It was the quintessential Kyle Sharp play. With 14:40 remaining
in the second half, and the former San Benito Haybaler posting up
big, 6-foot-10, 305-pound John Bryant of Santa Clara, Sharp backed
into the paint with Bryant’s defensive end-like size on his
back.
Santa Clara
It was the quintessential Kyle Sharp play.
With 14:40 remaining in the second half, and the former San Benito Haybaler posting up big, 6-foot-10, 305-pound John Bryant of Santa Clara, Sharp backed into the paint with Bryant’s defensive end-like size on his back.
Said Sharp, “It’s tough because he’s very large.”
Indeed.
A quick dribble left and Sharp went up for the baby hook, but he was blocked by Bryant, and the ball fell out to the left corner of the floor.
Without missing a beat, though, Sharp collected the ball, collected himself, and drained the 3-pointer.
The sizeable Hollister crowd, which seconded as uberfans of Sharp and Montana men’s basketball Monday night at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, erupted in delight.
They came for Sharp, and while Montana was downed by the Broncos in a non-conference match 60-49, they remembered the mismatches that Sharp can and will exploit from his playing days at San Benito High School.
He can play inside. He can play outside. With Bryant’s massive frame clogging the lane all game, Sharp instead took advantage of the perimeter.
While Bryant enveloped Sharp’s 6-foot-7, 220-pound body in the paint, he was nowhere to be found when the Hollister resident recovered the loose ball and nailed the trey from the outside.
“That’s what I used to do in high school. If I didn’t have that inside shot, I’d use my perimeter skills,” Sharp said after Monday’s game in Santa Clara. “I’m hoping to do that more.”
Sharp, a junior at the University of Montana in Missoula, returned to the Golden State last night for a preseason basketball game at Santa Clara. He played 18 minutes, scored seven points and pulled down seven boards, five on the offensive end.
Although the end result was a loss for the visiting Grizz, Sharp played rather well for the amount of playing time he was given. His family, as well as friends and relatives that filled Section 104 and 105 of the Santa Clara arena, were awarded with a little face-time, albeit brief, after the game.
“It was a great turnout,” Sharp said, after having three to four minutes of time with his family and friends. “I just wanted to thank everyone for supporting me over the years … But that’s all I’ve gotten to see (of my family and friends) for about five months.
“They gave me a good boost. It felt like a home game.”
Those who forgot to glance at the Montana roster before the game may have been slightly confused by the rousing support and ebullient Grizzly crowd behind the visitor’s basket.
Sharp emerged off the Montana bench to roaring support with 15:12 left in the first half, and immediately forced an errant shot from Santa Clara sophomore Cedric Latimer, who’s attempt went wide off the backboard and was blown for a shot clock violation.
Later, Sharp was called for two quick fouls just seven seconds apart. The latter, though, was whistled when Sharp fouled big-man Bryant’s would-be dunk. The center went to the line and made only 1 of 2 free throws.
Sharp made up for the fouls, though, and brought the Grizz to within three after drawing a foul on Latimer in the low post. He sunk both attempts from the free-throw line to cut Santa Clara’s lead to 11-8 early.
“I’m pretty hard on myself, but I thought I did pretty well tonight,” Sharp said. “Usually, I come off and bring good energy. I think (Coach Tinkle) was happy with how I played. I’m always hard on myself because you can always improve. But overall, I think I did well.”
The Broncos began to pull away later in the first half, however, and would eventually build a comfortable 33-20 halftime lead. While Sharp was taken out with 10 minutes remaining in the half, the Grizz had difficulty finishing their shots, and rounded out the first 20 minutes of play a dismal 7 of 24 from the field.
“Our team, we’re in a little slump right now,” Sharp said. “We just need to figure some things out … We’ll be good for league.”
Sharp returned to the game early in the second half in which he pulled down two offensive rebounds and scored his 3-pointer off Bryant.
“I was glad,” Sharp said of the 3-pointer, “because I looked bad getting blocked a couple times by the big boy, but I was happy.”
Later in the half, with Montana trailing 54-40 with 5:23 remaining, the junior Grizzly came off the bench again and sparked a comeback for Montana.
Off a missed 3-point attempt from teammate Ryan Staudacher that clanged off the rim, Sharp collected two more points as well as another offensive rebound on a tip-in that brought Montana to within 10.
The Grizz, who trailed by as many as 17, would cut the Broncos’ lead to eight points, but that was as far as they were able to claw back into the game.
Sharp walked of the floor with an ankle injury, gritting his teeth and walking limply, but he returned to the floor to finish the remainder of the game.
“I think I came down and rolled it a little bit,” he said. “I got it checked out and I’ll be fine. That’s part of basketball. The ankle always hurts.”
Sharp walked off the arena floor with his family Monday night. Montana will play at Cal State–Fullerton on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Although Fullerton won’t necessarily resemble the “home” game atmosphere at Santa Clara, Sharp says his immediate family is expected to make the trip south.
“It gets tough because it was a big part of my life in high school,” Sharp said of the hometown feel Monday’s game brought, “but it’s exciting and I always enjoy coming home to see everybody.”
Note: Sharp finished 2 of 6 from the field, 1 of 2 from behind the arc, and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Montana shot 18 of 54 from the field, 6 of 17 from behind the arc, and 7 of 13 from the free-throw line. With the loss, Montana falls to 5-6 overall.
Santa Clara was 20 of 40 from the field, 3 of 4 from behind the arc, and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line. With the win, Santa Clara improves to 7-3 overall.
