Bulldogs get it done in homecoming game
MORGAN HILL — Sobrato’s gritty victory over Silver Creek was just the beginning of a big homecoming night for the Bulldogs.
On the same day Sobrato dispatched the defending Blossom Valley Athletic League-Santa Teresa Division champion Raiders 61-57 Friday, plucky Andrew Hill knocked off Independence 71-61, moving the Bulldogs within a game of second place.
Sobrato (15-5 overall, 5-3 BVAL) trails Andrew Hill and Independence, who are tied for second behind first-place Willow Glen. The division-leading Rams also got a scare Friday, needing double overtime to beat Del Mar 52-46.
“We’re still going to need help to win this thing. Andrew Hill gave us a big hand,” said coach Lawrence Crawford, whose Bulldogs need to win two of their remaining six games to become postseason eligible. “It’s crazy. Everybody plays everybody one more time. We want to beat everybody. At the same time, we’re also routing for Independence to beat Willow Glen.”
Before a raucous crowd in Sobrato Gym, the Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak — but had to fend off the upset-minded Raiders (8-12, 1-7).
“It was a lot of fun for the crowd and for our players, but I was getting irritated — it was too close,” Crawford said. “We kept getting leads of 10 and 11 points. But we made two or three errors and, suddenly, it was close.”
After taking a two-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs secured momentum when Charley Bynum took a charge. Silver Creek was forced to foul, and Sobrato pulled away with clutch free-throw shooting by Ryan Williams.
“Ryan came up with some big ones,” Crawford said. “In a close game like that where the adrenaline is flowing, you need guys to calm down and focus. We were able to do that.”
Williams, a junior forward, scored a game-high 21 points as the only Bulldog to finish in double figures. Sobrato got points from 10 players, including seven from Wesley Flippo and six apiece from Rauley Cambra and Chris Bradley — who saw limited action.
The Bulldogs also received solid bench support from Erick Levell, Howard Kwong and Tim Cavanaugh.
“Those three guys all contributed,” Crawford said. “They stepped up big.”
Chijoke Nwuzi collected a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Raiders, who have lost six in a row.
Sobrato is 7-3 at home, but will have to win on the road to stay alive in the CIF-Central Coast Division II playoff race. The Bulldogs have four away games left, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Del Mar. Sobrato will host Evergreen Valley on Feb. 10 and Independence on Feb. 20 to end the regular season.
Only the Santa Teresa champion receives an automatic postseason berth, but the second- and third-place finishers can advance, pending overall records.
“The guys are excited,” Crawford said. “Their confidence is back up and they’re ready to get after it. We still feel like we can win league, but it’s going to be tough.”
