San Benito boys receive No. 12 seed; give up plenty of height to
No. 5 Milpitas in opener
When it takes the court in Milpitas tonight, the San Benito boys basketball team knows it will be facing a tall order. And not only because the No. 12 Haybalers open the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs as a visitor and lower seed.
No. 5 Milpitas, the ‘Balers’ first-round foe, boasts a roster that includes four players that stand 6-foot-6 or taller, including 6-foot-10 center Spencer Ford.
At least the Haybalers and head coach John Becerra have a healthy mindset entering the contest.
“Every team we’ve faced is taller than we are,” said Becerra, who continued with a laugh. “They’re just a little bit taller than the other teams.”
The match-up marks the second consecutive year that San Benito and Milpitas will have met early in the postseason, but this season the tables appear to be turned.
Spurred by 6-foot-7 Kyle Sharp, the No. 6 ‘Balers defeated the No. 11 Trojans, 61-56, in last season’s second round in Hollister. This time, with Sharp a freshman forward at the University of Montana, Milpitas owns the height advantage and the higher seed.
“It’s a different year and a totally different team, so we’ll see what happens,” said Becerra. “We’re totally different.”
San Benito (13-13) enters the postseason having won four of its last five games, a fact that senior guard Vince Bautista said will help the ‘Balers in their underdog role.
“Anybody can beat anybody in the playoffs,” said Bautista after San Benito wrapped up its practice on Friday. “We’ve just got to come out with hustle and intensity right from the start.”
Milpitas completed its regular season with a record of 19-6 and was the third-place finisher in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s tough De Anza Division. But the Trojans’ most impressive performance may have come in a loss. Milpitas gave Palo Alto, the top seed in the Division II playoffs at 25-1, all it could handle before coming up just short in a 45-40 defeat on Feb. 3.
The Trojans and ‘Balers have three common opponents on the year. Both teams defeated Fremont and Homestead, with Milpitas owning a significant advantage in terms of margin of victory. But the first-round foes also suffered a common loss: Cupertino defeated both teams in the Independence Invitational in early Dec.–San Benito by two points and Milpitas by four.
Becerra compared the Trojans to his team’s arch rival, namely because of the similarities in size.
“They remind me a great deal of Gilroy,” said Becerra. “Every kid is over 6-foot. Their point guard is about 6-foot-1.”
As for game strategy, San Benito expects the Trojans to stick with their traditional man-to-man defense and hopes to use the height differential to its advantage.
“Hopefully, we can run our offense,” said Becerra. “Hopefully, we’re maybe a bit quicker than they are up the court.”
The Haybalers will begin the contest attempting to match-up with the taller Trojans in a man-to-man defense, but Becerra allowed, “we’ll adjust if we have to do so.”
Lurking as a potential quarterfinal opponent should San Benito prevail are the rival Mustangs. No. 4 Gilroy hosts No. 13 Andrew Hill tonight with the winner slated to face the Milpitas-San Benito victor at Independence High School on Saturday.
“That would be interesting,” said Becerra. “I’d sure like to be able to do that.”
Speaking on Friday, two days before the brackets were announced, ‘Balers senior guard Jake Lopez cautioned that his team needs to play its game and not get caught up in the match-ups.
“You’ve got to bring it every time you step on the floor,” said Lopez.
Senior forward Daryl Baladad echoed that sentiment.
“One game at a time,” said Baladad. “One at a time.”
