After finishing with a 9-3 record in the Tri-County Athletic
League, its best mark since 2008, the San Benito boys’ basketball
team was awarded eight all-league honors when the TCAL announced
its year-end accolades last week, including two first-teamers, two
all-defensive selections, and the Freshman of the Year in Hyram
Miskin.
HOLLISTER
After finishing with a 9-3 record in the Tri-County Athletic League, its best mark since 2008, the San Benito boys’ basketball team was awarded eight all-league honors when the TCAL announced its year-end accolades last week, including two first-teamers, two all-defensive selections, and the Freshman of the Year in Hyram Miskin.
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Miskin earned the honor after starting the majority of the season for the Balers at the small forward position, averaging more than 5 points per game in 18 games played. He also dropped a season-high 18 points against Anderson Union during the Condor Christmas Classic in December.
Miskin was the lone Baler to collect any of the TCALs hardware awards, although he wasn’t the only one from San Benito to be recognized.
Leading the way for the team was senior Cooper Sepulveda and junior Jordan Belton, each of whom earned a first-team selection, while senior guards Eric Elayda and Tyler Rickard were both honored with second-team distinctions and Brian Becerra was named to the Sportsmanship team.
San Benito’s defensive-minded play didn’t go unnoticed, either. In fact, two Balers — Rickard and Sepulveda — were named to the All-Defensive Team, which comprised of a total of just five players from around the league, including Adan Saldana of Alisal, Chima Ikeme of Gilroy and Frank Rogers of Salinas.
Rogers, who helped lead the Cowboys to the TCAL title and a 12-0 record, was named Most Valuable Player of the league, averaging a little more than 14 points per game for Salinas. He was a first-team all-league selection as well.
Head coach Joe Chappell, meanwhile, was named Coach of the Year.
The top three teams in the TCAL — Salinas, San Benito and Palma — were each awarded two first-team selections, and Sepulveda and Belton were selected to represent the Balers, who finished in second place this year.
Belton was San Benito’s leading scorer this past season, averaging nearly 12 points per game. A junior guard — he was last year’s Sophomore of the Year in the TCAL — Belton displayed a quick first step and an ability to get to the rim.
His season-high came on Feb. 4 when he dropped 18 points in a 55-51 victory against Palma, San Benito’s first win over the Chieftains since 2005.
Belton’s performance at the free-throw line was also much improved this season; he made 42 of 56 free throws during league play, including a 10 of 11 showing in San Benito’s improbable 79-75 victory over Gilroy on Jan. 7, in which he made three free throws in the waning moments to ice the win.
That particular game will also be remembered for the clutch 3-pointer made by Sepulveda, whose trey snapped a 73-all game and lifted the Balers to the first of two victories over their rivals.
Sepulveda finished second on the team in scoring with more than 11 points per game, was second on the team from behind the arc and first on the team at the free-throw line.
His two made free-throw attempts with no time left on the clock against Fremont in the opening round of the Division I playoffs supplied the Balers with the game-tying and game-winning points of a 55-54 contest.
The 6-foot-4 forward was often asked to guard the opposing team’s best player — hence, his selection to the all-defensive team — while also positioning himself in the paint or out near the arc on the opposite end. He deposited a season-high 23 points against Watsonville on Dec. 17 and, like Belton, tacked on 18 points in the team’s win over Palma on Feb. 4.
Joining Belton and Sepulveda on the 10-member first team was Salinas’ Mike Amiya and Mitchell Johnson; Daniel Vann Victorino of North Salinas; Cameron Yawary of Gilroy; Andres Jimenez of Everett Alvarez; and Palma’s Jack Powers and Noah Allen.
Allen, last year’s Freshman of the Year, was also named Sophomore of the Year in the TCAL this past season.
The Balers were awarded two second-team selections as well, as senior guards Eric Elayda and Tyler Rickard were both honored with the distinction.
Rickard, the team’s starting guard, was fourth on the team in scoring with more than eight points per game, second on the team in field goals, and third on the team in both 3-pointers and free throws. Very much the facilitator for the Balers, Rickard compiled a season-high 17 points against North Salinas on Jan. 28.
As for Elayda, he was the sixth man for San Benito this past season, and was third on the team in scoring with more than nine points per game. Perhaps as no surprise, the senior guard finished first on the Balers in 3-pointers made, and had the ability to catch fire from behind the arc at any given moment, especially in San Benito’s more significant games during the regular season.
He made a total of 13 3-pointers in four games against Salinas and Gilroy, and also hit a pair against Palma on Feb. 4, including the game-winner with 4.2 seconds remaining that supplied the Balers with a 55-51 victory.
Other second-team selections included Palma’s Matt Johnson and Justin Regester; Mark Farfan of Alisal; William Camel of Everett Alvarez; Chima Ikeme of Gilroy; Lamar Aiken of North Salinas; and Salinas’ Arthur Caldwell and Christian Mariscal.
San Benito sophomore Brian Becerra was also named to the Sportsmanship Team, which included Jay Burlison of Palma; Mike Wamungu of Alisal; Anthony Fernandez of Alvarez; Dylan Jensen of Gilroy; Sam Ramos of North Salinas; and Josh Murray of Salinas.
Tri-County Athletic League
MVP — Frank Rogers, Salinas
Coach of the Year — Joe Chappell, Salinas
Sophomore of the Year — Noah Allen, Palma
Freshman of the Year — Hyram Miskin, San Benito
First Team — All-TCAL
Noah Allen, Palma, sophomore; Jack Powers, Palma, sophomore; Andres Jimenez, Everett Alvarez, senior; Cameron Yawary, Gilroy, senior; Cooper Sepulveda, San Benito, senior; Jordan Belton, San Benito, junior; Daniel Vann Victorino, North Salinas, junior; Mitchell Johnson, Salinas, senior, Mike Amiya, Salinas, senior; Frank Rogers, Salinas, senior.
Second Team — All-TCAL
Matt Johnson, Palma, senior; Justin Regester, Palma, senior; Mark Farfan, Alisal, sophomore; William Camel, Everett Alvarez, sophomore; Chima Ikeme, Gilroy, senior; Eric Elayda, San Benito, senior; Tyler Rickard, San Benito, senior; Lamar Aiken, North Salinas, senior; Arthur Caldwell, Salinas, junior; Christian Mariscal, Salinas, senior.
All-Defensive Team
Adan Saldana, Alisal, senior; Chima Ikeme, Gilroy, senior; Tyler Rickard, San Benito, senior; Cooper Sepulveda, senior; Frank Rogers, Salinas, senior.
Sportsmanship Team
Jay Burlison, Palma, sophomore; Mike Wamungu, Alisal, senior; Anthony Fernandez, Everett Alvarez, senior; Dylan Jensen, Gilroy, senior; Brian Becerra, San Benito, sophomore; Sam Ramos, North Salinas, junior; Josh Murray, Salinas, junior.
