Hawks’ senior scores 40 points in 76-44 win over NVB
Santa Clara – Scott Benson couldn’t be stopped Tuesday night and the senior on the Anzar boys basketball team lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 40 points and 17 rebounds in a 76-44 win over host North Valley Baptist.
Benson, who had 25 points in the Hawks’ season-opening win over Anchorpoint Christian, connected of 17 of 22 shots from the field and was 6 of 9 from the free-throw line.
“He had a very dominant game tonight,” coach Ed Cecena said. “The guys did a great job of feeding Scott. He was the hot hand and they just kept feeding him.”
James Henrard contributed 14 points and five assists and Eric Olson added six points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for Anzar, which built a 34-20 halftime lead and cruised to the win.
“(NVB) had nobody who could stop Scott,” Cecena said. “He was very aggressive underneath.”
Homestead 39, San Benito 24
San Jose – The first half of San Benito’s opening-round game in the Independence Tournament against Homestead was not an offensive affair as the team’s combined for only 23 points.
The Mustangs picked up the pace slightly in the second half, but the Haybalers couldn’t follow suit and fell Tuesday.
“We just couldn’t score at all,” San Benito coach John Becerra said. “We were missing shots, that’s it. We had missed lay ups, missed outside open shots.”
Todd Janisch scored 13 points to pace the ‘Balers, who trailed 12-11 at halftime.
Homestead then outscored San Benito 27-13 over the final two periods to earn the win.
Becerra credited Kevin Burley with doing a good job on the boards and David DeMateo with having a strong overall game.
The ‘Balers fall into the consolation bracket and will play at 3pm Thursday against the loser of Tuesday’s game between North Monterey County and Cupertino.
Girls Basketball
Mountain View – Anzar dropped to 1-2 on the season by falling on the road to Mountain View Academy 42-26.
Jessica Staley paced the Hawks with 12 points and Rachel Baker, Shenlyn Bissel and Andra Fujita each scored four points apiece in the loss.
Anzar, which won its first game of the season 42-28 over Alvarez and dropped its second game to Monterey 39-31, had its home game Thursday against Overfelt postponed while the school’s gym is being resurfaced.
