SAN JOSE
–– Ever since losing the first game of the season to Burlingame,
the San Benito High boys basketball team has been unstopable.
The Balers (5-1) rolled through the Independence Tournament,
winning the championship Friday against Fremont, 66-45.
”
We were able to play four solid quarters against a quality
opponent,
”
said Baler Coach Dave Kaplansky.
”
We had a good third quarter, and we didn’t let up. It was our
best game of the year. We were able to control the game and hold
the lead throughout.
”
SAN JOSE –– Ever since losing the first game of the season to Burlingame, the San Benito High boys basketball team has been unstopable.
The Balers (5-1) rolled through the Independence Tournament, winning the championship Friday against Fremont, 66-45.
“We were able to play four solid quarters against a quality opponent,” said Baler Coach Dave Kaplansky. “We had a good third quarter, and we didn’t let up. It was our best game of the year. We were able to control the game and hold the lead throughout.”
Kyle Sharp, the leader in scoring, was named the tournament MVP. And Anthony Butler was named to the all-Tournament team. Sharp had 24 points, and Butler had nine points in the championship game.
Even with the subs playing in the fourth quarter for San Benito, Fremont was only able to put together an 18-17 quarter. Everyone was able to play in the game, Kaplansky said. Scoring early set the tempo in the game.
“We were able to get some easy buckets in the first quarter inside,” Kaplansky said. “And we were able to hit some perimeter shots in the second when they clogged up the middle.”
The Balers had just three 3-pointers in the game as opposed to Fremont’s six, but the Balers were able to hit several long two-pointers.
San Benito had a strong performance from the free-throw line, going 17 for 24. Kevin Zanella went 7 for 8 from behind the line and had 11 points. He had a strong tournament defensively as well. Zanella consistently went up against the top scorers on the other teams and shut them down in the post.
“We were able to take control of the rebounding,” Kaplansky said. “We were able to hold them to one shot on pretty much every possession. Our guards did a good job putting pressure on and creating easy buckets.”
This week, the Balers will play their first home game against San Lorenzo Valley on Tuesday – a rematch of an earlier game this season. The varsity plays at 7 p.m. The freshman team starts at 4 p.m., and the JV team plays at 5:30 p.m.
The Balers will compete in the Bob Hagen tournament in Gilroy beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. against Aptos. San Benito will then play Friday against North County or Monterey.
“This team is capable of being a competitive team,” Kaplansky said. “It is just a matter of the attitude and intensity level we play at. The kids have been successful in the last five games because of the effort they have put in. We are trying to learn the character of our ball club in these early tournaments.”
Note: The San Benito girls team will open up play tonight in the Oak Grove tournament against Castilleja and will play either Independence or Santa Clara on Wednesday.
