The stage is set for a highly entertaining showdown in
Tri-County Athletic League boys basketball.
The stage is set for a highly entertaining showdown in Tri-County Athletic League boys basketball.
Hollister High did its job Tuesday night at North Salinas, topping the Vikings 68-59. Across town, Salinas had little trouble with Live Oak in a 62-46 win.
That means first place is at stake with six games left in the league slate Thursday when the Cowboys (15-4, 3-0 T-CAL) trek to Mattson Gym to meet the Balers (17-3, 3-0). Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
Salinas is ranked seventh in the Central Coast Section, while the Balers are at their highest ranking ever at No. 3. Hollister is also ranked No. 19 in the Bay Area by Cal-Hi Sports.
The running and gunning Cowboys are led by guards Drew Sanchez and Casey Neligh and forward Chris Choate. Sanchez is averaging just over 23 points per game.
“It will be a track meet,” said Baler head coach David Kaplansky. “Sanchez is one of the top guards in the CCS. A lot of Division I schools are looking at them. We have to limit the big shots those three guys make. North Salinas is a similar team to Salinas because they like to run, but you can’t duplicate what Sanchez and Neligh do in practice.”
Against the Vikings (8-11, 0-3), the Balers had about as balanced scoring attack as they have had all season. Kyle Sharp nearly hit his average of 19.4 points per game with 18 points. Anthony Butler and Kevin Zanella each had 12 points off the bench. Broc Sondgroth chipped in nine, Danny Brooks eight and Eric Davis seven.
Most importantly, the Balers were 13-16 from the free throw line.
“It was a dogfight,” said Kaplansky. “Every game on the road in this league is a dogfight.”
In the other T-CAL contest, Palma (2-1) defeated Gilroy (0-3) at home 52-45. Hollister is at Palma on Tuesday.
