Tri-County Athletic League MVP Miles Curley and Drew Pearson
each scored 12 points to lead the North to a 105-94 win over the
South in the 18th annual Kiwanis High School Basketball Classic at
Hartnell College Saturday. Danny Vadillo of Gilroy had 13
points.
Tri-County Athletic League MVP Miles Curley and Drew Pearson each scored 12 points to lead the North to a 105-94 win over the South in the 18th annual Kiwanis High School Basketball Classic at Hartnell College Saturday. Danny Vadillo of Gilroy had 13 points.
Curley, who was named to the Los Gatos All-Tournament Team, as the Most Valuable Player of the Gilroy Bob Hagen Tournament and named to the Gunderson All-Tournament Team, had a strong performance from behind the arch with a pair of three-pointers.
“He had probably one of our best games on the perimeter,” said North coach Dave Kaplansky, who also coaches the Balers. “His intensity in his work ethic showed this week.”
Broc Sondgroth, Hollister’s representative, scored five points. Drew Sanchez, who led the Tri-County Athletic League in scoring, scored 12 points for the South, but wasn’t able to get much when he was guarded by Vadillo.
“He played a great game,” Kaplansky said. “He was able to contain Sanchez, which was a big part of our success. Drew scored several points in a row when Vadillo wasn’t on him. Danny made some key baskets and plays. He pushed the ball the whole game and set the tempo so people could get in their places.”
Curley enjoyed playing against Sanchez for one final time.
“It was fun playing in my last high school game,” Curley said. “It was fun to play Drew because we’re friends. It was intense, but it wasn’t like we had to beat him.”
Pearson, who was on the second rotation and did not get to play with Curley, had a strong dunk to close the game and had several tipins.
“It was a pleasure coaching them after going against them three times,” Kaplansky said. “They both played pretty well. It was a good experience for all of them. We had two rotations, and everyone played the same minutes.”
The North was up 52-30 at the half. Kaplansky, who was honored before the game as the first person to both play and coach in the tournament, wanted to keep the pace fast knowing some of the best seniors in the area would have no trouble keeping up.
“We wanted to run up-tempo offense,” Kaplansky said. “We pushed the ball on each possession. The fun part about game was coaching them after being around the guys and battling them all year. It is a great team. Too bad I can’t coach them the whole year.”
“They are so receptive to what you say.,” Kaplansky added. “They have been coached at a high level. When you call a timeout, they know what to do.”
