Anzar falls 53-52 to the MTAL’s second-place team
Anzar provided a stiff challenge to Robert Louis Stevenson, but fell a point short in its bid to take down the Mission Trail Athletic League’s second place team in boys basketball action Saturday.
The Hawks lost to the Pirates 53-52, spoiling a chance to leapfrog Stevenson in the standings by a half game.
“Both teams played excellent basketball as far as taking care of the ball,” Anzar coach Ed Cecena said of a game in which both team committed just nine turnovers. “They just executed better than we did.”
The Hawks (15-8, 7-4 MTAL) found themselves trailing early, as Stevenson (14-8, 8-2) took a 13-8 lead after the first quarter.
“That’s the quarter that hurt us,” Cecena said.
But Anzar rebounded and played the Pirates evenly after that. The Hawks trimmed the deficit to 26-24 by halftime and it was a one-point game entering the fourth quarter.
Anzar even held the lead late in the game, but Stevenson had the final possession.
With the Hawks providing tight defense and leading 52-50, the Pirates were forced to fire up a difficult perimeter shot. The shot missed and Anzar center Erik Olson appeared to be in position for the rebound, but the ball caromed to Stevenson’s Cooper Kehoe and he scored the putback to tie the game and was fouled on the play. His successful free throw with five seconds left gave the Pirates the win.
“We put ourselves in position to win, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” Cecena said. “It’s kind of hard to swallow because both teams played really well.”
Scott Benson led Anzar with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Olson had a strong game with 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Stephen Mockabee added 11 points and three steals.
Keith Johnson paced Stevenson’s efforts with 17 points and six rebounds while Kehoe had eight rebounds to accompany his six points.
Anzar can now finish no better than in a tie for first place with Pacific Grove, although the Hawks would need to win their remaining three games and have the undefeated Breakers (10-0 MTAL) lose their remaining four.
The Hawks also sit 1 1/2 games out of second place and the league’s second automatic berth to the Central Coast Section playoffs. Regardless, a playoff berth in Division V appears inevitable.
Girls Basketball
Anzar fell behind big early and couldn’t recover in a 60-26 loss to Stevenson on Saturday.
The Pirates (13-8, 9-2 MTAL) led 18-2 after the first quarter and held a 36-7 advantage by halftime.
The Hawks (5-15, 3-9) had a solid third quarter, outscoring Stevenson 14-9 but it wasn’t enough to spark the type of comeback it needed.
Shelby Keldson was Anzar’s leading scorer with eight points. Rachel Baker added seven and Danielle Mello scored five.
Stevenson’s Kendall Keith had 15 points to lead all scorers and Caroline Main chipped in with 10.
