LO suffers third league loss by single-digit margin
MORGAN HILL — Piling up quickly, close losses have been just as frustrating as they have been inspiring for the Live Oak Acorns.
The same team that won only two games a year ago suffered its third consecutive defeat by single-digit margin Friday, losing 54-53 to San Jose in a Blossom Valley Athletic League-West Valley Division game at Live Oak High School.
“(The losses) are as encouraging as can be. But we can do better,” Acorns coach Vince Pacheco said in a telephone interview Monday. “It’s painful because they’re close. But in terms of where Live Oak basketball has been the past couple of years, we’re in a way better position right now.”
Live Oak (5-10 overall, 1-3 BVAL) led by a dozen with 10 minutes remaining, but paid dearly for turnovers down the stretch.
“Every time we got a lead, they hit an uncanny shot,” said Pacheco, now in his first year. “(San Jose) shot remarkably well. They surprised us a little with some of the stuff they were doing.
“We were bigger, faster and stronger than them, but we couldn’t put the ball away when we needed to.”
After the Bulldogs (4-10, 2-2) went ahead on a layup with 11 seconds remaining, Acorns guard Cody Gallizioli missed a midrange jumper as time expired.
Center/forwards David Beckum and Dominic Leach ended with 15 and 11 points, respectively, for Live Oak, which led 31-25 at halftime. Beckum added seven rebounds, and teammate Michael Schreiber totaled 12 points, five assists and five rebounds.
San Jose held a 17-8 scoring edge during the fourth quarter.
“We competed with them. We competed the entire way,” Acorns forward Alex Campoy said. “We just made a couple mistakes; didn’t handle the ball well. We need to work harder on that at practice.”
Live Oak picked up its first league victory Wednesday, beating James Lick 69-60 in San Jose, despite being short-handed for most of the first half.
Pacheco benched two starters for the opening quarter for breaking team rules and also was without Schreiber, who sat the first period because of sickness. At full strength, the Acorns overcame an 18-9 deficit before pulling away with a 15-2 scoring run. They led 36-35 at the half and 52-48 going into the fourth quarter.
Gallizioli netted a team-high 16 points, Schreiber came back to score 15, and Beckum had 14 points to go with eight rebounds. Leach added eight points and six rebounds.
“With the way we’re playing and the way we’re competing, I think we still have an outside chance of catching the leaders in this division,” Pacheco said. “Anyone can beat anyone in this league.”
Live Oak has three games left in the first half of league play, starting with Wednesday’s 7 p.m. contest at Gunderson. The Acorns will host Prospect at 7:30 Friday.
