San Benito will host Independence at Mattson Gym Thursday, while
the Lady ‘Balers await the winner of the Gilroy-Watsonville match
for Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
The stage is set for the San Benito boys basketball team, which will open the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs Thursday night against Independence.
On Tuesday, No. 11 Independence (18-9) defeated San Benito’s league rival Alisal (14-13), which entered the postseason as the 14-seed. Independence won the game at home by a narrow 55-52 margin.
No. 6 San Benito (19-8) will now host Independence Thursday night at 7 p.m., at Mattson Gym in Hollister.
The winner of that contest will advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal match against No. 3 Serra (17-10).
In other contests, No. 10 North Salinas advanced past No. 15 Evergreen Valley 74-66, and will face No. 7 Carlmont (19-8).
In girls basketball, No. 10 Watsonville defeated No. 15 Salinas 39-33, and will now play No. 7 Gilroy on Thursday. The winner of that match will play No. 2 San Benito in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
In other games, No. 11 Alisal beat No. 14 Mount Pleasant 41-27, and will see No. 6 Piedmont Hills on Thursday, while No. 4 North Salinas awaits the winner of No. 12 Oak Grove and No. 5 Santa Teresa for a quarterfinal bout.
