After going 0-2 against Live Oak last season, the Sobrato boys
basketball team got its revenge this season. On Friday, Sobrato
evened up the series in what looks to be an exciting rivalry for
years to come between the two basketball programs. With the help of
solid defense in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs defeated the
Acorns 49-42 at Sobrato’s packed gym. It was the fourth time the
two teams have met since last year and the series is now tied
2-2.
Morgan Hill – After going 0-2 against Live Oak last season, the Sobrato boys
basketball team got its revenge this season.
On Friday, Sobrato evened up the series in what looks to be an exciting rivalry for years to come between the two basketball programs.
With the help of solid defense in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs defeated the Acorns 49-42 at Sobrato’s packed gym. It was the fourth time the two teams have met since last year and the series is now tied 2-2.
Senior guards Mubarik Abdullahi and Josh Levy led their teams in scoring on Friday. Abdullahi scored 14 for the Bulldogs and Levy had 13 for the Acorns.
“It was an intense rivalry game,” said Levy. “Both teams came to bring it, but we just came up with little mistakes here and there that cost us the game.”
Live Oak looked like a team hungry for a victory from the opening tip, but Sobrato showed why it is the No. 1 team in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division.
The crowd cheered during the fast-paced, back-and-forth action in the first quarter. The Bulldogs led 15-6 heading into the second period.
The Acorns slowed downed the tempo in the second quarter and made an offensive run. Both teams scored 10 points in the quarter and Sobrato took a 25-16 lead at halftime.
Sobrato coach Lawrence Crawford said his team started off strong in the opening quarter, but lost its focus after that.
“After a quarter like that when we score 15,” Crawford said, “and our guys are hitting their open shots, it looked like we were going to have a really good night. But after that quarter the guys just didn’t play the same and Live Oak really brought it to us.”
He said he thinks his team, as the newer program in Morgan Hill, feels pressure whenever it plays Live Oak.
“(Live Oak) is trying to knock off the younger brother of the town,” Crawford said. “Our kids want to make the playoffs and win CCS and be the best team in town. It adds an extra psychological aspect to the game.”
Trailing by 10 points, the Acorns came out fired up in the third quarter. Live Oak began to pressure guards Marqus Crawford and Abdullahi. Live Oak’s scrappy defense led to fast-break points and more time on offense for the Acorns. Levy poured in six points in the quarter and Live Oak trailed 36-30 after three quarters.
With the mixture of poor free-throw shooting by the Bulldogs and the Acorns clutch 3-point shooting, the fourth quarter was an intense battle.
Live Oak, once down by 12, found itself in a position to come back and take the lead, but the Bulldogs prevailed.
Sobrato might have not played its best offensive or defensive game of the season, but the Bulldogs made clutch shots when needed and limited the Acorns’ open shots late in the game.
Live Oak coach Brett Paolucci said he was proud of the way his players came back late in the game, but he felt there were aspects of the game his team could have executed better.
“I think we played well enough to win,” Paolucci said. “Before the game, two of our keys to win were offensive boards and not to let them get dribble penetration, and that’s where they got us tonight.”
While the Acorns were able to keep Crawford from scoring his 18.2 point-average, Live Oak could not contain junior guard Mark Garma. Garma pulled down eight rebounds, scored 13 points and had a terrific game inside the paint.
“Defensively we played really well,” Paolucci said, “but offensive rebounds have been our killer thing all season long. There has to be a certain attitude when it comes to rebounding. That mentality hasn’t reached our guys yet. Hopefully it will next season.”
Paolucci said he was happy to see Levy score his season high.
“Coming into the season I thought he was our best shooter,” Paolucci said. “But he has struggled a bit, so it’s nice to see him get some points.”
Both teams have two games left in the regular season, and both coaches want their teams to finish strong.
Paolucci said he hopes his team can finish the season on a high note and have some momentum carry over into next season.
For Crawford, he is hoping his team can win the division and make it to CCS.
“Our ultimate goal is to win CCS,” Crawford said. “But we talk about not looking ahead. You don’t want look past you opponents, because if you do, you can just sabotage yourself.”
