Anzar improves to 4-0 after 62-41 win over St. Francis
San Juan Bautista – Scott Benson continued his red-hot scoring streak and the Anzar boys basketball team rolled its record to 4-0 with a 62-41 win Tuesday over visiting St. Francis-Watsonville.
“I’m just doing what I’ve got to do,” said Benson, whose 31-point effort marked his third straight game with more than 30 points. “When I get a high-percentage shot, I’m going to take it.”
Benson also grabbed 12 rebounds as the Hawks overcame early foul trouble and a sluggish start to earn an easy victory.
“The first five minutes were a little shaky,” coach Ed Cecena said. “We tried to be too aggressive, too quick for our own good. We just needed to settle down and once we did that, things flowed for us.”
After St. Francis guard T.J. Kinion drained a quick 3-pointer, Anzar responded with the next six points to take the lead. Midway through the first quarter it was still a close game with the Hawks leading 8-7, but an 8-0 run to finish the period to take a nine-point lead.
After an early second-quarter basket by Benson put Anzar on top 18-7, the Sharks scored six straight points and with 5:31 left in the half, Benson picked up his third foul and left the game.
The Hawks never missed a beat and Benson returned to the game 1:14 later in the middle of a 10-0 run that helped spark Anzar as it took a 34-16 halftime lead.
Despite Benson playing with three fouls and the Hawks’ other top interior player, Erik Olson, fouling out late in the third, Anzar stretched the lead to 22 points entering the fourth quarter.
“The kids had to learn to play with fouls,” Cecena said. “We’ve got such a small roster, I’m sure we’re going to encounter this where our big guys get in foul trouble.”
James Henrard added 14 points for the Hawks, who were able to go into cruise control in the final period. Olson was limited to five points and six rebounds,
Cody Webb paced St. Francis with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Anzar continues its non-league schedule when it faces Santa Clara in the San Jose Invitational at San Jose High Academy. It will try to run its record to 5-0 when it faces the Bruins at 6pm tonight.
