Boys BVAL Tournament: Sobrato stuns No. 1 seeded Leigh, 46-44

It would have been easy for Sobrato to be intimidated going into Leigh Wednesday night for the second round of the Blossom Valley Athletic League Tournament.
The Longhorns were 23-1 going into the game, swept the Mt. Hamilton League and had already beaten the Bulldogs earlier in the season, 78-64.
Instead the Bulldogs went into Leigh’s gym and knocked off the No. 1 seed in the tournament, 46-44.
“They are not an uncommon opponent,” said coach Lee Washington. “We’ve faced them every year for the last four or five years.”
Sobrato advances to the semifinals of the tournament to be played 8 p.m. at Independence Thursday against Oak Grove.
The Eagles knocked off Willow Glen 58-44.
Washington was also confident because in the game on Dec. 10, he thought his boys acquitted themselves well against the Longhorns except for one bad stretch in the first quarter.
Wednesday night, the tables turned and the Bulldogs exacted some revenge on one of the biggest stages of the season.
“The coaching staff ecstatic and the guys were really excited,” Washington said. “I said earlier, once we get in tournament, we’re going to shock the world.  … It’s all about who is playing their best ball at this time of year.”
Sobrato is now winners of four straight since a rough stretch to start February that knocked them out of a title hunt for the Santa Teresa Division.
The Bulldogs got the win as they have for most of the year: By winning a close game.
Sobrato is 10-2 in games decided by less than 10 points and are 4-0 in games decided by four points or less.
The Bulldogs got things started with a 13-6 first quarter. They saw that lead dwindle slightly at half, leading 21-16, and then disappear in the third quarter as the Longhorns were up by one at quarter’s end.
But the Bulldogs stole the momentum at the end of the frame.
Bryce Shore hit a big three to end the quarter, propelling the Bulldogs to a 15-point fourth for the win.
Shore finished with 13 points for the game, all coming in the second half. He also was a perfect 6-6 from the line.
Kristian Maldia had 10 points, followed by Tom Givens with 8.
Max Mosgrove led the team with 12 rebounds, followed by Karl Mann with eight.
Washington said Mann had been double teamed for most of the game as the Longhorns matched size with size in the post.
The difference, he said, came from his small guys who were able to use speed and positioning to get open shots.
Washington also gave credit to Luke Walton, who had five points that came in key moments for the Bulldogs.