MORGAN HILL
–– For two and a half quarters, the Haybaler boys basketball
team ran rampant in the paint during the Tri-County Athletic League
opener Wednesday, consistently grabbing the many errant Live Oak
shots.
But the Acorns (11-6, 0-1 TCAL) tied the game at the end of the
third quarter and were able to pull ahead in the fourth quarter as
the shots began to fall in 48-36 win. But neither team had much of
an advantage until the last couple minutes of the game.
MORGAN HILL –– For two and a half quarters, the Haybaler boys basketball team ran rampant in the paint during the Tri-County Athletic League opener Wednesday, consistently grabbing the many errant Live Oak shots.
But the Acorns (11-6, 0-1 TCAL) tied the game at the end of the third quarter and were able to pull ahead in the fourth quarter as the shots began to fall in 48-36 win. But neither team had much of an advantage until the last couple minutes of the game.
“I was proud of the effort that we showed tonight,” said Baler coach David Kaplansky. “I felt that they had to match our intensity. They were denying the lanes and were doing everything I was asking them to do. We just had a letdown in the last four minutes of the game.”
Danny Isaacson got the starting nod at the No. 2 guard position for the academically ineligible Mike Moisa and promptly drove to the basket to get the Balers on the board first.
The Acorns couldn’t move ahead until 2:30 left in the third quarter when the they took a 28-27 lead.
Anthony Butler, who led the Balers with 13 points, did a good job in the post, and the Balers were able to find him frequently.
Kyle Sharp had 12 points and had several offensive rebounds early.
Live Oak guard Joel Wright, who had two points coming into the third quarter, was one of the Acorns who wasn’t hitting his shots early in the game. But he had four three pointers in the final two quarters.
“The difference in the game was their three-point shooting down the stretch,” Kaplansky said. “They were able to get off some open looks and knock down some perimeter shots. Hitting those shots really gave them the confidence.”
Acorn coach Brett Paolucci said there was nothing he was trying to change offensively at the half.
“They were all wide open shots,” said Paolucci, whose team is 14-2 and 1-0 in TCAL. “We talked about at halftime having more confidence and they would start falling. We saw where we were getting the open shots.”
The game was tied at 30 at the end of the third quarter before 6-foot-10 Acorn Chris Deem sparked the near-capacity home crowd with a two-handed dunk.
With 5:10 left, Wright hit a three pointer and gave the Acorns the 34-32 lead – a lead they never relinquished.
“They’re a strong team, they have strong post players and good guards,” Paolucci said. “It is a team you cannot take lightly.”
JV Note: The San Benito JV team lost 64-63 in overtime after giving up a three pointer with no time left in regulation.
San Benito 10 11 9 6 –36
Live Oak 6 10 14 18 –48
San Benito: Davis 1 0-0 2, Sharp 5 2-4 12, Sims 1 0-0 2, Zanella 2 1-2 5, Butler 5 3-6 13, 1 0-1 2. Totals: 15 6-13 36.
Live Oak: Powel 0 0-1, Porras 2 0-0 4, Wright 5 0-0 14, Goodere 6 0-0 12, Conner 2 2-5 6, Deem 3 0-0 6, Van Kuelen 1 3-4 5. Totals 19 5-10 48.
Three pointers: LO- Wright (4)
