Andrew Matheson – Sports editor
am*******@sv**********.com
Santa Cruz
Vanessa Farias had 12 points and Elena Fata and Meagan Halstead each added 11 as the San Benito girls basketball team improved to 5-2 on the year with a 51-40 win at Harbor in Santa Cruz.
One year removed from the 48-38 loss to Harbor in their second game of the season, the Lady ‘Balers returned the favor Friday night in a game that coach David Kaplansky called the biggest win of the season.
And Harbor’s (4-3) Olive Kersey, who dropped 21 on San Benito last year, was held to just 10 points on the night.
“A big game from Halstead,” Kaplansky said. “She won the individual battle 11-10.
“It’s going to be a big year for [Harbor], and this is a big win for our program. It’s the biggest win for us this year, by far.”
Kaplansky said San Benito played a “solid” man defense in the first quarter, and was able to outscore the Pirates 13-6 as a result.
“We did a good job of taking them out of their offense,” Kaplansky said.
In the third quarter, though, the Lady ‘Balers opened a comfortable lead after outscoring Harbor by nine points.
“It was phenomenal. The difference of the game was the third quarter,” Kaplansky said. “We executed out offense and threw in two set plays. We knocked down some open shots when we needed them.”
Harbor, Kaplansky added, was never able to mount a comeback in the fourth, as San Benito changed to a 2-3 zone defense and slowed the tempo of the game down.
The coach added that Bri Romero, who had six points in the game, provided leadership on the court. Said Kaplansky, “Her effort was tremendous tonight. It sparked us.”
San Benito (5-3) will host Seaside (4-2) Tuesday at 7 p.m. Seaside had previously fallen to Harbor 54-51 already this season.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 13 11 19 7 51
HRB 6 11 10 13 40
SB (51) – Fata 2 1 3 11, Farias 4 1 1 12, Russell 1 0 0 2, Casalegno 0 1 0 3, Halstead 4 0 3 11, Ademek 3 0 0 6, Romero 3 0 0 6, Aguilera 1 0 0 2.
Boys Basketball
Andrew Hill 68, Anzar 58
Evergreen 51, Anzar 39
San Jose
After defeating the host team at the San Jose High Academy Invitational Wednesday, the Anzar Hawks boys basketball team dropped their remaining two games of the tournament to Evergreen and Andrew Hill.
The Hawks lost to Evergreen Thursday 51-39 despite 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocks from Erik Olson, and 10 points and five assists from Steven Mockabee.
“We made a little bit of a run, but couldn’t get over the hump,” coach Ed Cecena said. It seems we’re able to compete with these teams and stay close, we just can’t finish it.”
Thursday’s loss set up Friday’s game against Andrew Hill for fifth and sixth place in the tournament. Despite a double-double from Olson (13 points, 10 rebounds), the Hawks could not keep pace, however, and lost 68-58.
“They were quick. They forced us to play faster than we wanted to play,” Cecena said. “We couldn’t control the tempo.”
Olson, though, was an all-tournament selection. Anzar’s big man delivered a double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds) on the first night of the tourney against San Jose High to go along with his strong totals from Thursday and Friday.
Against Andrew Hill, Mark Rania had 14 points, Steven Mockabee had 12 and Ryan Waller contributed 13. Said Cecena, “The positive thing was that we had four guys in double figures, but the pace of the game was just too quick.”
Anzar will play at Menlo-Atherton Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
ANZ 9 10 12 8 39
EVG 10 15 15 11 51
ANZ (39) – Mockabee 1 2 2 10, Rania 2 0 5 9, Staley 1 0 0 2, Olson 5 0 4 14, Martinez 1 0 0 2.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
ANZ 13 10 22 13 58
AHL 14 19 20 15 68
ANZ (58) – Indarose 0 1 0 3, Mockabee 1 3 1 12, Waller 6 0 0 12, Rania 5 1 1 14, Olson 6 0 1 13, Martinez 2 0 0 4.
Girls Soccer
Anzar 2, Gonzales 0
Gonzales
The Anzar Hawks girls soccer team defeated Gonzales 2-0 Friday behind a pair of goals from Olivia Austin.
In the first half, Austin’s goal was unassisted, while her second score in the second half was set up by Alex Brown.
Anzar had 21 shots on net, while Hawks keeper Erin Deleissegues recorded two saves.
The Hawks will have some time off for their holiday break. They’ll return to the field on Jan. 8, 2008 when they’ll host Marina at 3:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Saint Lawrence 51, Anzar 29
Santa Clara
The shorthanded Anzar Hawks girls basketball team had a slow start to their game against Saint Lawrence and eventually lost 51-29 in Santa Clara Friday.
The Hawks were without Nicole Mello, the team’s leading rebounder and physical presence inside, and were held to just eight points in the first half, compared to Saint Lawrence’s 26.
Liliana Resendez had a season-high 10 points on the night, however, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the process.
“Lili had her best game of the season,” coach Aaron Netzel said. “She really came out on fire in the third quarter.”
The third quarter provided a spark for Anzar, as they managed to keep pace with Saint Lawrence, but by that time, that game had already decided.
“They showed up in the second half, but if you give them 18 points in the second quarter and answer with four, that’s a big problem,” Netzel said.
Alyssa Rodriguez had 10 points on the night and three steals.
Netzel said the team struggled executing, and while they would break though Saint Lawrence’s full-court press, they would have difficulty sinking their shots.
The Hawks (1-5) will have a quick turnaround as they’ll play at Pajaro Valley Monday at 6:30 p.m.
