Both the Live Oak High boys and girls basketball teams host
towering Hollister-San Benito teams to start their Tri-County
Athletic League seasons this week.
Both the Live Oak High boys and girls basketball teams host towering Hollister-San Benito teams to start their Tri-County Athletic League seasons this week.
But there is where the similarity ends.
For the Acorn boys, who have won 13 of their 15 non-league games and come in as one of the TCAL’s clear favorites, the Balers represent one of a series of tough league opponents that must be overcome en route to the league title.
For the Acorn girls, who enter the game having lost 12 of 14 non-league games, the Balers are a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
The Live Oak boys host the Hollister boys (11-5 overall) on Thursday at 7 p.m., while the Live Oak girls will host the Lady Balers (12-4 overall) the following evening, also at 7 p.m.
The boys game will repr-esent a turnabout of sorts. Last season, it was the Acorns who had all the height, boasting a huge frontline averaging about 6-foot-9.
This season, the Acorns are smaller and quicker, and rely heavily on a throttling defense, while the Balers have all the height.
The Balers are led by 6-foot-6 junior Kyle Sharp, who is averaging 20 points per game this season, and 6-4 senior Anthony Butler.
Live Oak does still have 6-foot-8 senior center Chris Deem on its frontline, but bruising 6-foot-2 senior power forward Steve Conner is the Acorns’ best inside player.
Conner, senior guard Joel Wright and junior forward Matt van Keulen provide most of the scoring punch for Live Oak.
Againts common opponents, Hollister beat Monterey to open the season and got past Harbor but lost to Seaside by 20.
Live Oak beat all three of those teams.
Meanwhile, the Lady Balers also feature a pair of trees in the middle in six-footers Jamie Hall and Mallorie Wilson.
But it is guard Trisha Lee who leads Hollister in scoring at 13 points per game this season.
Live Oak is led by senior guard Ruth Dominguez and senior center Melissa Llanes.
Against common opponents, Hollister beat Alisal and North Monterey County, both of whom beat Live Oak.
