‘Balers outscored 19-8 in fourth quarter, lose 53-52 to North
Salinas Tuesday
SALINAS
Despite an eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the San Benito High boys basketball team lost to host North Salinas 53-52 Tuesday night in Tri-County Athletic League play.
After rifling off five straight wins earlier in the season, the Haybalers have lost four straight, including their first two contests in the TCAL.
San Benito is now 0-2 in the TCAL, 8-8 overall.
Eric Elayda led the ‘Balers with 14 points on Tuesday night, while guard Tim Von Urff added seven points, six rebounds and four assists. Jason Canchola also had seven points, and Tyler Rickard had nine points and six rebounds.
Despite building a 43-35 lead on the Vikings going into the final period, though, San Benito was outscored 19-8 in the fourth after costly turnovers and a 1 of 6 free-throw performance allowed North Salinas to mount a comeback.
“We just turned the ball over at the wrong time in the fourth,” San Benito head coach John Becerra said. The ‘Balers recorded 12 turnovers total Tuesday, and Becerra recalls a quick stretch in the fourth where San Benito turned it over three straight times.
“They pressed us in the first half, and we did a good job against it,” Becerra said. “And in the fourth quarter they pressed, but we couldn’t handle it and we turned the ball over.
“But the kids played real hard. They battled and that’s what we ask and that’s what they did.”
San Benito will look to snap its skid on Thursday when Gilroy visits Hollister’s Mattson Gym. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
SB 16 15 12 9 52
NS 13 14 8 18 53
San Benito (52) – K. Vallejo 2 0 2-2 6, T. Von Urff 2 1 0-0 7, C. Sepulveda 2 0 1-2 5, E. Elayda 4 2 0-0 14, J. Canchola 2 1 0-0 7, T. Rickard 3 1 0-0 9, D. Zanella 2 0 0-0 4.
