In a basketball sense, San Benito sophomore Denise Martinez is much younger than her age. The first-year varsity player has only three years of basketball under her belt.
In its second chance, the San Benito girls basketball team won its first game of the year Thursday, beating Watsonville 56-25 in the opening game of the Wildcatz Tournament.
Despite losing two players to foul trouble, the San Benito girls basketball team cut through a 15-point second half deficit to Piedmont Hills but couldn’t pull off the complete comeback. Instead, the Balers lost its season-opening game 57-52 to the Pirates on Tuesday.
In December, before his first season at the helm of the girls basketball team, head coach Mitch Burley has one goal: Get into the Central Coast Section playoffs and win.
The San Benito girls basketball team won its final road game of the Tri-County Athletic League season Thursday, defeating league-leaders Salinas 42-39.
After allowing six straight points in the second quarter to fall behind 10-4, San Benito needed a spark to avoid watching their postseason hopes dwindle away.
With five games to play in the Tri-County Athletic League regular season, the Gilroy High and San Benito girls varsity basketball teams were eyeing the postseason from different perspectives as the two took the floor against one another Tuesday.
Despite a 7-0 run to nearly end the final quarter of Tuesday's game, the San Benito girls basketball team was held under 30 points for the second time in three games, and lost to league-rival Salinas 35-28.
It was only two years ago, when Kelsey Robledo was making a name for herself at Anzar High. The sophomore basketball player - who now stands at 6-foot=2 - was dominant for the Hawks.
San Benito was on a fast break early in the first quarter, two quick passes left Ellie Burley wide open under the basket, but the pass was just off the mark.