Since the day he took over the boys basketball team program, San Benito head coach David Kaplansky has never been shy about his ultimate goal for the Baler basketball program.
Simply, the team is expected to win and continue to win.
After experiencing a pair of Central Coast Section titles coaching the Balers’ girls’ squad, Kaplansky wants to have a similar feeling on the boys’ side. After reaching the CCS semifinals last year, and running out to a 19-2 record – prior to Wednesday’s game at Seaside – the Balers are on pace to do much better than that in the winter of 2013.
Their recent 10 game winning streak is only proof of that.
“We are trying to keep our momentum right now,” Kaplansky said. “It’s important to us right now.”
Judging by the team’s confidence after every win, success hasn’t been all that surprising. As the Balers have relied on the scoring punch of Jacob Tonascia and Hyram Miskin while resting their laurels on a tenacious defense.
Just three months ago, the new season was a big question mark. After losing its top scorer a year ago in Jordan Belton, the Balers didn’t know who their offense would go through. And with a new league, with tougher opponents, there was no guarantee the Balers could match last year’s 19-7 record.
Luckily for the Balers, that’s no longer the case.
Stepping into the scoring spotlight, Tonascia has gone from averaging six points per game to nearly 15. He has been an offensive force for the Balers. Combined with Miskin’s 13 points per game and the improvement from Michael Breen and Robert Henderson, the Balers have had no issues on the offensive end.
With Friday’s win over Christopher, San Benito has already equaled last year’s win total with at least three games to go. With only a week left in the regular season, the Balers have the second best record in the entire section behind only Palo Alto.
The key to all that success has been the unselfish play from a deep team, that rotates eight players on a nightly basis. Combined with strong defense, San Benito is unstoppable at times.
“I think the ball movement. I think the unselfishness,” Kaplansky said. “These guys are great at making the extra pass. They have great chemistry and they play great team defense. That’s been the most consistent thing – our team defense. They’ve really shared the ball well. That’s the strength of our team.”
The team’s depth is one of the biggest changes from a year ago. Last year, San Benito rarely extended its bench beyond two players – going nearly entire games with only six players. This year, though, with Robbie Skinner, R.J. Collins and Tony Diaz, the Balers’ bench is much bigger.
“When you get guys in it’s fun,” Kaplansky said. “All those guys are coming back next year too.”
And unselfishness is just as important off the court as it is on. It’s also included in personal achievements. With last week’s win over Salinas, Kaplansky earned his 200th combined win at San Benito High. But afterward he wasn’t in a celebratory mood. His mind was still focused on what was upcoming for the Balers.
“We are not counting wins right now,” he said. “These teams are too good. We can’t look ahead.”
After so many mediocre years, the past two seasons – where the Balers have gone a combined 38-9 – are proof the team’s mindset has changed. No longer are the Balers just trying to be respectable in league play – they are looking for a title.
With at least two more wins, the Balers will get that first league title since the 2003-2004 season. But there is no looking ahead – at least not yet.
“We were getting beat up the last couple of years,” Tonascia said. “Our last league championship was 10 years ago. So to finally take it to them … We are working hard in practice, you know, and not taking any plays off.”
The Balers might not have a player that can play isolation basketball and create his own shot. But it’s not needed. With team defense and offense, the Balers never rely on the ups and downs of one player. They are a perfectly defined team and that’s why they have a chance to bring another basketball title to the baseball and football town of Hollister.
And you’re not going to hear anyone complain.
