From a final-score perspective, the San Benito Haybalers did
exactly what the were supposed to do on Monday night. They easily
handled visiting Gonzales 86-44 in decisive fashion at Hollister’s
Mattson Gym, pouring in double-digit point totals through each of
the first three quarters, eventually leading to a running clock
— which can only happen in the final stanza when one team is
ahead by at least 40 points.
HOLLISTER
From a final-score perspective, the San Benito Haybalers did exactly what the were supposed to do on Monday night.
They easily handled visiting Gonzales 86-44 in decisive fashion at Hollister’s Mattson Gym, pouring in double-digit point totals through each of the first three quarters, eventually leading to a running clock — which can only happen in the final stanza when one team is ahead by at least 40 points.
But what was truly impressive was the way they managed to take that 40-point lead.
In their season opener, the Balers came out on fire from long distance Monday night, making a total of 12 3-pointers in the game and 11 in the first half alone.
Afterward, San Benito head coach Tracy Carpenter surmised if that was a school record.
“That’s a lot for high school,” he said. The Balers were 11 of 17 from 3-point range in the first two quarters.
“We have a good shooting team,” Carpenter added. “We have a good perimeter shooting team, which is good. But you’d like to see more balance, more inside scoring.”
Maybe another night.
On Monday, the Balers were just fine from long range, depositing five treys each in the first and second quarters.
At halftime, San Benito was leading 55-22, and shooting 63 percent from the field.
“We played confidently,” Carpenter said.
Perhaps the bigger test will be keeping those shooting percentages high as the season progresses.
Up against a lesser opponent Monday, San Benito used its ball movement and size over Gonzales to set the tone early, leading to wide-open looks from behind the arc.
In fact, Isaiah Acfalle, Eric Elayda, Tyler Rickard and Daniel Gutierrez each made a pair of 3-pointers in the game, while Gonzales’ 23 turnovers opened up the fast break for the Balers on the inside.
Three-point field goals were just as frequent as that of the two-point variety in the first half, though.
Elayda scored eight of his 10 points in the first quarter — with two 3-pointers — as the Balers closed out the opening period on a 10-4 run.
That run continued in the second quarter, as San Benito opened on an 11-0 spurt to grab a 36-10 lead.
Seeking more of an inside game, Carpenter was pleased to see his team shoot as well as they did on Monday night, but he couldn’t help but ponder those games when shooting 65 percent from behind the arc in the first half just simply isn’t realistic.
“And defensively, we have a long way to go,” Carpenter said. “We’ve got to play better.”
Brian Becerra and Rickard led the Balers with 12 points apiece, while Acfalle, Jeremy Canchola and Elayda each had 10 points.
San Benito will compete Thursday against Los Altos at the Cupertino Shootout. Tip-off is 4 p.m.
Notes:
San Benito was 33 of 62 from the field on Monday, 8 of 11 from the free-throw line … Gonzales shot 19 of 51 from the field, 6 of 12 from the line … Gonzales made two 3-pointers … The Balers committed six turnovers, but had zero in the second and third quarters … San Benito’s bench, led by Becerra, scored 43 points on Monday.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
GONZ 10 12 14 8 44
SANB 25 30 23 8 86
San Benito (86) — B. Becerra 5-8 2-3 12, I. Acfalle 4-5 0-0 10, J. Canchola 3-7 3-4 10, C. Sepulveda 2-5 1-1 6, E. Elayda 4-7 0-0 10, T. Rickard 5-8 0-0 12, D. Gutierrez 3-5 1-1 9, R. Di Salvo 1-3 1-2 3, J. Tonascia 3-5 0-0 6, R. Henderson 2-3 0-0 5, M. Breen 1-2 0-0 3.
Three-point goals: I. Acfalle 2, J. Canchola 1, C. Sepulveda 1, E. Elayda 2, T. Rickard 2, D. Gutierrez 2, R. Henderson 1, M. Breen 1.
