girls basketball team a slim lead. But both shots rimmed out.
Things looked uncertain with 20 seconds to play at Leland High School Thursday night.
Standing at the foul line with the score tied 50-all, Angela Silveira had two shots to give Gilroy's varsity girls basketball team a slim lead. But both shots rimmed out.
Luckily for the Mustangs, Silveira wasn't about to let her last shot attempt be a misfire.
Pouncing on the rebound in traffic, Silveira collected herself and dropped a 3-footer into the basket despite getting fouled. Converting the free-throw for a three-point play the old-fashioned way, Gilroy was able to limit the Chargers to two points on the next possession and hold on for a 53-52 victory to boost the Mustangs' record to 4-3 on the season.
Coming out slow offensively to start the game, the Mustangs were carried by a tenacious defensive effort.
"We were lethargic on offense but our defense picked it up by forcing turnovers," Wilkins said.
Silveira was the team's leading scorer with 17 points, Vanessa Wilkins tossed in 15, and Kristy Pineda-Chavez, Lindsey Foster and Chelsea Hill all contributed six points.
Before and after the hard-fought game, coach Wilkins greeted Leland coach Ana Patejdl, a Gilroy assistant last season.
Gilroy's varsity boys basketball team got off to an excellent start at the Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament Thursday, but may have lost a key player in the process.
Winning 73-40 over Pajaro Valley, the Mustangs dominated from the opening tip, taking a 15-6 lead into the second quarter. Seven seconds into the second period, however, the Mustangs lost center Jason Conrad who was undercut after jumping for a putback which he made. His left leg appeared to get caught underneath his body as he fell to the floor. Conrad was taken to the hospital by ambulance after being taken off the court on a gurney. The severity of his injury is undetermined.
Gilroy extended its lead to finish the half up 35-20.
The Mustangs continued to push the ball up the floor and play the passing lanes on defense in the second half, taking a comfortable victory in the first round of the tournament.
Forward Tyler Hartman led the Mustangs with 15 points in a well-rounded scoring effort, in which every GHS player made a basket. Jacob Dexter (11 points) and Derek Jensen (10) were the other two Gilroy players to finish in double figures scoring. Elijah Harrell had 8, Justin Wheat had 6, Spencer Ross had 6, Jeremy Damon had 5, Kendrick Azcueta and Conrad had 4, and Stephen Galtman and Lorenzo Dobson finished with 2.
Gilroy is now 4-3 after earning its first victory at home this season. The team will play Scotts Valley tonight at 8 p.m. in the second round of the tournament.