San Benito beats Salinas 45-27, remain in first place with
two-game lead
Salinas
The San Benito girls basketball team made it lucky number seven Tuesday when they defeated Salinas 45-27 behind 11 points from Vanessa Farias.
The Lady ‘Balers have won seven straight games and sit on top of the Tri-County Athletic League hill with a 7-0 record and a two-game lead on second-place North Salinas.
Notre Dame, which was tied for second with North Salinas earlier this week, lost to Gilroy 35-33 Tuesday night.
San Benito will host both Notre Dame and Gilroy later this week.
Lauren Ademek had nine points for San Benito, while Kelsey Russell and Vanessa Casalegno, usually noted as defensive specialists for the team, scored seven and six points, respectively.
“It was a big team win,” coach David Kaplansky said. “Everyone got to play good minutes.
“I was real proud with Vanessa Casalegno running the group … running the offense and getting the girls where they needed to go. And Kelsey Russell had her best game of the year. Defensively, she’s the most consistent, but she had her best offensive game.”
The Lady ‘Balers were rather consistent throughout the game on the defensive end as well, holding the Cowboys to single-digit point totals in the first three quarters, and just eight points at halftime.
San Benito, which struggled offensively with only 18 points at the break, held an eight-point lead in the third quarter.
“And,” Kaplansky said, “we went to ‘Black.'”
“Black” is the term of San Benito’s stifling full-court press, and the Lady ‘Balers immediately forced five straight turnovers and scored 10 straight points before Salinas called a timeout.
“It really opened the game,” Kaplansky said. “It got our girls excited. It gave us a lot of enthusiasm … It gave us an opportunity to get some easy baskets.”
San Benito (16-4 overall) will host Notre Dame Thursday at Mattson Gym in Hollister. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 9 9 14 13 45
SAL 2 6 9 10 27
SB (45) – Fata 0 0 3 3, Farias 4 1 0 11, Zamani 0 0 1 1, Russell 2 1 0 7, Casalegno 2 0 2 6, Halstead 1 0 2 4, Ademek 3 0 3 9, Aguilera 2 0 0 4.
JV Note:
The San Benito junior varsity girls basketball team fought their way back against Salinas Tuesday, but couldn’t complete the come-from-behind victory as the Cowboys stole the contest, 45-34.
After Salinas worked out to a 13-6 first-quarter lead, the Lady ‘Balers outscored the Cowboys in the second and third quarters, and held a narrow 28-27 lead entering the final stanza.
“We had a good strong start in the third quarter and kind of fizzled out in the fourth quarter,” coach Karen Fortino said. “They came on hot in the fourth.”
Fortino said one Salinas player hit three 3-pointers to seal the victory.
“We just couldn’t get out and defend it in time,” Fortino said. “I think that was the big difference in the game.”
Arielle Rianda had eight points to lead San Benito, while Kim Warner and Melisah Cortez each added three blocks apiece.
San Benito will return to Mattson Gym Thursday to host Notre Dame. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 6 8 14 6 34
SAL 13 2 12 15 45
Frosh Note:
The San Benito freshmen girls basketball team posted a convincing 52-19 win over Salinas Tuesday night.
Jackie Echaorre had 13 points for San Benito. Jessica Vest scored nine, Nicole Rianda added eight and Erin Glasspool supplied seven in the resounding victory.
San Benito is now 19-2 overall, 6-1 in the TCAL.
Bella Angeles had six steals and Jeanett Rodriguez had four.
“Again the girls demonstrated outstanding team ball no matter who was in the game,” coach Tom Dean said.
San Benito will host Notre Dame Thursday night at Mattson Gym in Hollister. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 18 12 10 11 52
SAL 10 2 6 1 19
