Bulldogs keep composure after first half, sprint away in second
Tuesday
MORGAN HILL — Courtney Sedlak was cold in the first half Tuesday, just like everyone inside Live Oak’s frosty home gym.
The Sobrato guard missed eight of 11 shots from the field, including a 1-for-6 effort from 3-point range, but she was able to keep her composure. The Lady Bulldogs were on their way to another big win over the Acorns.
Sedlak scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the second half as Sobrato won 46-27 in nonleague play to retain the cross-town rivalry’s Championship Belt.
“Our goal was to stay calm and play our game,” said Sedlak, who is part of a talented senior class that never lost a varsity game to Live Oak. “I tried to take my time with shots and let them come to me. I got in a good rhythm.”
The Bulldogs were missing that last week, when Presentation handed them a humbling 71-28 loss to start the season. Sobrato (1-1 overall), a Blossom Valley Athletic League ‘A’ team, started out rusty again Tuesday, allowing the defensive-savvy Acorns (0-2) of the BVAL ‘C’ division to hang around until halftime.
“We didn’t improve as much as I wanted us to in this one. But what I thought was better was how they smoothed things out,” second-year Bulldogs coach Natalie Bobuk said. “I was really proud of them for keeping their heads up and being aggressive. They stepped up to show they are the better team.”
Sedlak, who was 5 for 6 in the second half, added six steals to her scoring total. Teammate Melissa Cachopo nearly had a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, seven steals, five rebounds and four assists. Both guards and senior forward Katie Nicca have started regularly the past three years.
“At this point, we’re just trying to fine-tune everything; run every play perfect,” Cachopo said.
Live Oak scored six consecutive points to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 13-9 with 3:49 left in the second quarter, but that was as close as the hosts came to taking control.
The Acorns countered an 18-percent shooting effort from the field with 13 charity points, though, they could have done more. Live Oak attempted 27 free throws — factor that into the score.
“We got to the line a bunch of times, but we have to get better shooting,” said Acorns coach Jeff Perkins, whose team made 7 of 21 free throws in its season-opening loss, 32-27, to Monte Vista Christian. “We just have to get better.
“That’s a good team out there we went up against. They’re such a defensive, in-your-face kind of team, and everyone needed to step up.”
Sobrato ran a full-court press and man-to-man defense for most of the game. After leading 18-10 at halftime, the Bulldogs built their largest lead, 33-11, with a 13-0 scoring run that featured two steals by Pryanka Kumar, who dished to Sedlak for easy layups.
Cachopo buried a 3-pointer from straight away, and Sedlak scored on a pull-up jumper and sank two free throws to end the third quarter.
“We left them open too much at the top, and they just took advantage of that,” Live Oak post Jacey Turay said. “We’re playing good defense, but we really need to work on scoring more.”
After Nicca and Sedlak fouled out early in the fourth quarter, the Acorns’ offense began to show life. They put together a 10-2 scoring run, cutting the deficit to 35-22.
Fa Saulala scored six of her eight points in the final eight minutes, and senior post Ariana Guerrero poured in five. Guerrero led her team with eight points and a half dozen rebounds.
Saulala, a freshman post, pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
“It’s great to have someone like Fa on our team. She’s amazing,” she said.
Live Oak played most of the game without starting guard Niki Patel, who injured her left knee on a drive to the net with 4:41 left in the first half. Running the point in place of her, Meghan Perez chipped in seven points and three assists.
Sobrato hosts its first home game at 7 p.m. Friday. The Acorns visit Anzar at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
