‘Balers finish year on six- game losing streak, fall to
last-place North Salinas
The basketball season ended for San Benito on Friday and the disappointing year concluded with a disappointing result as the Haybalers fell to last-place North Salinas 51-49 in Tri-County Athletic League action.
“For me and the coaches, it’s been very frustrating,” San Benito coach John Becerra said. “When you compete, that’s going to happen. If you don’t want to feel that way, don’t compete.”
While the ‘Balers struggled through the preseason, they picked it up at the beginning of league play, scoring the stunning road upset of Gilroy as they bolted to a 4-2 start.
But their playoff hopes were officially dashed with last week’s road loss to Alvarez in overtime and Friday’s loss to North Salinas sends the ‘Balers into the offseason on a six-game losing streak.
San Benito (8-18, 4-8 TCAL) held leads at the end of the first three quarters. A strong third period turned a one-point halftime advantage into a 38-33 lead.
But turnovers plagued the ‘Balers throughout the game. By halftime, they had turned it over 15 times.
“We were just throwing the ball away, not being focused,” Becerra said.
North Salinas (4-20, 2-10), which closed the years with wins in two of its last three games, finally took advantage of San Benito’s miscues in the final period.
The Vikings outscored the ‘Balers 18-11 in the quarter, and stole away the win with a layup with about three seconds left on the clock.
San Benito could only manage a desperation shot at the buzzer before its season ended.
“Sometimes things just don’t go your way and you have to overcome that,” Becerra said. “Those things happen sometimes when your not focused. You should be in control so when that happens, it doesn’t hurt you.”
The loss prevents San Benito from leapfrogging Salinas and moving into fifth place. Instead, the ‘Balers conclude the year in sixth.
Todd Janisch paced San Benito with 14 points, Kevin Medeiros added 10 and Marty Bueno scored eight.
San Benito 10 12 16 11 – 49
North Salinas 7 14 12 18 – 51
San Benito – Ramos 2 0 4, Bryant 2 0 4, Bueno 3 2 8, Burley 1 1 3, Janisch 5 3 14, Medeiros 4 2 10, WIlson 1 0 2, Zanella 2 0 4.
North Salinas – Garban 1 0 2, Ramos 3 0 8, Martinez 5 1 13, Sapp 1 0 2, Mosley 2 0 4, Moran 4 4 12, Rosario-Dawson 3 0 6, Grayson 1 0 2, Jensen 1 0 2.
