The country boys showed the city boys they could play some
hoop.
SAN JOSE – The country boys showed the city boys they could play some hoop.
Hollister High grabbed the 26th Annual Independence Fukushima Invitational championship Friday when the Balers stifled host Independence 56-41, dominating the boards against a team which can play above the rim. It was the first boys hoop tournament win for the school since 1997.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Kyle Sharp, just a sophomore, had a career-high 16 rebounds to go with a team-high 16 points. Ten of Sharp’s boards were on the defensive end.
“We showed everyone we can play,” said the 6-foot-6 Sharp as he munched on a postgame pizza. “We brought our intensity from the beginning. We all played together. All 12 of us.”
Joining Sharp on the all-tournament team was Baler center Anthony Butler, who had eight points and five rebounds against the Sixers (4-5).
The Balers (6-1) withstood a 13-point first half from Sixers guard Tommy Gard, a transfer from Piedmont Hills. Gard, a slick street player, milked three three’s in the first half, added another trey in the second half and finished with 19 points for the game.
“He’s a good player,” said Baler coach David Kaplansky of Gard. “We weathered the storm. They forced us to play a good game for us to beat them. I’m glad they pressured us in the fourth quarter. We needed to face a team like that. It was a big win against a Division I school.”
The affair was decided in the third period when the Balers outscored the Sixers 16-2. Only an 18-foot jumper by the Sixers Carlos Wright with 19 seconds left in the quarter kept Independence from being shutout in the frame as the Balers’ help man defense with occasional trap on the perimeter harrassed the Sixers into turnovers or rushed shots.
Butler scored inside at the 4:18 mark of the third and was fouled, converting the free throw for 32-23 Balers. The Sixers implemented an omoeba trap and the Balers spread the floor nicely and got layups. Sharp scored inside for 35-23. A Sharp follow made things 39-23 as the Balers officially took control of the contest. The final hoop came from guard Jeff Fajardo, who banked in a 16-footer after a wild scramble for a loose ball. Kevin Zanella had four of his seven points in the period, while guard Eric Davis chipped in two free throws as five different Balers scored in the frame.
And as the buzzer sounded to signify the end of the period, the Hollister players on the floor ran to their teammates, who bounced off the bench. Kaplansky led a team clap in unison as the rowdy Indepence fans in a row of chairs courtside could only watch in silence. The Balers were united. This game was over.
Sixers coach Leo Hermoso had praise for Sharp and Baler guards Broc Sondgroth, Davis and Fajardo.
“I really liked that sophomore (Sharp),” said Hermoso. “And their guards did a good job of shooting the basketball early.”
Sondgroth tossed in two rainbow three’s to start the game. However, he cooled off, ending up with eight points, though even his misses were close. Fajardo had six points, while Thomas Fernandez had five, including the game’s final hoop.
“I liked the way we executed on offense,” said Kaplansky. “We ran a play every time down and got a good shot.”
For Fajardo, the tournament win had extra meaning. The team had decided to dedicate their play in the tournament to Fajardo’s younger brother, Sean Miranda (see column on B1). Miranda is gravely ill with leukemia and is being treated at Stanford Hospital.
“The guys got together and said they wanted to win it for Sean,” said Kaplansky.
They did just that.
Next up for the Balers is Robert Louis Stevenson at Mattson Gym at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Hollister faces Aptos in the first round of the Bob Hagen Tournament this Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Gilroy High. The tournament runs through Saturday.
Tourney notes: Baler forward Danny Brooks turned an ankle with 4:05 left in the first period and is listed day-to-day, according to Kaplansky. – The Balers were 11-of-14 from the free throw line. – Sharp had 34 rebounds in the Balers’ win over Santa Teresa, North County and the Sixers. – The tournament is named for long-time James Lick head coach Dan Fukushima, an assistant at Independence before passing on nearly a decade ago. HIs wife was present throughout the tournament. – Mt. Pleasant defeated North County 45-40 in the third-place game. – Joining Sharp and Butler on the all-tourney team were Gard, the Sixers’ Roland Campbell, Travis Bell and Cartier Beck from North County, Brian Worthy and Omar Truong from Mt. Pleasant and Jessie Enchill from Irvington. – A celebrity of sorts was working the concession stand. Barry Goldman-Hall caught Barry Bonds’ dramatic three-run home run in a Giants’ loss to St. Louis in the 2002 playoffs. Goldman-Hall was in McCovey Cove kayaking with his wife. “The ball came right to me,” said Goldman-Hall, who didn’t have to get wet. The ball is not for sale. It’s currently resting on Goldman-Hall’s mantle.
Hollister 17 8 16 14 – 56
Independence 14 9 2 16 – 41
H – Sondgroth 2 2-2 8, Sharp 7 2-2 16, Butler 3 2-2 8, Davis 1 2-2 4, Fajardo 3 0-0 6, Zanella 2 3-6 7, Sims 1 0-0 2, Fernandez 2 0-0 5. Totals 20 11-14 56.
I – Gard 6 1-5 19, Campbell 2 2-2 6, Wright 3 4-4 10, Faagai 3 0-2 6. Totals 14 7-13 41.
3-point goals: Sondgroth 2, Fernandez (H); Gard 3 (I).
