After overcoming an 18-point deficit to bring the score to
within two points, the Sobrato girls basketball team just didn’t
have enough time left to beat San Jose on Tuesday. Sobrato lost
48-43 at home to one of the top teams in the Blossom Valley
Athletic League West Valley Division.
Morgan Hill – After overcoming an 18-point deficit to bring the score to within two points, the Sobrato girls basketball team just didn’t have enough time left to beat San Jose on Tuesday.
Sobrato lost 48-43 at home to one of the top teams in the Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division.
“I thought it was a winnable game for us,” said Sobrato coach Rodney Tabares. “If we could have played with the same effort that we had in the fourth quarter for all 32 minutes, we could have won.”
The game started off slow for Sobrato as San Jose scored the first nine points. San Jose junior guard Trisha Yamaichi used her speed and offensive touch to cause havoc for the home team.
Sobrato (15-5 overall, 7-2 BVAL) was down 15-8 after the first quarter. While it played better in the second quarter, Sobrato trailed 26-18 at halftime.
“I think we just got shell-shocked after they scored their first nine on us,” Tabares said. “We had to adjust our game on offense and defense going into the second half because we were playing catch-up.”
Tabares said that during the halftime he and his coaches told the girls how to modify their game plan on both sides of the court to slow down San Jose.
He credited his assistant coach, Paul Cachopo, picking up plays that the other team was using.
“We just decided to turn up the pressure and intensity,” Tabares said. “And I think the team answered the challenge of not wanting to lose first place.”
Sobrato’s comeback started off slow in the third quarter as the team put up six points and gave up 13 to San Jose (11-6, 6-3). But in the fourth, a more determined Sobrato squad rallied.
Down 40-26 in the fourth quarter, Sobrato clamped down on defense and its offense exploded with 17 points. Sobrato brought the score within two points with under a minute left in the
game, but San Jose’s free throws made the difference down the stretch.
“It was a good fourth quarter,” Tabares said. “The girls put out a tremendous effort. We turned on our offense and trapped the ball very well on defense.”
Heading into the game, Tabares said one of the main goals for Sobrato was to try to hold San Jose’s Yamaichi down in scoring. The high-scoring guard proved too much as she poured in 25 points.
“Good players will have good games.” Tabares said. “She rose to the occasion and I give her credit for that.”
One of the reasons why San Jose was able to jump to such a big lead early in the game was because of its 3-point shooting. San Jose had seven buckets from behind the arc, five coming from Yamaichi, compared to Sobrato’s one.
Freshman guard Melissa Cachopo hit the lone 3-pointer for Sobrato. Cachopo scored nine points and dished out seven assists in the game.
Tabares got another strong effort from freshman guard Shealyn Kunze as she lead the team with 12 points. It was Kunze ninth straight double-digit scoring game.
“Its hard for teams to hold her to under 14 points,” Tabares said. “She can score at will and can shoot the ball very well.”
Sobrato’s next game is at home today against Yerba Buena.
