Morgan Hill – Sobrato was a little slow getting out of the gates, which wasn’t all that surprising given the youth of the girls basketball team.
But the Bulldogs finished 2006 on a tear, winning seven of eight. And that carried over into the new year when Sobrato kicked off Blossom Valley Athletic League West Division play with an easy 52-29 win over Yerba Buena.
Except for the second quarter when the Bulldogs yielded 15 points to the Warriors, Sobrato controlled every aspect of the game. And it was particularly satisfying because the Bulldogs’ second leading scorer, Melissa Cachopo, had only four points. Michelle Bradley stepped up with 12 points, the same as Shealyn Kunze.
“I can go eight deep during a game,” coach Rodney Tabares said. “I feel confident in any of those eight girls on any given night.”
In fact, Sobrato is so deep that some girls who started last season are not starting this season. Girls such as Sarina Santiago, an honorable mention all-TCAL selection last year, now backs up at shooting guard and “gives us a spark when she comes in. She is especially effective when we press.”
Of the 11 girls on the varsity, only Jessica Naranjo is a senior. And while the 5-6 senior doesn’t start, she is an integral part of what the Bulldogs do. Tabares calls her the “rock behind our team.”
It’s freshmen Kunze and Cachopo who are the top scorers averaging in double figures. Sophomore Laura Billos has provided an inside presence and leads the team in rebounds. Bradley has been able to slide into any role that Tabares asks, like against Yerba Buena when the coach asked the 5-8 sophomore for more scoring and she became offensive-minded in the second half.
“We’re a young team that’s pulling together nicely,” said Tabares of his team that was 9-4 entering the tough part of the schedule with games at San Jose and Lincoln. “They’re responding to challenges. They’re a good group that is not only good in the classroom but has good basketball sense as well.”
The Bulldogs are bound to experience the inevitable growing pains that come from youth, and yet Tabares is impressed with the maturity the team has showed. While the last four wins have been by 20 points or more, the Bulldogs have showed resilience with close wins over Live Oak (51-50 and 49-44).
“We’re building character and an attitude by winning these close games,” Tabares said. “I believe it will show during the season.”
Tabares doesn’t feel the need to coddle his youthful squad that includes five freshmen and three sophomores.
“The team goal since the girls played together in the summer was to not only win league but get in the (Central Coast Section) tournament and pull a win or two out of it,” Tabares said. “I set the bar pretty high for these girls. Higher expectations produce higher results.”
