BOYS BASKETBALL: Turnovers Wound Milpitas Against Oak Grove

Turnovers can derail even the best of teams.

With nearly it’s entire core from last season’s Central Coast Section playoff team back, the Milpitas High boys basketball team looked to snatch up it’s fifth win of the season Monday night at home.

However, the stingy full court press of the visiting Oak Grove High-San Jose kept Milpitas waiting for win number five, topping the home team 56-45 at Milpitas High.

Active and quick from baseline to baseline, Oak Grove erased a four-point halftime hole in the second half to pull away from the Trojans by double digits.

Buddy Ames led the Trojans with 18 points—10 of which came in the second half. Fellow big man Derek Fox cashed in 16 points of his own, but the duo were only two of four Milpitas players to score in the non-league affair.

“We usually have a third scorer that helps those guys out,” MHS head coach Champ Wrencher said. “This early in the year, we haven’t seen a press like that yet. We could have given a better effort tonight. There was too many suspect passes, especially in the second half. “

Milpitas held Oak Grove (4-1) to only 18 points in the first half, keyed by a team defensive effort that showed off the team’s length and alertness on the perimeter to rotate quickly towards open shooters.

Ames (6-6), Fox (6-7), Demarco Leonard (6-5) and West Hankins (6-5) provide a hearty helping of size in the front court for Milpitas, now 5-2 overall after the loss Monday.

Down by three going into the final quarter of play, an offensive foul call swung the game’s momentum into the Eagles corner with just over four minutes left to go. With Oak Grove ahead by four points, Ames drove hard to the rim and scored what looked to be a basket plus the foul to the delight of the Trojans crowd. Instead, the forward was called for an offensive foul, putting his team in the penalty for the duration of the game.

Turnovers, fouls and timely scoring from speedy Oak Grove point guard Nate Vieira sunk any hopes of a MHS comeback.

Viera led all Eagles with 17 points.

“We came out flat in the second half,” Fox said. “We can’t show up not ready to play. We can play with anyone if we capitalize on our chances and play our game.”

Marcus Rita scored nine points, and Leonard added two points to round out the Milpitas scoring.

Rita hit the team’s lone 3-pointer on the night.

“Zero outside shooting for us tonight,” Coach Wrencher said. “We’ve had games where we hit six to seven 3’s this year.”

Milpitas returns to action Thursday at Balboa High in San Francisco.

Oak Grove 12 6  19  19 - 56

Milpitas     12  10  15  11- 45