Bulldogs win big over Greenfield; get ready for tough match
against Mesa Verde in championship game
Morgan Hill – The Sobrato Bulldogs boys varsity basketball team entered the first game of their inaugural Bulldog Chase Tournament determined to make a run at the championship trophy. The Bulldogs’ determination paid off in their matchup against the Greenfield Bruins, cruising to victory 82-53.
Sobrato’s 82 points made it the highest scoring game the Bulldogs have ever recorded.
“We finally started to run our offenses,” said Malcolm Halcrombe, Sobrato’s 6-foot-2 junior. “They (Greenfield) were pretty quick on boxing out. Our guards did a good job taking charge. It feels great to win the first game of our tournament.”
Halcrombe had a break out game for the Bulldogs putting up 13 points and pulling in four rebounds as Sobrato scored 20 points or more in three quarters.
“Malcolm played an excellent game,” said Sobrato coach Lawrence Crawford. “He is a player that always works hard, always gives everything he has and things are finally starting to click for him.”
The Bulldogs took advantage of an undersized Bruins team and had excellent play from their guards who spread the ball around on offense. Ten different Sobrato players scored points in the win.
Junior guard Marqus Crawford and sophomore Jarom Warren led the offensive charge with 16 points each. Warren also played tough under the basket, pulling eight rebounds, while Crawford finished with four rebounds. Junior Matt Kellet contributed 10 points in the win and Mubarik Abduallahi added eight points, four steals and three rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Sobrato also made the most of its opportunities at the free throw line, hitting six of their nine attempts, while the Bruins converted just three of their 10 free throw attempts.
“We played really well and had more of a total team effort,” said Crawford. “This win was very important because it sets the tone for the rest of the tournament and gets your mind thinking about defending your tournament.”
While the Bulldogs’ defense abused the Bruins’ offense in the paint, Greenfield proved to be an outside shooting threat hitting 10 3-pointers in the match. Rudolfo Garcia scored 12 points for the Bruins with four 3-pointers and teammate Aaron Zamora drained three 3-pointers.
By the time the Bruins got hot from behind the arc, however, Sobrato had put the score pretty much out of reach by opening up a 44-24 lead by halftime.
“I said before that I expected us to come out and play tough and compete in this tournament and my ultimate goal was for us to win it,” said Crawford. “We’re in a position to do that. I think we’re going to need to play better. Mesa Verde have a lot of quick players.”
The Mesa Verde Mavericks kicked off the inaugural Sobrato Chase with a win against the Evergreen Valley Cougars 68-53 in game one.
The Mavericks and Cougars played a spirited, physical match up that was delayed for about 20 minutes just before halftime due to an injury to one of the referees. Another referee had to be called in, causing the delay.
Mesa Verde foiled Evergreen Valley’s defense with crisp, quick passing around the basket.
A fact that did not go unnoticed by Sobrato coaches and players, who faced Mesa Verde in the championship game on Friday night.
“We’re going to have to bust them (Mesa Verde) in the mouth tomorrow,” said Halcrombe following the win against Greenfield.
Mesa Verde is also a bit undersized as a team, but they make up for it in talent and ability. The Mavericks are a good challenge for the Bulldogs as they wrap up preseason play and head into Tri-County Athletic League action next week.
Both teams are physical and move the ball around quickly.
Greenfield and Evergreen Valley faced each other in the third place game on Friday night.
Subscribers to the Morgan Hill Times can read Friday night’s tournament results online. All games will be updated in the Morgan Hill Times on Tuesday.
