Despite as much as a 13 point lead in the fourth quarter, the Balers couldn’t hold off league-foe Salinas in the championship game of the Condor Christmas Classic at North Monterey County High on Friday.
The Balers fell 51-50 on a last second shot by Salinas’ Josef Delk, seconds after the Balers took a lead on a Jacob Tonasica shot inside the paint.
For three and a half quarters, it looked like the Balers were going to win their eighth game in a row entering league play Wednesday. But the defending league champions had other thoughts.
Trailing 48-35 in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys tallied 14 straight points to take the lead with less than 10 seconds left. After a timeout, San Benito answered with Tonascia’s bucket, but the defense couldn’t gather one more stop.
The loss gives San Benito a 9-3 record entering league play.
Isaiah Acfalle led the way for San Benito with 13 points, including two steals at the beginning of the fourth quarter that led to the Balers’ 13-point lead.
Jordan Belton and Hyram Miskin added 11 points in the loss.
For more on this game and the tournament in Tuesday’s Free Lance.
Â
