Sobrato boys varsity basketball team off to hot start in
Tri-County Athletic League play
Salinas – The Sobrato Bulldogs have kicked off Tri-County Athletic League action with two consecutive wins over Salinas and North Salinas this week.
On Tuesday the Bulldogs hosted the Salinas Cowboys and had a huge first half to top the Cowboys, 70-65. Sobrato led 36-26 at halftime and held on to win despite being outscored 39-34 in the second half.
The Bulldogs junior guard Marqus Crawford exploded for 33 points in the game, including four 3-pointers, and recorded six rebounds, three steals, two assist and one blocked shot. Crawford got 13 of his 33 points at the free throw line.
“The 33 points was pretty nice. Those don’t come around very often,” said Sobrato coach Lawrence Crawford. “That just shows the quality of Marqus’ game. He worked it well from the inside and outside.”
Teammate Mubarik Abdullahi added 19 points in the win, as well as dishing out six assists, pulling in three rebounds and one steal.
On Thursday the Bulldogs traveled to Salinas to take on the North Salinas Vikings and got a spectacular game out of Abdullahi at the point guard position. Sobrato defeated North Salinas, 57-48.
Abdullahi recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also finished with six assists and six steals in the win. Crawford added 22 points, two rebounds, one blocked shot, one steal and one assist in the win.
“Mubarik played the kind of game that any player would like to experience,” said coach Crawford. “He really went to work.”
The Bulldogs opened up a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and didn’t look back as they dominated the Vikings.
“We played pretty well. We call it our lock down defense. We get out and get after it,” said coach Crawford. “We were successful with it, but some of it was they (North Salinas) weren’t taking good shots. It got us off to a wonderful start and we didn’t look back.”
“It puts us in an exceptional position,” added Crawford of their 2-0 TCAL record. “Now that we’ve won two games in league that just gives us momentum. I’m encouraged. It’s a positive situation.”
Sobrato faces San Benito Tuesday at home.
