San Benito boys’ soccer
After suffering a 2-1 loss to Everett Alvarez last week, the San
Benito High boys’ soccer team tied Salinas 1-1 Tuesday.
Steven Mercado scored San Benito’s lone goal in the 10th minute,
but the Cowboys knotted the game at 1-all in the 65th minute.
The Haybalers, at 2-8-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League,
visited Gilroy for their final regular season game on Thursday,
although that contest was held after The Pinnacle’s press time.
San Benito boys’ basketball
A promising four-point lead late in Tuesday’s game against the visiting San Benito Haybalers turned into a 60-48 defeat for Gilroy High’s boys’ basketball team.
A more aggressive Balers’ squad turned up the pressure defensively and turned out the lights on any hopes the Mustangs had of sweeping their rival in league play this season.
Both teams won the away games in their two Tri-County Athletic League matchups this season, with San Benito holding a 2-1 overall record in three games played – they beat the Mustangs at the Seascape Classic in December.
“I thought right at the end we played great pressure defense,” San Benito coach John Becerra said.
Six GHS turnovers, three of which came off of San Benito steals, created a see-saw fourth quarter in which the Balers led by five, 40-35, to start, trailed 48-44 with just a little more than two minutes remaining, and ended up winning by 12.
“I think we played soft, to be honest,” Gilroy coach Jeremy Dirks said. “I’ve been very nice to these guys, complimentary, but I don’t think we came to play.”
It was the fifth straight win for San Benito, which improved to 5-4 in the TCAL as a result. The team’s game at home to Palma on Thursday was held after The Pinnacle’s press time.
San Benito wrestling
The Gilroy Mustangs, having never lost a dual meet in the short history of the Tri-County Athletic League, nearly lost that enviable title on Tuesday night.
Driven to the absolute brink by the San Benito Haybalers, which were ahead 29-28 going into the final match of the night, the Mustangs pushed back at the very last moment when heavyweight Luis Barragan pinned Baler Adam Davis to seal an epic 34-29 victory in Hollister.
San Benito head coach Brian DeCarli is hopeful the loss will put a collective chip on his team’s shoulder as they enter the Tri-County Athletic League Championships on Saturday at Palma High.
“Bottom line, we needed a match like this going into league,” DeCarli said. “We needed a match like this to really get ready for the postseason.”
San Benito girls’ basketball
Using the same triangle-and-two defense that caused plenty of problems for San Benito the last time, North Salinas simply outlasted the Balers 38-29 Friday and not only snapped a 13-game win streak, but also handed Hollister its first league loss.
The nine-point defeat, which briefly increased to a double-digit margin in the final minute of the fourth quarter, suddenly has the Tri-County Athletic League somewhat top heavy, as three teams – San Benito, North Salinas and Gilroy – are all currently vying for a piece of the TCAL title.
“It’s huge. Every game is the biggest game of the year,” San Benito head coach David Kaplansky said. “You’ve got to win out to get a share of this title.”
While the Balers had difficulty all game simply getting their shots to fall, finishing 11 of 49 from the field, North Salinas had difficulty all game turning the ball over, committing 21 turnovers to San Benito’s 13.
But the Vikings managed to simply stay ahead from the first quarter on, and although they held a narrow 26-22 lead going to the fourth quarter, they pushed forward just a little more in the waning moments with frequent trips to the free throw line.
San Benito battled Gilroy Wednesday, although that game took place after The Pinnacle’s press time.
San Benito girls’ soccer
Needing every victory from here on out, the Balers’ soccer team delivered a sloppy 4-1 win last Friday, despite continuous showers turning the natural grass pitch into a water-filled ditch.
San Benito improved to 6-2-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League with the win, although their contest at Salinas on Wednesday was held after The Pinnacle’s press time.
The Balers, who went up 1-0 after Hannah Cobb deposited her 21st goal of the season in the first half, scored three unanswered goals after the Eagles tied it, including scores from Marissa Adame in the 33rd minute, Sophie Coelho in the 62nd minute and Daniela Ocampo in the 66th minute.
San Benito boys’ soccer
After suffering a 2-1 loss to Everett Alvarez last week, the San Benito High boys’ soccer team tied Salinas 1-1 Tuesday.
Steven Mercado scored San Benito’s lone goal in the 10th minute, but the Cowboys knotted the game at 1-all in the 65th minute.
The Haybalers, at 2-8-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League, visited Gilroy for their final regular season game on Thursday, although that contest was held after The Pinnacle’s press time.
