Minutes after Hollister High overpowered Live Oak 57-29 Thursday
night, Baler center Sarah Groman was seen leaving Mattson Gym with
a box of goodies left over from snack bar sales.
Minutes after Hollister High overpowered Live Oak 57-29 Thursday night, Baler center Sarah Groman was seen leaving Mattson Gym with a box of goodies left over from snack bar sales.
Groman must have really worked up an appetite while standing on the right low block in the first period of the Balers first-ever Tri-County Athletic League win.
The ball came in to the low post four times to Groman and the Acorns, who played without their best interior player. Katrina Friebel, out with a knee injury, had no one to match up.
Groman scored each time for nine first-period points and added two more buckets at the beginning of the second period before coming out of the game with two fouls and the Balers with a secure lead. She totaled a game-high 15 points on 6-of-8 from the floor to go with 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals, while playing about half the game.
The Balers are 14-3, 1-0 in the T-CAL while the Acorns are 5-7 and 0-1.
“We knew we had to come out and play hard,” said the 6-2 Groman. “We can’t take anyone lightly.”
Baler head coach Richard Silva shuffled his lineup around once the lead was established. However, the Balers went through a five-minute scoring drought in the second quarter until a bucket by Naomi Ruiz at the 2:11 mark broke the ice. After a 23-8 first period, the Balers had just seven points in the second frame to the Acorns three.
“We went through the motions in that second quarter,” said Baler head coach Richard Silva. “I told my girls at halftime that we can’t play at their level. We have to play to our capabilities. We had a mismatch inside with a lot of my girls. We needed to pound the ball inside.”
Unless, of course, one gets hot from the outside. That would be sophomore guard Trisha Lee in the first couple of minutes of the third quarter.
Lee had a nice release on a jumper from the right side and 16-feet out for 32-11. She then went to the left baseline for another ‘j’ and 34-11. Lee sauntered to just beyond the free throw line for a 16-footer. Then another jumper, this one a little longer for four straight hoops. She had 13 points for the night.
“Trisha gave us a lift,” said Silva. “She strung some hoops together.”
Baler guard Gina Caianiello dished off five assists and added nine points, while Ruiz ended up with seven points and as many rebounds.
Eight players in all scored for the Balers as Silva emptied the bench in both halves.
“This is the kind of game where these other girls get a chance to play,” said Silva. “They played well, especially in the second half. We just need to win by 20 points. I don’t want to embarrass anybody out there.”
Live Oak coach Paul Cachopo knows his team will be in tough the next nine league games. Gilroy looks like the Acorns’ best bet for a win.
“This is a strong league,” said Cachopo, in his first season. “Our girls laid their hearts out there. That’s all I can ask. Hollister can beat Notre Dame. They can beat you by going big or by going small. I’m just hoping to keep the kids’ spirits up.”
The Balers have a bit of a layoff until their next game. Hollister entertains Gilroy on Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.
“I don’t think the layoff will hurt us,” said Groman. “That will give us a chance to fine-tune some things.”
Baler bits: Hollister was 10-for-14 from the free throw line. –Â Once more, the shot clock was out. The next game in Mattson Gym is Saturday at 11 a.m., which doesn’t give much time for the clock to be fixed.
JV score: Hollister 68, Live Oak 12. The Lady Balers (16-2) had 15 points from Jaime Hall and a career-high 14 points from Jen Crepeau. Courtney Almaguer had eight points.
“We’ve been working on getting the ball inside,” said Baler head coach Tom Dean. “Most of our points came inside. The coach asked me to press them in the second half because he thought his team needed it. I was happy to oblige him.”
Frosh score: Hollister 41, Live Oak 38. Amanda Boyd had 16 points, while Jamie Huston had 10. Christine Goytia added seven for the Balers (10-3).
Live Oak83612 – 29
Hollister237198- 57
LO – Dominguez 2 0-0 4, Terry 3 0-0 7, Guevara 0 3-6 3, Llanes 4 1-2 9, Cline 0 3-6 3, Perkins 1 0-2 3. Totals 10 7-16 29.
H – Caianiello 3 2-2 9, Lee 6 1-2 13, Groman 6 3-3 15, Ruiz 2 3-4 7, Rodriguez 2 0-0 4, Tremblay 1 0-0 2, Gonzales 2 1-2 5, Rocha 0 0-1 0, Andrewson 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 10-14 57.
3-point goals: Terry, Perkins (L); Caianiello (H)
