San Benito scores just three points in first half during 65-23
loss to Vikings
Hollister – Everything that possibly could go wrong for the San Benito girls basketball team in its season finale Thursday did go wrong.
As a result, North Salinas completed its unbeaten run through Tri-County Athletic League play by drubbing the Haybalers 65-23 on Senior Night at San Benito.
The ‘Balers (8-15, 5-7 TCAL) were held without a field goal in a frustrating first half where the league champion Vikings (21-4, 12-0) took a 30-3 lead.
While the San Benito offense picked it up a bit in the second half, it wasn’t enough to overcome North Salinas.
Afterwards, coach Al Rowe had no choice but to look at the positives.
“We’re young and we’ve got some good JV players coming up,” he said. “I’d say San Benito is pretty much set for the next three to four years.”
The first two quarters were enough to leave everyone in the gym baffled.
After staying within a point of North Salinas through the half in the ‘Balers’ first meeting with the Vikings on the road, San Benito was victimized by what seemed to be a lid on the basket. Several shots went in and out and layups couldn’t find their mark.
The Vikings built a 14-2 first quarter lead and held the ‘Balers to a single free throw in the second quarter to extend their advantage.
With 6:33 remaining in the third quarter, San Benito finally recorded its first field goal when sophomore center Megan Halstead connected inside.
But that merely trimmed the deficit to 30-6.
The lead became 49-12 by the end of the third quarter and the finals minutes of the game were played with a running clock when the Vikings blew it even wider open.
North Salinas was paced by 16 points from Dominique Hill. Leading scorer Briana Matthews scored 12.
Junior point guard Elena Fata led the ‘Balers with eight point and sophomore Vanessa Farias scored five.
While the year ends on a sour note, Rowe looked back to the three-game stretch at the start of league play that could’ve turned it around.
The ‘Balers lost consecutive two-point games to Salinas, Notre Dame and Gilroy to start 0-3 in the TCAL.
“I constantly look back at those three games,” Rowe said. “I recognized what happened, but was not making the corrections at the right time that could’ve stopped it.”
San Benito finishes the season in fifth place in the league standings.
“Now we go get ready for next year,” Rowe said.
North Salinas 14 16 19 16 – 65
San Benito 2 1 9 11 – 23
North Salinas – Lugo 2 2-3 8, Cano 1 2-2 4, Matthews 5 1-2 12, Ayala 2 2-4 6, Dacpano 1 1-2 4, Sanchez 3 1-3 7, Hill 8 0-0 16, Abbott 2 0-0 4, Cervania 2 0-0 4. Totals 26 9-16 65.
San Benito – Fata 3 1-2 8, Farias 2 1-2 5, Zamani 2 0-0 4, Soza 1 0-0 2, Halstead 1 1-2 3, Casalegno 0 1-2 1. Totals – 9 4-8 23.
Three-point goals – Lugo 2, Matthews, Dacpano, Fata.
