IN SPORTS:
FREE THROWS LEAD GALT TO VICTORY
GALT — One of the drills that first year Galt High boys basketball coach Gregory Milton uses in practices has his players is to stay focused at the free throw line.
The time spent working on making those free shots paid off for the Warriors against Rio Vista in a non-league game inside Warrior Gym on Tuesday. Galt sank the bulk of its free throws in the fourth quarter, which led to a 65-57 win over the Rams.
This was the third consecutive victory for Galt (4-6), which won its last two games over Millennium of Tracy and Gustine at the Orestimba Tournament in Newman two weeks ago. The Warriors were idle last week.
Galt and Rio Vista (7-6) were tied 51-51 with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter. After both teams committed backto-back turnovers, Galt guard Francisco Trujillo gave his team the lead for good at 53-51 on a reverse layup in which he was fouled while flying into the paint with 2:20 remaining. Trujillo sank his 1-on-1 shot for a 54-
51 score.
On the next offensive possession, Rio Vista guard Cline Conor responded with a bucket to cut the Warriors’ lead to 54-53, now less than two minutes remaining in the game. But Galt kept its composure on the court in moving the basketball, which led to the Rams pressuring Warrior ball handlers. That resulted into more fouls called against Rio Vista players.
“We did a good job as far as executing the press,” Milton said. “Once we got past the press, we’d just get right into our half-court set.”
In the final 1:51 of the game, Galt made 9-of-13 free throws; six from Trujillo and three from forward Robert Bulahan (12 points). For the quarter, the Warriors sank 14-of-23 and 21-of-34 in the game.
“Had we made our free throws throughout the game, we wouldn’t have to worry about the free throws in the fourth quarter,” Milton said.
Entering the final quarter, the Rams held a 41-38 lead over the Warriors. Both teams traded baskets throughout the final eight minutes of the game, as the difference of the lead was less than five points during that time.
Halfway through the quarter, the Warriors forced Ram turnovers that transition into points. But the Rams were also looking good at the free throw line, making 8-of-12.
“Offensively, we started getting happy because the game started getting real murky,” Milton said. “We started losing our discipline on half-court sets. Where as for Rio Vista, once they got past our press, then they set up their half-court offense.”
Galt led 25-23 at halftime. Rio Vista held a 13-12 advantage after the first eight minutes of the game.
At each practice, Milton said his Warriors spend 20-25 minutes working on their free throws. While taking part in other drills, Milton pulls one player out of those drills to take 1-on-1 shots at the line. If the player misses it, he has to run from one end of the gym to the other before he can resume practice.
Three Galt players scored in double figures; Logan Mayfield joined Trujillo in being the game-high scorers with 17 points each. After Bulahan’s points, Christian Strayhand followed with seven points, Brian Meri six and Ivan Arana four.
Rio Vista’s top scorers were guard Jake Kinser with 20 points, which included 10 in the first and second halves, Conor Cline 12 and Jaden Lira 11.
On Friday, Galt opens Sierra Valley Conference action against cross-town rival Liberty Ranch, which edged Center of Antelope, also on Tuesday.
“We needed this one,” Milton said. “This is definitely a momentum builder for us.”