San Benito Gives Visiting Mustangs All They Can Handle, But
Still Loses 58-50
Hollister – With arch rival and Tri-County Athletic League leader Gilroy in town, you knew the San Benito Haybalers would come to play. And play they did.
The ‘Balers put forth some of their best basketball of the season–making good decisions with the ball, getting everyone involved in the offense and frustrating their opponent with lock-down defense–but, in the end, it still wasn’t enough.
Despite keeping the Mustangs on the ropes throughout the first half and looking ready to hand them their first league loss, San Benito couldn’t quite get over the hump and lost 58-50 last night.
“We really wanted to get this win and we almost had it there,” said ‘Balers forward Todd Janisch. “We really played a good game. Compared to the past games, this game was really a step forward for us.”
San Benito, which led almost the entire first half, fell victim to two long droughts in the second half–and saw the savvy Mustangs make the most of their opportunities.
After taking a 32-29 lead on a three-pointer by Marty Bueno one minute into the third quarter, the ‘Balers suddenly couldn’t find the hoop. With Gilroy stepping up its defensive pressure, San Benito was silenced for the remainder of the quarter.
“Offensively, we just couldn’t get our shots to fall or we’d [commit] a turnover,” said San Benito acting head coach Dan Quinn. “We were not getting the shots we were getting in the first half.”
The Mustangs’ 11-0 run put them in firm control heading into the final period, but the ‘Balers willed themselves back to the delight of their roaring fans.
First, seldom-used guard Carlos Ramos gathered an offensive rebound and converted the put-back to bring San Benito within 40-34. Then, senior guard Vince Bautista took a Bueno pass and drained a three-pointer, one of his three treys on the night.
Once sophomore Brian Haggett knocked down two free throws and followed with a three-pointer of his own, the ‘Balers tied the game at 42 with 5:55 left to play.
But the senior-laden Mustangs (16-6, 7-0 TCAL) calmly weathered the storm and came right back with eight straight points and a 13-2 run of their own to put the game away.
“We just didn’t continue with it ’til the end,” said Janisch, who led San Benito with ten points. “[They went on a] little run and I think it kind of got to us.”
The ‘Balers (9-12) began the game with an intensity and aggressiveness that quickly put to rest Gilroy’s plans for a repeat of its earlier 53-40 victory over San Benito, a contest the Mustangs controlled throughout.
In bidding to end Gilroy’s 12-game winning streak, San Benito initiated the action at both ends of the floor, creating a foul-filled first quarter that forced both coaches turn to their benches.
After the ‘Balers took a quick 4-0 lead on a steal and a lay-up by junior Kevin Medeiros, the teams traded baskets–and fouls–until San Benito emerged with a 13-12 lead at the end of the quarter.
The ‘Balers’ deft ball movement gave them their biggest lead of the game at the 4:47 mark of the second quarter. Bautista passed to center Dean Wilkins at the free-throw line, who then promptly saw Janisch cut back-door and fed him the ball for a lay-up and a 21-14 lead.
Though Gilroy battled back to trail 29-27 at the end of the half, San Benito looked primed to secure the upset win.
Quinn, who took the first seat on the bench as head coach John Becerra served a one-game suspension for receiving two technicals in the ‘Balers’ loss to Palma on Saturday, raved about his team’s stellar first half.
“Was that a peak performance? It might be getting there,” said Quinn. “It was a pretty darn good half.”
Gilroy head coach Bud Ogden saw a different ‘Balers’ team than the one he saw in the teams’ TCAL opener on Jan. 5.
“They’re very, very scrappy,” said Ogden. “Their youthful exuberance was very impressive. It kind of got us out of our game. [But] again, we did what we had to do to get the win.”
And much that was thanks to his team’s bench.
The Mustangs’ reserves scored 25 of the team’s 27 first-half points. Back-ups Frankie Tomasetti and Kameron Handy scored 16 points a piece to pace Gilroy.
Meanwhile, San Benito put ten different players in the scoring column. Bautista finished with nine points, all in the fourth quarter, while Haggett scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds and posted three assists. Bueno contributed four assists and three steals to go with his four points.
Despite the loss, which dropped them to 3-4 in the TCAL, the ‘Balers had their heads up afterwards.
“As long as we play like this, we can win a lot more games,” said Janisch. “If we play with this intensity, if we get after it on defense … we can keep up with most teams, and I’m pretty sure we can win.”
