credited for coming off the bench and providing a lift to the Balers with a couple of good passes and help on the boards. Brooks had seven rebounds at James Lick.
“Danny has come off the bench and given us a spark lately,” said Kaplansky. “He’s been real active. And Eric Davis has handled the ball real well for us. We have a lot of young guys who are getting a lot of experience for us.”
One of the young guys is the sophomore Sharp, who continues to be the Balers’ main man in pressure situations.
“That was an A-minus game for us,” said Sharp after the win over Monterey. “They’re a good team and we had to execute to beat them.”
The Balers entertain Seaside (7-5) Friday at 7 p.m. in their final non-league game of the year.
Baler bits: The Balers held Yusef Smith, the ‘Dores 6-7 center/forward to just three points. – Jamerson had 19 to lead Monterey. – Seaside has been crushed in its last two games, losing to Mitty 77-38 and to Palma 75-39.
Monterey 21 12 15 14 – 62
Hollister 21 13 12 25 – 71
M – Smith 1 1-1 3, Belisle 3 0-0 6, Jamerson 8 3-4 19, DeMayo 4 0-1 8, Schwent 0 1-4 1, Josephs 2 0-0 5, Jacobs 5 1-1 11, Jones 2 0-0 5, Quimby 0 1-2 1, Miller 1 1-2 3. Totals 26 8-15 62.
H – Sharp 6 7-14 19, Butler 2 8-10 12, Davis 2 5-6 9, Sondgroth 4 8-12 18, Fajardo 0 3-4 3, Brooks 2 0-0 4, Sims 3 0-2 6. Totals 19 31-48 71.
3-point goals: Josephs, Jones (M); Sondgroth 2 (H).
