Boys’ and girls’ basketball squads mirrored their storied
season
– even their losses at CCS
The Gilroy High boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams were
in lockstep with each other this season, both capturing league
titles with nearly identical records, and both led by a core group
of experienced seniors that had played together since they were in
grade school. And both supported each other both on and off the
court.
Boys’ and girls’ basketball squads mirrored their storied season – even their losses at CCS
The Gilroy High boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams were in lockstep with each other this season, both capturing league titles with nearly identical records, and both led by a core group of experienced seniors that had played together since they were in grade school. And both supported each other both on and off the court.
Unfortunately, those comparisons continued last weekend in the Central Coast Section as both squads made second-round exits in the playoffs – despite the expectations of many that one or even both teams would win a CCS Division I title.
“It was tough, especially on the seniors,” said Gilroy High boys’ coach Bud Ogden after watching his No. 4 seeded Mustangs get upset 59-43 to No. 5 seed Milpitas last Saturday at Independence High. “It was tough to have that kind of an ending. We didn’t want that ending – or at least ending that suddenly.”
After the game Ogden and his team dealt with the loss the best way that they could and headed over to Milpitas High School to watch the No. 2 seeded Lady Mustangs take on No. 7 seed Carlmont.
Unfortunately, a few hours later, the girls’ team, which was expected to make it to the finals, lost 58-56 to the Scots and their season was over too. In a season that had so much happiness for both teams it ended with tears of sadness last Saturday.
“That is the most-talented and experienced team that I’ve ever had,” said Gilroy girls basketball coach Kari Williams. “It’s still a tough loss to talk about. They were sad. No one was prepared for our season to end last Saturday. It’s not that we overlooked our opponent, but we expect to win every time we play.”
For the girls’ team this was supposed to be the year that a CCS banner would hang in the Gilroy High gymnasium.
In 2003, the Lady Mustangs advanced to the semifinals of the CCS tournament before losing to Archbishop Mitty. In 2004, Gilroy advanced all the way to the CCS championship game before losing to league rival Salinas for the third time that year.
Last year Gilroy made it to the CCS semifinals before losing to Wilcox High.
But this year was supposed to be different.
The Gilroy High girls’ team didn’t lose a single game in league – going 12-0 in the Tri County Athletic League and posting an impressive 23-5 mark overall. The Mustangs were led by a solid group of senior that included Katherine Hussey, who averaged more than 15 points a game, Jessica Groppe, who averaged nearly 13 a contest, and Kristen Campos, who averaged nearly nine a game, while controlling the tempo of the games.
What ultimately cost the girls’ team last Saturday afternoon was erratic shooting from the free-throw line.
Against Carlmont, Gilroy was 9-for-17 from the line. And what made matters worse was when sophomore Vanessa Wilkins was fouled in the final seconds as she drove down the lane for what would have been an easy lay-up that would have tied the game. The foul was never called by the referees and the game ended in heartbreak for the Mustangs.
“If we were 12-for-17 from the line instead, we wouldn’t have needed the refs to make the right call,” said Williams.
Prior to the game against Carlmont, the Mustangs had been shooting well from the free-throw line.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Carlmont,” said Williams. “They brought what we had prepared for. They are a good team. They were two points better than us. We also missed some easy lay-ups. I wish it could have ended differently but it didn’t. It was a great year for basketball at Gilroy High. We went undefeated in league and won league for the first time in years and the boys’ team went 11-1 in league and won it too.”
Next year both teams will lose six senior players.
But both coaches believe that their teams will rebound and be equally as good next year, if not better.
“Our JV and freshman teams were successful this year so there are some good girls coming up,” said Williams. “And Dana Schoeneman, Vanessa Wilkins, Amanda Spellman and Russhelle Preeshl will all be coming back. I’ll have six to eight sports to fill, but our goal is to always make the playoffs, finish high in the TCAL and get the most out of the players that I can.”
Like Williams, Ogden will be in a similar situation next year, having to replace a number of experienced seniors. But he too believes that his younger players are ready to rise to the challenge.
“I’m really proud of the guys, the entire team overall,” Ogden said. “Considering how difficult our schedule was, we had a great season. This whole experience will make the juniors and sophomores better prepared for next year.”
After watching film of league rival and the tournament’s No. 12 seeded team, San Benito High, fall 58-37 to Milpitas in the first round of the tournament, Ogden felt that he had his team well prepared to face the Trojans.
“We saw video of them against San Benito but that was a far different team from the one that played us,” said Ogden. “Their size and offensive boards was a big factor in the game against us. San Benito is also very physical and strong and they go after you. They are hard to play against. But if San Benito was still in their game against Milpitas with two minutes to go we thought we’d have a pretty good look at it (win).”
Against the Trojans, Gilroy fought hard and was able to cut Milpitas’ lead to 8 points with four minutes to go in the game before the Trojans’ 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Eric Rush, connected on back-to-back three-pointers to put the game out of reach.
In the three years that Ogden has been at the helm of the Gilroy High boys program, his teams have improved every year. In 2004, Gilroy went 4-20 overall. Last year the Mustangs lost in the opening round of the playoffs after going 16-10, and this year’s team went 21-8.
“We would have liked to win at least one more game,” said Ogden. “That would have put us up against Serra, which would have been no picnic either.”
