San Benito’s Dominic Zanella scores 20 points en route to 60-52
win over Alisal Thursday night
SALINAS
Four games in to the Tri-County Athletic League season, the San Benito Haybalers had fallen short each time from one bad half, one difficult quarter, one lousy point.
But on Thursday night at Alisal, which had won seven of its last eight games, San Benito put it all together – four complete quarters – and snapped a six-game losing streak in a 60-52 victory over the Trojans.
Dominic Zanella led all scorers with 20 points and seven rebounds, Tyler Rickard added 13 points and six rebounds, Kyle Vallejo contributed 12 points and the Haybalers (1-4 TCAL, 9-10 overall) picked up their first win in the TCAL this season.
Alisal, which was in second place behind Palma, falls to 3-2 in league, 15-4 overall.
“The difference was that we played four consistent quarters,” San Benito head coach John Becerra said. “In the past, it’d be one quarter where we’d be down. But we were playing physical and aggressive throughout the whole game.
“It’s just focus, maintaining focus and having confidence in their ability to execute.”
San Benito’s last six games marked a difficult stretch for the team that included three games decided by two points or less.
The Haybalers fell in all three of those games.
With that said, Thursday’s win couldn’t have come at a better time for San Benito.
“It’s great. I think it’s fantastic,” Becerra said. “I wish they could internalize that we are so close. We’re right there with these teams. But we need to play hard, play hard every time.”
The ‘Balers jumped out to an 18-9 lead on Alisal in the first quarter, but the Trojans cut into San Benito’s deficit in the second period and trailed 29-27 at the break.
San Benito took a somewhat comfortable 47-38 cushion to the fourth when they outscored the Trojans 18-11 in the third period.
In the final stanza, Becerra said the ‘Balers held a lead of six to eight points throughout the quarter, but with approximately 90 seconds remaining, Alisal cut the deficit to three.
“They were making a run, but Eric (Elayda) found Dominic (Zanella) on a critical pass,” Becerra said.
Elayda didn’t score in Thursday’s game, but the head coach praised the guard on an impressive screen-and-roll pass, which put San Benito up by five after Zanella converted the basket.
“It was the right pass at the right moment,” Becerra said.
Alisal’s Jordan Ramirez led the Trojans with 16 points, while Jonathan Sosa had 15.
“Sosa got 15, but I think Dominic (Zanella) did a good job on him,” Becerra said. “[Sosa] had to work for those shots.”
San Benito will look to make it two in a row on Tuesday when Salinas visits Hollister’s Mattson Gym.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
SANB 18 11 18 13 60
ALIS 9 18 11 14 52
San Benito (60) – K. Vallejo 6 0 0-2 12, T. Von Urff 3 0 0-0 6, C. Sepulveda 1 0 0-0 2, J. Canchola 2 1 0-0 7, T. Rickard 5 1 0-0 13, D. Zanella 10 0 0-0 20.
