North Salinas snaps San Benito’s 11-game winning streak, both
teams prep for CCS
Salinas
It was the first quarter that proved to be the difference.
Struggling at the start, the San Benito girls basketball team began to mount a comeback through the second, third and fourth quarters Thursday night at North Salinas.
But after being held to just three points in the first period, compared to the Vikings’ 16 points, San Benito lost their first league game of the season Thursday 51-47 to the Vikings.
The Lady ‘Balers will finish the regular season at 11-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League, and 20-5 overall.
“We were really flat, both offensively and defensively, for the first eight minutes and that was the difference in the game,” coach David Kaplansky said. “Unfortunately, we just got off to a really bad start.”
Trailing by 13 points after the first quarter, San Benito managed to either equal North Salinas’ output or outscore the Vikings in the remaining three quarters.
With approximately 1:30 remaining in regulation, the Lady ‘Balers found themselves just four points behind North Salinas.
“We had a chance to win the game,” Kaplansky said. “But we just ran out of time.
“Our girls are unbelievable.”
Elena Fata led San Benito with 13 points while Kelsey Russell supplied eight.
Kaplansky noted the lay-off in between games for San Benito, as the Lady ‘Balers hadn’t played since last Thursday, when they defeated Alisal at home, 49-38.
“I think the lay-off hurt us,” he said. “We worked hard all week in practice, but we were out of rhythm.”
San Benito, the TCAL champions, will now advance to next week’s Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.
The CCS seedings will be announced on Sunday.
Although a loss ends the regular season on the wrong foot for San Benito, and will perhaps hurt them in the CCS seedings, the Lady ‘Balers were winners of their last 11 games.
“Sometimes a loss is good for a team,” Kaplansky said. “It puts a reality check on everybody.”
While the seedings will be announced Sunday, the All-League selections will be made on Saturday.
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 3 8 14 22 47
NS 16 8 11 16 51
SB (47) – Fata 1 3 2 13, Farias 2 0 3 7, Zamani 1 0 0 2, Russell 1 0 6 8, Casalegno 0 1 0 3, Halstead 3 0 0 6, Ademek 1 0 0 2, Romero 1 0 0 2, Aguilera 1 0 2 4.
JV Note:
Salinas
The San Benito junior varsity girls basketball team ended their season rather resoundingly Thursday, when they defeated host North Salinas 53-34.
Cassie Pate and Crystal Perreira each contributed 12 points for San Benito, while Kim Warner and Arielle Rianda added 11 and eight points, respectively.
While holding a narrow 18-17 lead at halftime, the Lady ‘Balers outscored the Vikings 35-17 in the second half, including a fourth quarter that saw San Benito score 22 points.
“We came out a little bit flat in the first half,” coach Karen Fortino said. “We went in at halftime and just tried to fire these girls back up and it looks like it worked with 22 points in the fourth quarter. It was awesome.”
San Benito will finish their season with a 15-9 overall record.
Said Fortino, “A great season.”
Team 1 2 3 4 F
SB 9 9 13 22 53
NS 5 12 4 13 34
