Matadors hit 10 3-pointers in 61-52 win over the Haybalers
Tuesday at the Fukishima Invitational at Independence High
School
SAN JOSE
Three-pointers and turnovers proved to be the San Benito boys basketball team’s undoing on Tuesday night at the Independence Fukishima Invitational in San Jose.
In their opening round match, the Haybalers committed 15 turnovers and watched Monta Vista High drop 10 3-pointers en route to a 61-52 victory at Independence High School.
“They shot a lot of 3-pointers and made a lot of 3-pointers,” San Benito head coach John Becerra said. “We were right there with them throughout … but they kind of controlled the tempo on us.”
Eric Elayda had 15 points for San Benito, which falls to 3-3 overall. Dominic Zanella had 11 points and nine rebounds for the ‘Balers, while teammate Kyle Vallejo pulled down 10 boards – five offensive – to go along with his eight points.
“We missed several layups. I mean, more than several layups,” Becerra said. “But that’s been throughout the season. Easy shots, it cripples us.”
Monta Vista, which snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory, was led by Krish Rangarajan and Chris Garvin, each of whom scored 16 points apiece for the Matadors.
San Benito will return to the Fukishima Invitational on Thursday for a 3 p.m. tip-off. The ‘Balers will play the loser of the Fremont-Bellarmine matchup.
Likely to be Fremont, the Firebirds lost their season opener on Nov. 25 to Monta Vista, 75-67.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
SB 12 18 10 12 52
MV 15 17 16 13 61
San Benito (52) – Vallejo 3 0 2 8, Von Urff 2 0 1 5, King 1 0 1 3, Elayda 5 1 2 15, Canchola 1 0 0 2, Rickard 1 1 1 6, Corral 1 0 0 2, Zanella 5 0 1 11.
NOTE:
San Benito post player Dominic Zanella was chosen to the all-tournament team at last weekend’s 26th Annual Seascape Classic in Aptos. In the latter two games of the tournament, Zanella scored 14 points on Gilroy and 15 against Watsonville.
