A promising four-point lead late in Tuesday’s game against the
visiting San Benito Haybalers turned into a 60-48 defeat for Gilroy
High’s boys basketball team.
A more aggressive ‘Balers squad turned up the pressure
defensively and turned out the lights on any hopes the Mustangs had
of sweeping their rival in league play this season.
Both teams won the away games in their two Tri-County Athletic
League matchups this season, with San Benito holding a 2-1 overall
record in three games played.
GILROY
A promising four-point lead late in Tuesday’s game against the visiting San Benito Haybalers turned into a 60-48 defeat for Gilroy High’s boys basketball team.
A more aggressive ‘Balers squad turned up the pressure defensively and turned out the lights on any hopes the Mustangs had of sweeping their rival in league play this season.
Both teams won the away games in their two Tri-County Athletic League matchups this season, with San Benito holding a 2-1 overall record in three games played.
“I thought right at the end we played great pressure defense,” San Benito coach John Becerra said.
Six GHS turnovers, three of which came off of San Benito steals, created a see-saw fourth quarter in which the ‘Balers led by five, 40-35, to start, trailed 48-44 with just a little more than two minutes remaining, and ended up winning by 12.
“I think we played soft, to be honest,” Gilroy coach Jeremy Dirks said. “I’ve been very nice to these guys, complimentary, but I don’ think we came to play.”
Dirks added that with two more games left in the regular season, he would prefer to not see his team (13-11, 4-6 TCAL) finish with a .500 overall record.
Leading 12-11 after the first quarter and 27-24 at halftime, the Mustangs let yet another game slip away in the second half. Gilroy has now lost three straight games after holding leads in all of them at halftime.
San Benito’s Dominic Zanella led all scorers with 21 points. He also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Tyler Hartman had a team-high 15 points and four rebounds for Gilroy.
With the win, the ‘Balers (13-10, 5-4 TCAL) are now back in the league title hunt, sitting in second place with Salinas and two games behind league-leading Palma. Earning a crucial victory over an old rival like Gilroy was especially satisfying.
“It makes us all feel good,” Becerra said. “Every win for us is big.”
Losing their first four games in league, San Benito has now won five straight.
Eric Elayda had 12 points for the ‘Balers, Jason Canchola has seven points – all in the fourth quarter – and Kyle Vallejo scored six points and grabbed four rebounds.
Taking part in the rivalry for the first time on the varsity level, Vallejo, a junior, said the game had a different feel than most.
“I remember last year, being on the JV team, the gym being packed,” he said. “I was really excited to be a part of it.”
Gilroy’s Hartman was disappointed for similar reasons.
“You’d think we’d come out harder with the big crowd,” he said. “I just feel like tonight we came out flat.”
Jamie Jensen had 11 points for the Mustangs, while guards Elijah Harrell and Neil Azcueta had five each.
San Benito will be back in action Thursday at 7 p.m., when Palma comes to Hollister. Gilroy will host North Salinas at 8 p.m. on Friday.
