Lady ‘Balers beat Alisal 52-42 Friday night on the road, North
Salinas next
Salinas – There’s only one team left in Salinas now that San Benito hasn’t beaten.
On Friday, Alisal was the latest opponent looking to knock the Lady ‘Balers off their winning streak that has included the team’s entire Tri-County Athletic League schedule to date.
But San Benito didn’t even allow Alisal to hold a lead in the game, as the Hollister basketball team exited Salinas Friday night with a 52-42 win over the host Trojans.
While securing wins against Salinas, Notre Dame, Gilroy, Everett Alvarez and now Alisal, San Benito has opened their conference schedule with a perfect 5-0 record.
Up next? North Salinas, a team the then-shorthanded Haybalers lost to 36-27 at the Seaside Sweet 16 in late December, but also a team that couldn’t beat Alisal on their home turf just last week.
And San Benito was not the latest victim to fall in the raucous Trojan atmosphere, an environment that David Kaplansky said was the loudest he’s experienced as coach of both the boys and girls teams at San Benito.
“That’s a big win for us,” Kaplansky said. “That’s probably the toughest environment we’ll have to go to.
“Once we closed it down … We started pushing them away.”
With San Benito holding a nine-point halftime lead, Alisal cut the deficit to two points in the third stanza before Lauren Ademek hit a mid-range jumper to close out the quarter with the ‘Balers ahead 37-33.
But San Benito, as Kaplansky said, started pushing the Trojans away in the fourth.
While Vanessa Farias scored six of her team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, ‘Baler post Victoria Aguilera scored all nine of her points in the final period, including 3 of 4 from the free-throw line amid the ebullient and piercing crowd.
“It was rough,” said Aguilera, regarding her free-throw attempts while the stands hit an ear-splitting noise level. “The crowd was going crazy and I was just trying to keep my cool … That was the loudest.”
The Trojans struggled to make a shot in the waning minutes, while Bri Romero’s three steals in the quarter kept Alisal from getting any closer.
“If our girls can handle that kind of crowd and the pressure that Alisal put on us, that’ll build character,” Kaplansky said. “You have to have a lot of composure in these situations … If we can handle this run, we’re gonna be OK.”
Said Aguilera, “That was definitely a good look for us.”
Ademek finished with nine points and Elena Fata added seven for San Benito.
The Lady ‘Balers (14-4 overall) will host North Salinas next Friday at Mattson Gym in Hollister. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 14 14 9 15 52
ALI 6 13 14 9 42
SB (52) – Fata 3 0 1 7, Farias 8 1 2 21, Russell 1 0 0 2, Halstead 1 0 2 4, Ademek 4 0 1 9, Aguilera 3 0 3 9.
JV Note:
The San Benito junior varsity team took care of Alisal 43-27 Friday night in Salinas.
Crystal Perreira led the Lady ‘Balers with nine points, while Arielle Rianda, Cassie Pate and Melisah Cortez each scored eight points apiece.
Danielle Acosta contributed with four rebounds and Kim Warner added a pair of blocks.
“We’re really turning in some very good team basketball,” coach Karen Fortino said. “We’re rolling. The girls are enjoying the season.”
San Benito improves to 10-7 overall, 3-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League with the win.
The Lady ‘Balers are off until next Friday when they’ll host North Salinas at Mattson Gym in Hollister. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 13 8 11 11 43
ALI 4 7 11 5 27
