Kyle Sharp had a career-high 33 points as the Hollister High
boys basketball team outlasted visiting North Salinas 71-68 in
double overtime Friday.
Kyle Sharp had a career-high 33 points as the Hollister High boys basketball team outlasted visiting North Salinas 71-68 in double overtime Friday.
The Tri-County Athletic League victory gave the Balers 20 wins for the year against five losses. In league, they are 6-2, two games behind first place Salinas and two games ahead of third place Live Oak.
The Acorns nearly did the Balers a huge favor Friday but were nipped in overtime at home 64-63. Palma topped Gilroy 51-48 in the other T-CAL contest.
Baler head coach David Kaplansky was thrilled about his team’s 20-win accomplishment.
“Twenty wins is a milestone in college and high school basketball,” said Kaplansky. “It is amazing what this team has done.”
Kaplansky was also pleased about his club’s free throw shooting vs. the Vikings – 22-of-28 (79 percent). In their first meeting against North Salinas (11-13, 3-5), the Balers shot 13-of-16 from the line.
On Friday, Sharp was 9-10 in free throws while Anthony Butler and Jeff Fajardo each netted 5-of-6 from the line. Fajardo hit two free throws in the second overtime, which held up as the winning points.
“There were a lot of clutch free throws from all three of those guys,” said Kaplansky.
The Balers had the game won in both the regulation and first overtime, but the Vikings came up with three-pointers each time as time expired to tie the game.
The stakes are raised this Wednesday when the Balers visit the Cowboys (20-4, 8-0), who have been on a major roll for quite some time. Hollister was dealt its worst loss of the season Jan. 30 by Drew Sanchez and company at Mattson Gym when the Balers lost 78-54.
To share the league crown with Salinas, Hollister must defeat the Cowboys Wednesday and Palma at home Friday, then hope for Salinas to falter at North Salinas Friday.
“I have to find a way to stop Sanchez,” said Kaplansky.
That’s something very few teams have been able to do.
