The San Benito girls basketball team’s season ended Wednesday in the first round of the CIF State girls Division I basketball championship, losing to Heritage High 63-40.
The Balers were overwhelmed by the Heritage size early – falling behind 9-3 – and were unable to catch up, SBHS head coach Mitch Burley said.
“They were mostly just tossing the ball inside and she would just score,” Burley said. “We tried to put some pressure on them but they were just a very good team.”
Offensively, San Benito played much better than they did in the Central Coast Section title game Saturday, Burley said. The Balers were more relaxed and took care of the ball better.
“We competed a lot better and that was nice to see,” Burley said. “They had a lot of talent and we did whatever we could to overcome everything.”
Finishing with three 3-pointers, Taylor Fabing led the Balers with 13 points. Sophomores Anjelica Collins (eight points) and Denise Martinez (seven points) also played well for San Benito.
“It was really great to see them play like that,” Burley said. “I told the team that we weren’t going to be nervous like we were against Gunn. And we competed better.”
The Balers finish the season with a 16-13 record. Despite a slow start and consecutive losses to end the year, it was a great year for the Balers, Burley said.
“It was an amazing year but it didn’t go as I would have scripted it,” he said.
In the beginning of the season, the Balers lost a pair of seniors – Kim Sparrer and Cassandra Barraza – to severe injuries and didn’t hit their stride until midway through the league season. With four wins over its last six games, the Balers leapt into the top of the league and earned a No. 6 seed in the CCS DI playoffs. Propelled by an upset win over North Salinas, the Balers stormed into the title game.
“That win over North high was really what allowed that run to be possible,” Burley said. “It was amazing to see us play so efficiently. It really carried us over.”
And with Martinez and Collins taking a larger role next year, the experience can lead to even bigger things, he said.
“It can only help,” Burley said. “I’m looking forward to next year.”
