Leach scores 20, pulls down 12 rebounds in 62-30 victory over
Aztec Warriors
MORGAN HILL — Yerba Buena came to Live Oak Gym with a game plan for slowing the Acorns’ prized trio of guards.
On paper, the Aztec Warriors were successful. Michael Schreiber, Cody Gallizioli and Nathan Seifert delivered their lowest combined scoring total since West Valley Division play started two weeks ago.
That’s partly because Dominic Leach had the best game of his career.
The 6-foot-3 senior — afro not included — staged a big man’s clinic in the paint Friday, delivering a double-double in the first quarter that set the tone for a 62-30 rout.
Leach scored 11 of his game-high 20 points and pulled down 10 of his 12 rebounds in the opening eight minutes. He shot 8 for 13 from the field.
“Getting the ball to Dominic has been part of our formula all season,” Live Oak coach Brett Paolucci said. “He’s a strong, athletic kid that can do a lot for us. He has the ability to do this every night.”
Leach played with a level of toughness that his teammates attributed to football season, when Leach earned honorable mention All-San Jose Mercury News acclaim.
“I think that toughened him up. He’s like a totally different player in the post this year,” said Gallizoli, who fed Leach for three easy baskets on high-low plays. “It was fun watching him tonight.”
Backing down his defender, Leach dropped in a turnaround hook shot with 3:55 left in the second quarter. He then tipped a Yerba Buena pass that Schreiber turned into a breakaway bucket, giving Live Oak it’s largest lead — 26-3 — of the first half.
Leach ended his scoring on a cut to the basket with 5:14 left in the third quarter. He drew a foul with his scoop shot and sank a free throw to complete the three-point trip.
“I just felt like I was in the zone tonight,” he said. “They were playing me kind of soft, and I just did what I could.”
Schreiber ended with 11 points and four steals, and Matt Levy came off the bench to score six for Live Oak (5-9 overall, 2-2 league), which won for the fourth straight time at home.
If they play this well consistenly on the road, Paolucci feels their season can change quickly.
“We can’t be like a light switch,” he said. “I hope we push ourselves to keep this going.”
Ricky Rivera and Marco Archete netted eight points apiece to lead Yerba Buena (2-12, 1-3).
SHS heating up
A game after dethroning Independence, the Bulldogs didn’t have any letdown Friday against Evergreen Valley.
Ryan Williams had 15 points and seven rebounds, Bryan Bradley collected 14 and six, and Pierre Hemphill scored a dozen as Sobrato beat the visiting Cougars 53-45 to gain sole possession of first place in the Santa Teresa Division.
The Bulldogs (9-5, 4-0) entered the game tied with Del Mar, which lost 35-34 Friday at Independence. The second-place Dons visit Sobrato at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
GIRLS SOCCER
Acorns stave off E.V.
Four games into the regular season, Live Oak leads the Mount Hamilton Division in goals scored — not to mention league wins.
Friday, the Lady Acorns showed they can hold off a rally, scoring twice in the first half and once in the second to outlast Evergreen Valley, 3-2, in Morgan Hill.
Fabi Diaz, Michaela Swensen and Ilona Gawrys scored once, and Amanda Morgan was credited with two assists for Live Oak (6-1-3, 4-0) which remained alone in first place in the Mount Hamilton.
The Acorns have won four straight.
Bulldogs blast Bucs
A 3-0 win over the Piedmont Hills Pirates wasn’t the only sign of progress the Lady Bulldogs made during their first week of league road games.
Sobrato (4-1-4, 2-0-2) is the last undefeated team left in the Santa Teresa standings.
Janelle Cisneros, Marissa Benjamin and Jennae Cambra scored goals, and goalkeepers Nike Burnett and Bekah Inouye combined for a shutout Friday at Piedmont Hills (2-5-3, 0-2-2), helping the Bulldogs stay unbeaten in the new year. Cisneros also had two assists.
Coming off back-to-back draws, Sobrato has won or tied its last six matches.
